WINNIPEG—An independent arbitrator has sided with Unifor in a key battle against the Manitoba government over layoffs proposed in 2020.
“The PC government wants Crown corporations and public services to fail. It’s the pretext for privatization,” said Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor Western Regional Director. “Unifor fought to keep Manitoba Hydro staffed properly.”
BELLEVILLE—Mayor Mitch Panciuk used his YouTube channel to deliver deceptive comments about the city’s bargaining with transit workers represented by Local 1839, says Unifor.
“Either the mayor is out of the loop or he is misleading his constituents about the state of play in transit bargaining,” said Chris Macdonald, Unifor Assistant to the National President. “His comments are inaccurate and will only damage the already tense negotiations created by his human resources team.”
TORONTO – The elected leadership of Unifor will provide an update on the complaint filed that former Unifor National President Jerry Dias breached the Unifor Constitution. The update will be broadcast on the union’s Facebook pages facebook.com/UniforCanada (English) and facebook.com/UniforQuebec (French) on March 23, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. ET.
OTTAWA- The Liberal and NDP tentative confidence-and-supply agreement, including a commitment to introduce federal anti-scab legislation, is a good move for Canada’s workers, says Unifor.
WHISTLER—Negotiations in the Sea to Sky region transit dispute came to a halt this evening after the employer refused to agree to any plans for eventual wage parity with Metro Vancouver transit operators.
Unifor Western Regional Director Gavin McGarrigle and senior staff joined the talks today to end the 48-day transit strike covering Squamish, Whistler, and Pemberton.
“Progress was made but there must be a roadmap to wage parity,” said McGarrigle, referring to the massive gap between the corridor’s transit workers and those in Metro Vancouver.
BELLEVILLE—After concessions were tabled during contract negotiations, Unifor Local 1839 members have voted 100% in favour of taking strike action if bargaining doesn’t produce a tentative agreement by April 1, 2022.
“Seeking concessions from front-line workers is shameful,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National Secretary-Treasurer. “Transit workers have earned a fair contract and we will accept nothing less.”
NAPANEE – Unifor recently wrote to Minister Fullerton to alert the province of a Napanee employer’s failure to negotiate with striking women’s shelter workers.
“This employer, the Lennox and Addington Interval House, seems to be delaying negotiations on purpose, instead of responding to earnest and reasonable proposals from these dedicated workers,” said Katha Fortier, Unifor Assistant to the National President.
TORONTO–On January 26, 2022 Unifor National Secretary-Treasurer Lana Payne received a written complaint that, now former, Unifor National President Jerry Dias engaged in an alleged breach of the Unifor Constitution.
Following review of the complaint, Payne promptly initiated an independent external investigation. On January 29, 2022, Dias was notified of the investigation, which is ongoing.
On February 6, 2022, Dias went on medical leave and subsequently notified the National Executive Board of his immediate retirement on March 11, citing health issues.
TORONTO — Jerry Dias has announced his retirement from his role as Unifor National President.
Dias has been on medical leave from his position since February 6, 2022. On March 11, he notified Unifor’s National Executive Board of his immediate retirement, stating that he continues to deal with ongoing health issues.
VANCOUVER—Wage increases are a key component of the new contract ratified late on March 7, 2022 by transit operators and maintenance staff working at Coast Mountain Bus Company/Translink.
“Transit workers have been serving communities on the front lines of a pandemic for two years,” said Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor Western Regional Director. “We will revisit this collective agreement next year with an eye to securing additional gains going forward.”
Unions representing 220,000 workers demand the repeal of Bill 124 and a real plan to fix the worsening health human resource crisis in Ontario
TORONTO, ON – Today, SEIU Healthcare, OCHU/CUPE, Unifor, and Ontario Nurses’ Association, unions representing 220,000 healthcare workers across Ontario, including 85,000 nurses, issued an open letter to Premier Ford to fix the worsening health human resource crisis in Ontario and move past the band aid pay-as-you-vote gimmicks.
WHITBY– Unifor school bus drivers have voted overwhelmingly in support of a new collective agreement with First Student, with 91% in favour.
“Several of the drivers’ concerns were addressed in this new collective agreement, including wages, paid sick days and improvements to personal leave,” said Unifor Ontario Regional Director Naureen Rizvi. “School bus drivers bear tremendous responsibility and Unifor will continue to work to raise standards in this industry to reflect that.”
OAKVILLE—Wage increases and job security are the highlights of the new collective agreement ratified today by Unifor Local 1256 members, ending their two-week strike at Oakville Transit.
“My congratulations to Oakville transit workers for standing up to the employer to win gains that will improve working conditions and benefits,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National Secretary-Treasurer.
Transit service in the region will resume on Friday, March 4, 2022.
