TORONTO –With the simultaneous decisions from the Competition Bureau and Transport Canada’s public interest review approving WestJet’s acquisition of Sunwing, Unifor remains steadfast that the acquisition must result in increased job quality for workers at Sunwing and WestJet.
REGINA—Highly qualified union workers at SaskTel should do the work involved in the company’s massive expansion of its fibre optic broadband network into rural Saskatchewan.
TORONTO – Leading up to March break and the busy summer travel season, the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) decision to cap flights and the number of travelers fails both passengers and airport workers, says Unifor.
“The GTAA is punishing the traveling public by limiting flights and services as a band-aid solution to airport congestion, instead of fixing the problem by implementing common sense solutions to improve job quality and hire needed workers,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
WINNIPEG—Despite some spending measures aimed at winning re-election, the Heather Stefanson government is still defined by growing hospital wait times, health care privatization, and suppressing the minimum wage, says Unifor.
“Manitobans will not forget the Stefanson government’s deliberate and wilful dismantling of the health care system,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “One budget cannot undo years of mismanagement by the conservative government.”
TORONTO- Unifor members working at CN voted overwhelmingly in support of strike action amid ongoing negotiations in which CN has tabled a package of broad concessions.
Local 100 members voted 98%, and Council 4000 members voted 97% in favour of strike action. The earliest possible date of job action would be March 21, 2023, following a 72-hour notice.
REGINA—After a new proposal to outsource unionized SaskTel jobs surfaced on government websites this week, Unifor has demanded a stop to contracting out.
“With each outsourcing post, the Sask Party government is undermining good jobs and good customer service at SaskTel, and customers should be concerned,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “This government must stop sending jobs out of province and offshore. Why is the Sask Party so obsessed with killing good, local jobs?”
TORONTO–The news of layoffs and restructuring at Global News this week chips away at already barebones newsrooms and puts democracy at risk as the number of media workers dwindles in the industry, says Unifor.
“It is becoming impossibly difficult for media workers to face the news of restructuring and layoffs on a regular basis,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Journalists are the backbone of our democracy. We need to save local news by investing in newsrooms – not cutting them. We will continue to support our members during this devastating time.”
EDMONTON—The temporary financial windfall from volatile oil prices was squandered in a UCP budget that does little to secure a stable future for Albertans, says Unifor.
VANCOUVER—The B.C. budget’s investments in core social services and health care are necessary and will help shield workers and their families from a forecasted economic slowdown, says Unifor.
“Strong public health care and measures that improve affordability are precisely what working British Columbians need,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Unlike the B.C. Liberals, this government continues to put public services and good jobs front and centre in the budget.”
“The costs involved for drivers is outrageous,” said Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor Western Regional Director. “We need dialogue about a policy that doesn’t financially ruin dozens of truckers.”
MONTREAL – Unifor is concerned that a contract flip that resulted in Swissport losing its contract with Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport will potentially leave up to 150 Unifor members without jobs by the end of June.
VICTORIA—Unifor is back at the bargaining table with the Empress Hotel to negotiate a collective agreement that can serve as a template for upcoming negotiations in the hospitality sector.
“Unifor is a strong union for hotel workers,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Unifor members are leading by example and negotiating industry-leading contracts. What happens this spring at the Empress will help lead the way for our other negotiations.”
ST. CATHARINES-Unifor members at the General Motors (GM) St. Catharines Propulsion Plant will be the first Detroit Three facility in Canada to produce electric vehicle propulsion systems, securing a future role in the industry’s transition to EV manufacturing.
MONTREAL—After the federal government’s Request for Qualifications for the proposed High Frequency Rail (HFR) line, Unifor is calling on the transportation minister to provide clarity about the long-term plan for VIA Rail.
MONTREAL - Unifor announced today that the union has broken off talks with Canadian National Rail (CN) and will be commencing strike votes early next week.
“In this climate of massive profits CN is proposing a multitude of concessions demonstrating just how out of touch they are,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Our hard-working rail workers have made CN the profitable company that it is today and will not accept an agreement that attacks our union and devalues them and their work.”
WINDSOR—Concessionary demands for contracting out work are among the issues that will force Unifor Locals 1959 and 240 to begin legal strike action at Windsor Salt tonight at midnight.
