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.
October 8, 2020 ST. JOHN’S–Striking Dominion workers have formed a human solidarity chain at Kevin’s No Frills in St. John’s, a partner of Dominion parent company Loblaw Companies Limited. “Today’s strike action is part of our ongoing campaign to get Loblaw to return to the bargaining table with a fair offer,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias.
Striking Dominion workers are helping to provide meals to food insecure people across Newfoundland and Labrador with a Thanksgiving food drive at picket lines across the province.
A panel of judges of the Ontario Divisional Court has set aside a November 2019 arbitrator’s decision that allowed the closure of Nemak’s Windsor plant. The arbitrator cleared the way for the transfer of specialized General Motors work to Mexico causing the loss of approximately 200 jobs.
VANCOUVER—The targeted action for transit users, renters, and working people in premier John Horgan’s platform helps form a vision for B.C.’s future that leaves no one behind, says Unifor.
“John Horgan is the right leader to help navigate British Columbia through challenging times,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “The platform released by Horgan today shows that he wants to continue supporting people through this pandemic while helping make life more affordable for working families.”
TORONTO – Today the Chief Medical Officer of Health issued Directive #5, which provides clear guidance that N-95 or superior protection masks, face shields and other equipment are to be provided to health care staff working on the front line in long-term care facilities or hospitals dealing with COVID-19 outbreaks, among other improvements. “The updated standards in Directive #5 are the culmination of many hours of frank and open collaboration with the Ministry of Health.
ST. JOHN’S–Striking Dominion workers will hold a picket line food drive to help local charities provide Thanksgiving meals to families in need.
“These workers want to make sure that no one goes hungry on Thanksgiving,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Unifor Dominion members will be accepting donations that would normally be made in store at all picket line locations to be distributed to food insecure families across the province.”
Unifor appreciates the recognition of personal support workers in the temporary wage enhancement but demands the Ontario government not exclude all other frontline workers.
Today, Canadian union leaders representing more than 310,000 Canadian workers are calling on the Trudeau government to take urgent, concrete steps to prevent permanent, long-lasting damage to the aviation sector by providing direct support.
October 1, 2020 HAMILTON– Torstar has reversed the elimination of 24 jobs at the Hamilton Spectator classified call centre, following collaborative consultation with Unifor. “We’re pleased that our union was able to work together with Torstar to find an alternative solution to moving these jobs to the United States so that Canadians can remain employed,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias.
FREDERICTON— Unifor is calling the expected closure of Clinic 554 today a failure of Premier Higgs’ government to provide adequate health care services and protect New Brunswickers.
