October 30, 2020 ST. JOHN’S–Negotiations between Unifor Local 597 and Loblaw Companies Limited (Loblaw Co.) have failed to reach a settlement of the ten-week long strike at 11 Dominion store locations across Newfoundland. “It’s disappointing that Loblaw Co. is still unwilling to address the workers’ key concerns, including earning a living wage,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. Negotiations broke down today after the two parties failed to come to agreement at a bargaining session in St. John’s.
ST. JOHN’S—Unifor will hold a news conference to outline the union’s response to police action taken by the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary during a peaceful picket by striking Dominion workers earlier this week.
“There was no valid reason for any police presence and certainly none to deploy the tactical and riot units to threaten workers with criminal charges at a legal picket line,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias.
FORT MCMURRAY—Dozens of members of Unifor Local 707A working at SMS Equipment have been laid off as the global oil price slump continues to impact the Wood Buffalo economy.
“Canada’s oil and gas companies and their workers are suffering. It is causing real hardship in communities across Alberta and across the country,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Alberta’s energy industry needs investment now so it can be a key part of the economic recovery.”
Unifor and Loblaw Companies Limited have agreed to resume negotiations tomorrow in an attempt to settle the ongoing strike by 1,400 Dominion store workers in Newfoundland.
October 27, 2020 ST. JOHN’S–Striking Dominion workers are being threatened with arrest by the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary (RNC) while conducting a peaceful picket at the Weston's Bakery in Mount Pearl, NF. “It’s outrageous that the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary is intimidating peaceful picketers with police doing the bidding of Loblaw Companies Limited,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias.
TORONTO, ON – CUPE Ontario, SEIU Healthcare and Unifor held a joint press conference on Tuesday morning, calling on the Ontario government to legislate a minimum care standard of four hours of hands-on care in long-term care homes by immediately passing Bill 13, the Time to Care Act. Based on the latest pre-pandemic calculations by the Ontario Health Coalition, Ontario’s long-term care homes average about 2.7 hours of daily care. The calculation is based on worked hours of care, as opposed to paid hours.
REGINA—Canada’s largest union in the private sector will continue to fight for good jobs and workers’ rights in Saskatchewan, after Scott Moe’s Sask Party was elected to another term.
“Crown corporations help make life more affordable for Saskatchewan families and they provide thousands of good jobs,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. “Unifor is committed to standing up for Crowns and Crown workers against Sask Party politicians who can’t wait to privatize cherished public services.”
EDMONTON—Unifor supports the wildcat actions carried out by Alberta Union of Public Employees (AUPE) members in response to Premier Jason Kenney’s relentless attacks on the province’s public services.
“From education workers and frontline health care staff to the Albertans who rely on them, few workers have escaped Kenney’s heartless cuts and attacks on basic workplace rights,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “We salute the workers at AUPE who are taking direct action today.”
TORONTO – Aviation workers will hold a rally and distribute leaflets in two provinces on Friday, to urge the federal government to create a national aviation recovery strategy.
Media are invited to attend the events that will feature Unifor leadership and front line workers.The rally will also be livestreamed on Unifor’s Facebook page
CUPE Ontario, Unifor and SEIU Healthcare are calling on the Ontario Legislative Assembly to take a critical step in addressing the long-term care crisis by passing Bill 13, the Time to Care Act.
The private member’s bill, introduced by NDP MPP Teresa Armstrong, will legislate a minimum care standard of four hours of daily hands-on care averaged across residents, requiring higher staffing levels, in line with expert recommendations. The legislation will be debated at second reading on Wednesday, October 28.
October 26, 2020 ST. JOHN’S–Striking Dominion workers have relocated their secondary picket line from the Loblaw Distribution Centre to Weston's Bakery, located at 17 Bruce St., Mount Pearl. The bakery is owned by George Weston Ltd., which also operates Dominion’s parent company Loblaw Companies Limited. “Strike activity will continue to escalate as long as Loblaw Co. refuses to come to the negotiating table in good faith,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias.
