November 27, 2020 VANCOUVER – As British Columbia’s largest transit worker union, Unifor is calling for additional transit security resources to enforce COVID-19 mask requirements. “Insufficient transit security and police presence has put drivers in the dangerous position of dealing with passengers who refuse to comply with public health regulations that require masks onboard public busses,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias.
TORONTO—The federal government’s new legislation to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 is a step in the right direction, says Unifor.
“Canada can meet international climate change obligations and create good jobs at the same time,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Workers must be involved in decisions about our jobs and our communities. Nothing about us without us.”
WINNIPEG—Elections Manitoba has dismissed all complaints filed against Unifor by the Progressive Conservative Party during the 2019 provincial election.
“Brian Pallister attempted to use Manitoba’s election financing laws to bully one of his most effective critics. He failed,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Pallister was looking for any excuse to distract voters from his record in office.”
TORONTO—Unifor has published a new tool for working people to make sense of the government spending undertaken to prop up the economy and keep Canadians working.
November 13, 2020 ST. JOHN’S – Dominion workers have ratified a new collective agreement, ending a 12-week long strike action at stores across Newfoundland. “These workers were the first to undertake meaningful strike action to draw attention to a business model in Canadian retail that fails workers,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias.
Unifor members at General Motors in St. Catharines, Oshawa and Woodstock have voted 85 per cent to ratify a new three-year collective agreement that includes significant investments, job security and economic gains.
November 07, 2020 ST. JOHN’S–Today Unifor received a final offer to 1,400 striking Dominion workers from Loblaw Companies Limited (Loblaw Co.) through the provincially appointed mediator Wayne Fowler. The bargaining committee has agreed to present the final offer to the members of Unifor 597 for ratification votes. Details of the offer will be presented to members on Monday, when voting will begin. A full meeting schedule will be provided to members tomorrow. The ratification votes will take place at picket lines across the province during the week of November 9, 2020.
November 07, 2020 ST. JOHN’S–The Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador has again refused to grant Weston Foods Canada Ltd. an emergency injunction against a secondary picket by striking Dominion workers at the company’s bakery in Mount Pearl, Newfoundland. “Weston Foods has repeatedly tried to use the courts to stop this peaceful secondary picket and has once again been denied,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias.
TORONTO- Ontario budget begins to set the course for economic recovery, but Ontario workers must maintain pressure for a fair and equitable vision.
“Unifor members were wanting to see signs of investment in telecommunications and a made-in-Ontario manufacturing plan,” Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Though we saw some of those steps in today’s budget, we will keep up the pressure until we see economic recovery that benefits all workers.”
Unifor’s Master Bargaining Committee has reached a tentative agreement with General Motors that includes a $1.3 billion investment that brings truck assembly back to the Oshawa plant, plus new investments to the St. Catharines Powertrain Plant and Woodstock Parts Distribution Centre.
Unifor has resumed a secondary picket line at the Weston’s bakery in Mount Pearl, Newfoundland, as part of escalating action by the province’s 1,400 Dominion store workers, in week 11 of an ongoing strike against Loblaw Companies Limited (Loblaw Co.).
TORONTO—Unifor’s master bargaining committee has decided to continue bargaining with General Motors Canada past the strike deadline of 11:59 p.m. tonight.
“The master bargaining committee is ready to negotiate all night if needed to fight for our members in St. Catharines, Oshawa and Woodstock to give GM ample opportunity to work with us to achieve a fair settlement and avoid a work stoppage,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.
TORONTO—Unifor’s Master Bargaining Committee has reached a tentative agreement that is being unanimously recommended for 1700 members working at General Motors in St.
Unifor’s National President will provide an update on negotiations with General Motors at a virtual news conference streamed live on Facebook tomorrow morning.
Unifor welcomes the announcement today that the CRTC will be given the power to compel foreign internet giants to create, stream and broadcast more Canadian content, something that is long overdue.
Unifor is holding a three-city action against Loblaw Companies Limited (Loblaw Co.) in support of 1,400 striking workers at Newfoundland Dominion stores.
The Ontario government announced today to finally do what Unifor members and long-term care workers have demanded for years, to establish an average of four hours of direct care for long-term care residents by 2024-2025.
October 30, 2020 ST. JOHN’S–Unifor, on behalf of striking Dominion workers, is filing a lawsuit against the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary (RNC) for violating the rights of workers at a legal picket location. “The RNC brought tactical and riot squads to a peaceful picket location where police officers proceeded to threaten workers with criminal charges,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias.
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
