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.
OTTAWA- Unifor’s National President, Lana Payne, and additional union leaders, will hold a media conference to kick off a week of lobbying on worker issues and the union’s 2023 federal budget priorities in Ottawa.
On the heels of the Newfoundland and Labrador Fish Harvesting Safety Association (Nl-FHSA) Safety Symposium last week and the arrival of Minister Joyce Murray in St. John’s this week, the FFAW’s Inshore Council is reiterating the need for increased search and rescue resources in Labrador.
TORONTO- Unifor joined a media conference with CUPE education workers following a commitment by Premier Ford to fully repeal Bill 28 and return to the bargaining table with education workers.
TORONTO- Unifor and Unifor’s Ontario Regional Council (ORC) announce joint donations to support CUPE education workers fighting Ford’s egregious attack on workers’ rights using the Notwithstanding Clause.
“This morning, Unifor members are out in force on CUPE picket lines, but we need to pool our support as CUPE members and the union face threats of excessive fines for taking job action,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “The provincial government attacked all workers with its targeting of CUPE members, so all workers must respond.”
TORONTO- The federal fall economic statement, tabled today by Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, shows promise but stops short of additional measures needed to ensure economic prosperity and stability for Canada’s workers and their families.
TORONTO- Unifor members are mobilizing to support education workers’ bargaining demands and right to strike on Friday, November 4, 2022 following the disgraceful passage of Bill 28 in the Ontario Legislature.
OTTAWA –At a Senate hearing today, Unifor Media Director Randy Kitt testified that Bill C-11 – otherwise known as the Online Streaming Act – is missing one caveat: to save local news.
“This is a top of mind issue,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “While tech platforms continue to profit – whether it’s displaying news stories without paying their fair share for them or limiting Canadian content – it impacts our media workers, who tirelessly report fact-based, accurate stories to the public.”
TORONTO –Unifor is concerned about Sunwing’s plan to use Canada’s temporary foreign worker program to hire pilots from countries with less rigorous training requirements, raising concerns about safety.
“Sunwing will essentially be able to use the TFWP to hire pilots who do not meet the company’s own training requirements. The company is able to do this under the guise of professing there is a labour shortage, when the real issue is investing in training for local pilots,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President.
TORONTO- Unifor unequivocally condemns Minister Lecce’s imposed contract and preemptive back-to-work legislation, standing in full support of CUPE education workers.
WINNIPEG– Unionized care workers at Association for Community Living (ACL) will hold a rally to raise awareness about the extreme financial hardships facing ACL workers.
PETERBOROUGH—Job security and wage increases are key gains in a new collective agreement ratified today by Unifor Local 306-O members at Covia Canada Limited.
“As the Nephton mine’s closure approaches, it is a priority to ensure there are no negative consequences for Unifor members,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “The new agreement is a terrific example of what can be done with long-term planning and respect for workers.”
REGINA—A Labour Relations Board ruling says evidence showing Co-op Refinery acted in bad faith was “too voluminous to spell out in detail”.
“Nobody is surprised by this ruling. Time and again during the lock-out the Co-op management acted without integrity and in bad faith,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President.
MONTREAL—Unifor opened bargaining for a new collective agreement with CN this morning in Montreal.
“The fact is that during a time of record inflation CN is reporting record quarterly earnings,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Without our members at the helm, this company wouldn’t have been able to get even close to that, and they deserve to be compensated fairly and treated with respect.”
TORONTO—The Ontario Ministry of Health proposal to amend the Ambulance Act to employ nurses, physicians and respiratory therapists, along with paramedics for Ornge air flight ambulances will not improve patient outcomes in the province.
WINNIPEG—The Manitoba government’s refusal to fund a living wage at the Association for Community Living (ACL) has resulted in Unifor Local 468 members rejecting the employer’s latest contract offer.
“During the pandemic the Stefanson government was quick to call health care workers heroes, but at the bargaining table its totally different tone,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Offering health care workers one dollar above minimum wage will not cut it. Health care workers deserve a living wage.”
JOLIETTE, QUE. – Gathered last night – October 6, 2022 – at a special meeting, the members of Unifor Local 177 voted in favour of the conciliator’s recommendation, ending the 16-month lock-out.
“We’re proud of the determination of our members who stood strong and never gave up. Thanks to their tenacity, this conflict came to a favourable conclusion. It’s now time to heal the wounds and get back to a normal life,” said Daniel Cloutier, Unifor-Québec Director.
TORONTO-Unifor is calling on the federal government to renounce an ‘incredulous’ recommendation by the National Supply Chain Task Force to develop an alternative model of labour relations intended to diminish workers’ fundamental right to strike and to publicly recommit to basic workplace rights afforded to Canadian workers.
HALIFAX –Unifor is congratulating Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) on their long-fought victory for wage increases following today’s Nova Scotia government announcement to invest an additional $75 million annually in the sector.
“Accessible, affordable, quality child care is what underpins our workforce and it doesn’t work without living wages for ECEs,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Respecting child care workers will ensure the success of the Canada-wide $10-a-day child care plan and strengthen the Canadian economy.”
HALIFAX––Unifor has reached a tentative agreement on behalf of workers at the Autoport vehicle processing and transshipment facility, located in Eastern Passage, Nova Scotia at the mouth of the Halifax harbour.
“With the united support of the membership behind them the bargaining committee was able to secure a tentative agreement that addresses key priorities for the workers,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
TORONTO –Unifor is disheartened that news of a court application to dissolve NordStar Capital Inc., the controlling company of Torstar and the Toronto Star, came from a media outlet, rather than the employer.
"Today's unexpected news was completely disrespectful to the hard-working Toronto Star staff who felt blindsided by this information – or rather, lack-of,” said Unifor’s National President Lana Payne. “Journalists and media workers often put their lives on the line to provide fact-based reporting to the public and they deserve better.”
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