VANCOUVER—Unifor members are celebrating the provincial election results in B.C. as expectations remain high for the BCNDP’s second term.
“Unifor members worked very hard for a BCNDP majority government,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Electing John Horgan’s team is the means to an end. There is still a lot of work to be done to undo the damage from 16 years of B.C. Liberal cuts.”
Ontario’s Long-Term COVID-19 Commission released an interim report today, calling on the government to implement a minimum daily care standard of four hours of hands-on care per resident.
After hearing from Unifor and Loblaw Companies Limited legal representatives today in the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Honourable Valerie L. Marshall has reserved her decision on the injunction application against striking Dominion workers secondary picket at the Loblaw distribution centre in St. John’s.
After months of difficult negotiations, Unifor custodial and maintenance workers at the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board (WECDSB) have ratified a new four-year collective agreement.
October 20, 2020 ST. JOHN’S–Dominion workers have set up a round the clock picket at the Loblaw Co. Distribution Centre in St. John’s, following the company’s continued refusal to negotiate a fair collective agreement. “The Loblaw Co. business model is to tie wages for frontline grocery workers to minimum wage while refusing to classify jobs as full-time to avoid sick days, vacation and benefits, all with the end goal of enriching the Weston family and their shareholders while their workers struggle to make ends meet,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. “If Loblaw Co.
TORONTO—Unifor members working at Fiat Chrysler in Brampton, Etobicoke, Windsor, Mississauga, Montreal and Red Deer have voted 78 per cent to ratify a new three year collective agreement that includes significant investment, job security and economic gains.
VANCOUVER—Trailing badly in the polls, the B.C. Liberals have begun attacking the very working people who are poised to re-elect John Horgan and the BCNDP government.
“John Horgan and his BCNDP government have delivered results for working families,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “After a decade of scandals and ideological funding cuts, it should be no surprise that the BCNDP is the choice of working people.”
SURREY—The largest union representing truck drivers at Port Metro Vancouver has endorsed the BCNDP’s re-election effort in the 2020 provincial election.
“The John Horgan government delivered on key priorities for this complex sector,” said Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor Western Regional Director. “This isn’t a ‘one-and-done’ project. Vancouver’s ports are sophisticated portals of economic activity that require ongoing attention to ensure corrupt employers aren’t threatening the integrity of port transportation.”
Premier Brian Pallister is using Bill 16 to stack the deck further in favour of his wealthy donors and attack the rights of working people says Unifor.
Unifor’s Master Bargaining Committee has reached a tentative agreement on behalf of 9000 Unifor members, with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles that includes a significant commitment to both maintain and build its manufacturing footprint in Canada.
October 15, 2020 ST. JOHN’S–In the eighth week of escalating strike action, Dominion workers have begun picketing at the Loblaw Distribution Centre in St. John’s. “These frontline grocery workers have been on the picket line for almost two months. In that time Loblaw Co. has continued to rake in increased profits across the country due to COVID-19 but the company has refused to improve its failed offer to Dominion workers by one red cent,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias.
Unifor’s Master Bargaining Committee has reached a tentative agreement for 9000 members working at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, averting a midnight strike at its Canadian plants in Windsor, Brampton, Etobicoke, Mississauga, Montreal, and Red Deer.
TORONTO—Health Canada’s approval of the use of rapid testing kits presents an opportunity to accelerate economic recovery and a safe return to travel, says Unifor.
“By investing in scientifically-proven technology to detect and track COVID-19, Canada can achieve an economic recovery that also keeps people safe,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Rapid testing is a safe alternative to the 14-day quarantine that has decimated air travel during the pandemic.”
The federal and provincial announcement today of a total of $590 million in support of battery electric vehicle (BEV) production in Oakville is welcome news to thousands of Unifor members working at Ford Motor Company.
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