TORONTO – Unifor will be holding an online news conference Friday morning, streamed live on Facebook to announce a major organizing win in an industry battered by the COVID-19 pandemic. “It is always good news when workers join a union – and during a pandemic the key to building back better will be for more workers to gain a voice in the workplace by joining a union,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias.
After nearly three weeks on the picket line, more than 470 workers who went on strike at a Nestlé Canada manufacturing plant in Toronto, have reached a three-year tentative agreement with the chocolate giant.
NORTH SIDNEY—Continued random alcohol testing of Marine Atlantic workers is a flagrant privacy violation and contradicts newly-established labour precedent, says Unifor.
“The continued testing by Marine Atlantic is a clear violation of workers’ privacy and the arbitrator studying this issue agrees,” said Brian Jobes, Local 4285 President. “We have escalated this issue to the highest levels of our union.”
The vote against Harris should be part of a broader reform in long-term care
19 May 2021—A coalition of unions, representing a majority of Chartwell’s long-term care (LTC) staff, is calling on shareholders to vote against the company’s Chair of the Board Mike Harris at its annual meeting tomorrow. They hope the withhold vote against Harris will be part of a broader reckoning in the long-term care sector, which was particularly hard-hit by COVID-19 due to long-standing structural problems in the industry.
TORONTO, ON, May 18, 2021 – Health-care workers who have been there for patients and their families in every corner of Ontario throughout the COVID-19 pandemic are telling the Ford government that its wage restraint program profoundly devalues the contribution they’ve made, and that it must go now. For nearly 16 months, front-line health care staff have overcome challenge after challenge battling the coronavirus. Nearly 23,000 health-care workers have been infected with COVID-19, and 24 have died.
May 15, 2021 TORONTO – Members of Unifor Local 100 have voted to ratify a new collective bargaining agreement with VIA Rail that will continue to build on gains for a prosperous future. Unifor entered negotiations at the height of the pandemic, working relentlessly to secure an increase of pay and benefits for workers. “Our members have been working hard throughout the pandemic to assist in the safe transportation of people. We owed it to them to get a comprehensive deal that they could confidently rely on during these unprecedented times,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias.
Unifor is urging the federal government to send Canadian observers to oversee the upcoming union vote at the General Motors (GM) plant in Silao, Mexico.
VANCOUVER—A new report published by the B.C. Container Trucking Commissioner will help close many loopholes and improve the standard of living for truckers, says Unifor.
“Container truckers’ concerns about enforcement and fairness have been heard,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “The move to hourly rates makes sense and the ministry must ensure that no truck driver loses out when this system is fully implemented.”
HALIFAX-While it is a positive first step Nova Scotia’s temporary and voluntary paid sick leave program falls short of providing the protection that all workers need.
After months of lobbying, Unifor members are relieved with today’s funding announcement by federal and provincial ministers, the Mayors of Toronto and Thunder Bay, and transit officials to purchase sixty additional streetcars and refurbish bi-level coaches that will secure jobs for Unifor Local 1075 members at the Alstom plant in Thunder Bay.
REGINA – Unifor is launching a national campaign calling on all elected provincial, territorial and federal legislators to enact anti-scab legislation, to restore balance to collective bargaining.
Unifor is relieved the federal Minister of Natural Resources is intervening on the eve of tomorrow’s deadline for Enbridge to shut down a key artery in the energy infrastructure between Canada and the U.S., providing vital energy needs for four provinces and four states.
May 10, 2021 The Ontario government must act immediately to reduce the unacceptable surgical and diagnostic test backlog says Unifor. “The Ford government failed to quickly enact measures to protect Ontarians from the spread of COVID-19, such as paid sick days and priority vaccination access for essential workers,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias.
TORONTO—A refusal by the owners of Reliance Home Comfort to make meaningful proposals at the bargaining table could force job action this week at the Ontario-based HVAC, plumbing, and electrical provider, says Unifor.
“Unifor members serve Reliance customers with pride, but without movement on key issues from the employer this week, customer service will grind to a halt if we’re on a picket line,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.
TORONTO—Unifor will not tolerate interference in our democratic and pilot lead bargaining process with Cargojet by the self-serving US based Airline Pilots Association Intl. (ALPA) making ill-informed public statements.
WINNIPEG—A new provincial so-called sick leave program strictly limited to COVID-19 is woefully inadequate, says Unifor.
“Brian Pallister doesn’t get it. Manitobans don’t need the absolute bare minimum, they need robust public health policies that keep them and their families safe,” said Jerry Dias Unifor National President. “Brian Pallister has failed Manitobans yet again.”
Unifor recognises the dedication and achievements of nurses who contribute to excellence in health care and raise awareness of the issues and challenges of health care workers.
WINDSOR—In a ruling issued yesterday, Arbitrator Norm Jesin upheld Unifor’s position that Nemak violated its collective agreement with Unifor Local 200 when it closed the Windsor Aluminum Plant and moved the work to Mexico.
TORONTO- Unifor is hopeful about the future of skilled trades training and development following the announcement of Skilled Trades Ontario, a new, streamlined crown agency.
ST. JOHN’S —The slash-and-burn ‘reset’ recommendations in the Greene Report would hurt Newfoundland and Labrador workers, cut vital social services and impede a post-pandemic economic recovery if implemented.
“Greene’s Big Reset is a Big Failure, lacking imagination or a vision for the future that includes good jobs and strong public services,” said Unifor Regional Director Linda MacNeil. “A framework that starts with balancing the budget and ends with privatization is not a reset, it’s a step backwards.”
VICTORIA—Members of Unifor Local 114 working at Ocean Concrete in Victoria have been locked out of their workplace by an employer seeking concessions at the bargaining table, Unifor says.
“Shame on Ocean Concrete for locking out workers during a pandemic,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Ocean Concrete has no excuse for these aggressive tactics.”
May 1, 2021 TORONTO – More than 470 workers went on strike at a Nestlé Canada manufacturing plant in Toronto at midnight Saturday after contract negotiations between Unifor Local 252 and the chocolate company broke down. "It’s a sad state of affairs," said Eamonn Clarke, President of Unifor Local 252. "We’ve opened the door to precarious work and the company has taken advantage of it, using it to line their own pockets, make more profits and they don’t want to share anything with the workers."
TORONTO - As the province continues to deny workers permanent paid sick leave, Unifor takes to the skies above the Greater Toronto Area with a bold message to Premier Doug Ford.
TORONTO—ORNGE air ambulance paramedics will announce strike vote results on Sunday May 2, 2021, as they renew their demand that Premier Doug Ford remove the wage cap imposed by his government and allow them to negotiate fairly so they can continue serving Ontarians.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford must stop politicking and immediately act on the final report of Ontario's Long-Term Care COVID-19 Commission calling for a minimum daily care standard of four hours of hands-on care per resident.
Toronto - The announcement of a chump change employee ‘appreciation bonus’ by Loblaw Companies Limited is an insult to workers says Unifor, especially given its departing President took home more than $6 million dollars last year.
“The unmitigated greed of Canada’s largest grocery retailer knows no limits,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. “This paltry payment to frontline grocery workers, who are keeping us fed throughout this pandemic, is nothing short of a disgrace.”
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