OAKVILLE—Unifor Local 1256 members working at Oakville Transit will vote March 3, 2022 on ratification of a new collective agreement.
“It was important to these transit workers to stand up for a better deal than was being offered,” said Alice Kelly, President of Unifor Local 1256. “Their solidarity and resolve has resulted in a fair tentative agreement.”
Should the agreement be ratified, transit service in the region will resume on Friday, March 4.
Details of the agreement will be released following Thursday’s vote.
TORONTO – Unifor welcomes today’s WestJet announcement of its purchase of Sunwing and Sunwing Vacations.
“Congratulations to WestJet and Sunwing for reaching a deal,” said Scott Doherty, the Executive Assistant to the Unifor’s National President. “With the federal government lifting travel restrictions and more Canadians travelling more for business and pleasure, we look forward to fostering good relationships between WestJet and Sunwing in their new capacity.”
TORONTO – Unifor is donating a total of $150,000 to the Red Cross to assist with its efforts to help the people of Ukraine following the Russian invasion.
“The people of Ukraine have shown incredible strength and determination in the face of this invasion,” said Unifor National Secretary-Treasurer Lana Payne. “The grace and resolve of the Ukrainian people have been an inspiration to the world, and we must respond to that. The world must come together and show solidarity and support.”
OAKVILLE—Negotiations between Unifor Local 1256 and Oakville Transit will resume Wednesday March 2, 2022, in the hope of ending ongoing strike action by transit operators and maintenance workers.
“Unifor welcomes a return to the bargaining table so that we can reach a fair deal for these frontline workers and get the buses back on the road for the riders,” said Alice Kelly, President of Unifor Local 1256.
TORONTO–Unifor Local 4268 has reached a tentative agreement with First Student on behalf of school bus drivers in the eastern Greater Toronto Area and Durham Region.
“I congratulate the bargaining committee on reaching a tentative agreement for these essential workers who continued to provide service during the pandemic,” said Unifor Ontario Regional Director Naureen Rizvi.
TORONTO –Premier Ford’s plan to use injured worker’s WSIB funds to cut cheques for business owners in the province is a misappropriation of funds.
“It’s disgraceful to give payouts to employers when so many injured workers and occupational disease victims and families are still denied claims or have seen benefits slashed,” said Naureen Rizvi, Unifor Ontario Regional Director. “This payout is a misuse of money that workers desperately need, and looks like an attempt to gain support just a few months before the provincial election.”
HALIFAX- Contract negotiations kicked off today for 1,700 members who work for Bell Aliant across Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador.
“These proud Atlantic Canadian workers have had enough of Bell Aliant shipping their work out of the region or overseas,” said Chris MacDonald, Unifor Assistant to the National President. “In today’s opening day, they laid down a clear demand that Bell Aliant keep the work in Atlantic Canada where the profits are made.”
ST. JOHN'S - Unions representing fish harvesters on both coasts of Canada are speaking out today against Joyce Murray, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, for the single-minded method by which the portfolio is being managed. The Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union (FFAW-Unifor) of Newfoundland and Labrador and the United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union (UFAWU-Unifor) of British Columbia are calling on Minister Murray to take into consideration the dire social and economic impacts her decisions are having on those whose livelihoods rely on the fishery.
TORONTO- Unifor members at Bell Canada opened negotiations with a united front and a demand to protect good jobs in the telecommunications industry.
“Our message in this year’s negotiations is simple. Telecommunications is a vital part of Canada’s economy, and Bell has a responsibility to deliver not only well paid, good jobs but also to maintain domestic capacity in this sector,” said Chris MacDonald, Unifor Assistant to the National President.
WHISTLER—The region’s transit workers and their supporters will gather in Whistler Village on the Family Day weekend to send B.C. Transit a message that workers and community members are united.
“Transit workers help connect our communities and keep the economy moving,” said Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor Western Regional Director. “It’s time B.C. Transit recognize the important work done by transit workers in the Sea to Sky corridor.”
AJAX/WHITBY– School bus drivers employed by the multinational operator First Student voted overwhelmingly to support strike action if necessary, with 95% in favour, if a tentative agreement is not reached.
“We will be working hard to resolve this impasse but at the end of the day these drivers have a huge responsibility and the employer, school boards and the provincial government need to recognize and appropriately compensate them for their work,” said Unifor Ontario Regional Director Naureen Rizvi.
TORONTO – Unifor welcomes today’s announcement by the federal government to lift several travel restrictions as of Feb. 28, 2022.
“Canadians are ready to travel for work and for pleasure,” said Scott Doherty, the Executive Assistant to Unifor's National President. “Having these rules lifted will not only encourage more people to want to travel, but it removes some of the red tape for those returning to Canada.”
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