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TORONTO- Unifor will continue to fight for public health care in the face of Ontario PC government’s latest steps into privatization.

“This is far from the first step of Ontario’s path toward private healthcare, but this must be where it ends,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Public health care in Ontario is too important and we will not allow this government to bring us closer to an American-style for-profit system of health.”

VANCOUVER- Unifor Local 101R has reached a tentative agreement with Canadian Pacific Railway (CP), covering 1,200 workers at 18 locations from British Columbia to Quebec. 

“These are hard working members who provide a vital service and I know the Bargaining Committee was determined to make progress during these difficult times,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “I thank the Committee for their outstanding work.”

TORONTO—The Ontario Minister of Health was briefed on Bill 124’s ill effects rippling across Ontario’s health care system, newly obtained ministerial briefing documents have revealed.

HALIFAX-The union representing workers at the Irving Shipyard has reached a tentative collective agreement covering more than 1,000 tradespeople building the next generation of Canada’s naval fleet.

“The members of MWF-Local 1 at the Halifax Shipyard are a dynamic, diverse, and skilled group of workers,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “I congratulate the bargaining committee for their outstanding work in reaching a tentative agreement with Irving Shipbuilding.”

CAP-CHAT, QUE., – A deal has been reached between Unifor and Bois Chic-Chocs (Damabois), with Local 299 members voting 100% to ratify the tentative agreement presented to them at a meeting on Dec. 12, 2022, ending a six-week strike at the plant.

SAINT JOHN– New Brunswick labour leaders will protest Bill 23 outside Labour Minister Trevor Holder’s office on Monday, December 19, 2022.

“The labour movement will not sit quietly while Premier Blaine Higgs passes legislation that strips rights away from the hard-working people of this province,” said Daniel Legere, President of the New Brunswick Federation of Labour.

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SAINT JOHN– New Brunswick Federation of Labour, its affiliate unions, and Unifor will protest Bill 23 outside the offices of Labour Minister Trevor Holder, and MLAs Ernie Steeves (Moncton), Arlene Dunn (Saint John), and Jill Green (Fredericton) on Monday, December 19, 2022.

“The labour movement will not sit quietly while Premier Blaine Higgs passes legislation that strips rights away from the hard-working people of this province,” said Daniel Legere, President of the New Brunswick Federation of Labour.

QUEBEC CITY - Local 2002 members working at the Aéroport de Québec in Quebec City voted 70% in favour of the tentative agreement presented to them at a ratification meeting on Dec. 12, 2022. 

The new three-year contract offers wage increases of 6% in the first year, 4% in the second year and 4% in the third year.  

TORONTO - Bill C-35 is important legislation to enshrine the federal government’s commitment to early learning and child care, says Unifor.

“We welcome the protection of child care investments for generations to come,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Working parents need high-quality, affordable child care more than ever and we will continue to work with provincial, territorial and federal governments to make child care accessible to all.”

MONTREAL- Voting in a virtual meeting, Transervice members ratified the settlement proposed by the mediator by 72%, thus putting an end to the six-week-long strike. 

The four-year contract includes wage increases of 10.5% over the duration of the collective agreement, in addition to a signing bonus and several other improvements to working conditions. 

All members are slated to return to work on December 12, 2022. 

TORONTO – Sunwing pilots are celebrating news the company has decided to abandon its intention to use the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) to boost staffing levels.

“Our main concern from the get-go was training and safety,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “As a union, we expect rigorous analysis before an employer is allowed to use the TFWP. We’re pleased that Sunwing chose to back away from using TFWP and honour our collective agreement.”

MONTREAL- On Wednesday, Unifor Local 62 members working at Bombardier’s Laurent Beaudoin Completion Centre voted 83.8% in favour of the new tentative agreement. 

The new contract lasts three years and includes wage hikes of 6.5% for the first year and 3% for each of the second and third year, as well as a signing bonus of $2,000 to protect against inflation. The monthly retirement pension benefit will also be raised by $4.00 as of January 1, 2023, $2.00 on January 1, 2024 and $2.00 on January 1, 2025. 

MISSISSAUGA—International logistics conglomerate Kuehne + Nagel is jeopardizing holiday package delivery by refusing to offer decent pay to 140 striking workers at its Hogan warehouse in Mississauga, Ontario.

INGERSOLL—Unifor National President Lana Payne joined autoworkers, local union leaders, General Motors representatives and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier Doug Ford to celebrate the opening of the newly retooled GM CAMI assembly plant in Ingersoll, Ontario.

OTTAWA – The Canadian Air Traffic Control Association (CATCA), who are members of Unifor Local 5454, opened bargaining with Nav Canada this week in Ottawa.