“When the employer comes with concessions and schemes to bust the union, Unifor members are going to fight back every time,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Workers at Windsor Salt have the full backing of our union.”
MONTREAL - Unifor members at Canadian Pacific (CP) Rail have ratified a new two-year contract.
“Rail workers, just like workers in many sectors across Canada, are bargaining in particularly challenging conditions right now,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “The members of the 101-R bargaining committee remained focused and committed to achieving a fair agreement for their membership. I applaud them for their work and look forward to their continued efforts to improve working conditions for their members in the future.”
TORONTO – Unifor Media Council is launching a new media discussion paper—Breaking the News: Media Workers Under Attack—which focuses on confronting the increasing harassment of media workers.
“We hear stories from our media members all the time about the hate, racism, homophobia and misogyny they face on a daily basis, online and in-the-field,” said Unifor Media Council Chair Julie Kotsis.
ESTERHAZY, SK—Wage increases form the cornerstone of a new collective agreement ratified February 13, 2023 between Unifor Local 892 and Mosaic Potash Esterhazy Limited.
“Unifor members working at Mosaic stood united in their demands for a fair contract,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “They can be very proud of what they accomplished.”
TORONTO – Unifor is extremely concerned about the reported editorial interference at Queen’s Park Briefing (QP Briefing). These are serious allegations that undermine the integrity necessary for independent, fact-based journalism.
ST. JOHN’S - The Newfoundland and Labrador Court of Appeal has ruled that Unifor’s challenge of an arbitrator’s decision affecting Exploits Valley Air Services (EVAS) pilots can go forward.
“The employer took advantage of the pandemic and denied pilots their recall rights as airline operations ramped back up, forcing them to unfairly re-start their careers upon their return,” said Jennifer Murray, Atlantic Regional Director. “Unifor will continue to fight for EVAS pilots and protect the rights enshrined in their collective agreement.”
TORONTO – Unifor’s Social Justice Fund is making a $75,000 donation to the Humanitarian Coalition for the Türkiye and Syria Earthquake Relief Fund.
“The scale of the damage and suffering caused by these earthquakes is overwhelming, and the response must match the scale of the crisis,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “The Humanitarian Coalition is bringing together international partners to support search and rescue and family reunification, as well as deliver vital aid including physical and mental health supports.”
ST. JOHN’S-Unifor is calling on the Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador and the President and Vice-Chancellor of Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador (MUN) to act to resolve the issues of striking Memorial University of Newfoundland Faculty Association (MUNFA) members.
ST. CLAUDE, MAN.—Unifor members working at Lactalis Dairy have ratified a new collective agreement with wage increases and improved benefits.
“Congratulations to the bargaining committee of Local 755 on their great work,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “The new agreement will see improved wages and benefits as we continue to fight hard for workers across bargaining tables everywhere.”
Quebec City – Members of Unifor Local 1044, working at Gecko Alliance, were told last week that production will cease by July 2023 as the company has decided to transfer its operations remaining production to its plant in Mexico.
More than 15 people will lose their jobs. This is in addition to the dozens of people laid off since the beginning of the wave of relocation that began a few years ago.
WINDSOR, ONT. –Postmedia's decision to close the Windsor Star's Starway Printing Plant brings an end to more than a century of daily print newspaper publishing in Windsor and comes at the cost of eliminating roughly 75 media jobs in the city, say unions Unifor and CWA Canada.
Sault Ste. Marie, ON – EllisDon Facilities Services (SAH) Inc. workers represented by Unifor Local 1359 will conduct an information picket outside the Sault Area Hospital on February 1 to demand the company return to the bargaining table instead of going to arbitration.
Unifor and CWA Canada locals and members in Windsor are protesting Postmedia’s decision to eliminate editorial and inserter positions, and outsource printing of the Windsor Star, cutting the jobs of over 75 people.
CALGARY—Unifor Local 1410 members were successful in winning unionization for the part-time merchandisers in a new four-year collective agreement ratified on Jan. 28, 2023.
“Organizing new members is a key priority for many Unifor locals,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Local 1410 should be very proud of the work they’ve done to secure an excellent agreement and expand the bargaining unit. Congratulations to them and welcome to our new members.”
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