TORONTO – Unifor reached a tentative deal with Bell Craft after an eight-month bargaining process involving local unions spread across Quebec and Ontario.
Shelter workers at the Lennox and Addington Interval House (LAIH) asked their neighbours to support their bargaining following their employer’s refusal to negotiate normally.
KITIMAT–After achieving a historic 100% strike vote result and nearly seven weeks of unproductive negotiations with Rio Tinto, Unifor Local 2301 has served the company with a 72-hour strike notice.
“Unifor members’ historic, unanimous, strike vote speaks volumes to the culture of disrespect and unfair treatment Rio Tinto has created over many years,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “What is surprising is how, despite record-setting profits, Rio Tinto appears so unwilling to work with us and treat our members fairly.”
Shelter workers at the Lennox and Addington Interval House are hitting the streets of Napanee to seek public support for bargaining as their employer refuses to continue normal negotiations.
Unifor is preparing to return to the bargaining table this week, ahead of a July 27 strike deadline, as talks are set to resume between the union, Bombardier Aerospace and De Havilland Aircraft of Canada (DHC).
HALIFAX – Unifor Local 4606 members at the Northwood Halifax Campus long-term care facility have voted to accept a new three-year collective agreement that includes wage increases and the addition of a new Racial Justice Advocate.
Forestry workers who have been out of work welcome Paper Excellence’s announcement to spend $350 million to transform the Northern Pulp kraft pulp mill in Pictou that has been in hibernation since 2020.
HAMILTON—GFL Environmental’s refusal to bargain fair wages and benefits for the waste and recycling truck operators deemed “essential” during the pandemic is pushing Local 4268 members towards a strike, said Unifor.
“When GFL customers needed curbside and commercial services during the pandemic, we were there,” said Local 4268 President Debbie Montgomery. “It’s only fair that waste and recycling truck operators are recognized in their next contract.”
Nova Scotia’s health care workers have voted to ratify a new collective agreement. 82 per cent of the members who voted cast their ballot to accept the agreement, which provides for reasonable wage increases in each of the three years it spans, as well as significant language improvements.
Magellan Aerospace has announced the company will withdraw from the Province of Manitoba’s voluntary Pandemic Sick Leave program in a retaliatory move that undermines the province’s COVID-19 strategy according to Unifor.
Nova Scotia is the latest province to work with the federal Liberal government on a national child care plan, tailing B.C.’s similar announcement last week. Now, it’s time for other provinces to step up.
VANCOUVER—Port Metro Vancouver’s plans to download more costs onto drivers during the pandemic is the wrong move and could lead to instability at the port, says Unifor.
“The federal government needs to put the brakes on this program until truckers are consulted about the best way to retire aging trucks,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “We can’t trust the port’s management to do the right thing. This requires government leadership to bring together the parties to achieve a fair solution.”
OTTAWA – Chartwell Stonehaven Retirement Residence workers in Ottawa held a rally demanding their employer rescind its proposal of cutting sick days nearly in half.
Health care workers represented by Unifor Local 8300 will hold a rally to demand the ‘for profit’ Chartwell Retirement Residence negotiate a fair and equitable collective agreement.
TORONTO—Members of Unifor Local 1999 have voted to ratify a new collective agreement that will end the 49-day lockout by Reliance Home Comfort of 830 members at 14 locations across Ontario.
"Reliance's workers are the reason this company is successful. Our members' contribution needed to be recognized in this new collective agreement," said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.
The ratification ends the Ontario-wide boycott campaign launched by Unifor after the employer chose to use scabs to do the work of Local 1999 members.
Halifax – Contract negotiations between health care workers and Northwood long-term care facility have come to a halt due to a lack of a bargaining mandate by the Nova Scotia government, says Unifor.
Irving Shipbuilding’s decision to outsource 15 unionized warehousing jobs to its own subsidiary, Bayside Industries, is a shameful attack on unionized workers, says Unifor.
ST. JOHN’S—The funding agreement reached between the Furey government and Suncor is a blueprint for good jobs and can revitalize the sector, says Unifor.
BURLINGTON—At a rally held outside Reliance Home Comfort’s headquarters, Unifor announced new radio ads promoting the union’s ongoing boycott of the Ontario HVAC company.
“Reliance has locked out front-line COVID heroes and they’re using scabs to cross our picket lines. This unethical company can expect escalating actions in the coming weeks,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.
BURLINGTON—Unifor members will rally at Reliance Home Comfort headquarters to demand the employer end the month-long lock out of 800 workers.
"We are escalating the campaign to encourage customers take their business elsewhere as long as this greedy employer refuses to come to negotiate an end to this lockout," said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.
Unifor launched a province-wide boycott last week and will begin radio ads promoting the boycott this week.
TORONTO- Doug Ford’s conservative government proves it will go to any length to silence critics, as it rams though an unconstitutional bill using a power never resorted to in the history of Ontario.
ST. JOHN’S—At a rally in front of the legislature, Newfoundland and Labrador’s offshore oil and gas supporters told the Furey government and the companies to get back to the table to find a solution to keep the Terra Nova Floating, Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel operational.
ST. JOHN’S—Supporters of the offshore oil and gas industry will hold a demonstration at the provincial legislature to demand the Furey government make a commitment to the Terra Nova.
“Building and maintaining the energy industry requires coordination and investment from all levels of government,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Premier Andrew Furey’s proposal to simply walk away is a slap in the face to the province’s energy sector and the thousands of families it helps support.”
VANCOUVER—Skilled trades workers received a boost from the Horgan government today with the announcement that the province will re-introduce compulsory certification for ten trades, says Unifor.
“The compulsory certification of skilled trades will help keep job sites safer and make the trades more attractive to young people,” said Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor Western Regional Director. “We look forward to working with the government to see more trades added to this initial list of ten.”
ST. JOHN’s—The Newfoundland and Labrador government’s refusal to fulfil its commitment to the Terra Nova project will kill hundreds of good local jobs and undermine the province’s entire oil and gas sector, says Unifor.
“The Furey government has betrayed Newfoundland and Labrador’s energy workers,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “It must live up to its commitments and ensure Terra Nova continues to serve the province as it has for 19 years. It’s not too late.”
Unifor is appalled by Premier Doug Ford’s insistence on denying the people of Ontario their Charter rights by invoking the Notwithstanding clause to trample on voter’s rights.
VANCOUVER— After pressure from Unifor members, transit workers across British Columbia can now show their support for residential school survivors by wearing orange on the job and can tie ribbons to bus mirrors.
“This is a grassroots campaign to demonstrate support for residential school survivors and their families,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.
Last week after requests from Unifor Locals 111 and 2200 in Metro Vancouver, Coast Mountain Bus Company (Translink) approved a five-day uniform policy exemption for orange t-shirts and ribbons.