“Our CATCA members provide critical services needed for safe travel in our country. They are professionals who see collective bargaining as a way to improve that service to Canadians," said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Local 5454’s bargaining team are experienced and will be in our members’ corner every step of the way and ready to fight for a fair contract.”

OSHAWA, ONT. –Delegates at Unifor Ontario Regional Council expressed support for foodservice workers at Durham College, on strike since Nov. 28, 2022.

“These foodservice workers are among the lowest paid on campus, earning just above minimum wage,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President.

“Our members need a living wage and Unifor will support them in every way we can.”

THUNDER BAY—The number of workers at the Alstom Thunder Bay plant has hit an all-time low, a situation deeply aggravated by the Ontario government’s awarding of a $9 billion contract to a consortium run by Hitachi Rail, according to Unifor.

TORONTO–Unifor is relieved that its member, Bal Krishna Dubey, who has been detained in the Dominican Republic with four other Pivot Airlines crew members since April 2022, is finally home in Canada in time for the holidays.

“It’s been a long and exhausting journey for the crew,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Unifor supported our member throughout this ordeal and our union will continue to support him with all available resources as he recovers from this harrowing and traumatic experience.”

WHISTLER—Wage increases and improved sick day benefits are key features of a new three-year collective agreement signed between Unifor Local 3000 and the Aava Hotel Whistler.

“Unifor contracts lead the hospitality sector in Whistler and across British Columbia,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “With Unifor, hospitality workers have a reason to be optimistic about the opportunities to secure fair wages and safe working conditions.”

EDMONTON—Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s very first piece of legislation is a breath-taking power grab that will only cause chaos and distract her government from the real economic problems facing Alberta’s families, says Unifor.

TORONTO – Unifor celebrates today’s decision by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, which ruled that Premier Ford’s Bill 124 unduly infringes on workers’ rights.

“Today’s decision is a victory for not only public sector workers and unions across Ontario, but also for every Ontarian who relies on our public services,” Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “For the past four years, workers fought back against this wage suppression bill through direct action, lobbying, and sharing personal experiences. When workers organize for justice, we can win.”

NAPANEE, Ontario- Unifor members at Strathcona Paperworks voted 94% in favour of strike action as negotiations with their employer have stalled.

“Strathcona Paperworks has enjoyed record profits over the last few years but they aren’t coming to the table with an offer that recognizes the workers behind those profits,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “These members are ready to stand up for themselves and the union stands with them all the way.”

FREDERICTON- Unifor, Canada’s largest union in the private sector, stands in firm solidarity with New Brunswick public sector workers and their unions amid the Higgs government’s anti-worker, anti-labour legislation to amend the Public Service Labour Relations Act.

TORONTO – In a historic moment, Ontario’s five largest health care unions have joined forces, issuing an SOS appeal to Premier Doug Ford and Health Minister Sylvia Jones: your plan is failing – take action and adopt our solutions to stabilize Ontario’s crashing health care system today.

ESTERHAZY, SASKATCHEWAN–Unifor Local 892 has filed for mediation after contract negotiations with Mosaic Potash Esterhazy Limited reached an impasse. 

“Mosaic is a multi-national corporation that rakes in billions yet refuses to help its workers keep up with the cost of living,” said Unifor Western Regional Director Gavin McGarrigle. 

KAMLOOPS—Unifor Local 10-B members at Dearborn Ford in Kamloops will strike on Thursday, Nov. 17 at noon if the profitable employer doesn’t drop its demands for concessions.

“We will not let a payroll practice banned in numerous places be imposed on Unifor members in B.C.,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Our members work too hard to be short-changed by a profitable employer.”

WINNIPEG—Unifor will fight for public health care after conservative Premier Heather Stefanson promised increased private sector delivery in the speech from the throne.

“Privatization means cutting corners and prioritizing profits over proper care,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Private health care might be popular among the PC’s elite donor class, but it is a non-starter with working people.”

TILLSONBURG–Unifor condemns Adient management’s decision to suddenly close its Tillsonburg seating foam plant without warning, after operating in the community for more than fifty years.

TORONTO – With rising surpluses and deepening service cuts, the Ontario Fall Economic Statement shows that government has not fully learned the lessons of this month’s labour strife.

“The Government of Ontario should be using these funds to build strong services and invest in critical infrastructure and manufacturing, growing good jobs in both the public and private sectors. Ontario’s healthcare and education systems are long overdue for increased funding, and workers in Ontario need a raise,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President.

OTTAWA – Unifor National President Lana Payne called for urgent action to address the affordability crisis and for enactment of policies that will bolster and support workers and their families as she outlined the union’s 2023 federal budget priorities to start the union’s lobby week.  

Payne spoke at a media conference alongside Len Poirier, Unifor National Secretary-Treasurer, Daniel Cloutier, Unifor Quebec Director and Matthew Green, NDP MP for Hamilton Centre.