TORONTO—Unifor members at the Delta Hotels Toronto Airport & Conference Centre are the fifth Local 7575 unit to negotiate significant improvements this fall.
“We are making significant progress turning more precarious casual and part-time jobs into full-time jobs,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Now that Doug Ford is stripping workers of basic rights, creating secure full-time work in Ontario’s hospitality industry is even more important.”
Fish harvesters are expressing their frustration with what they feel is a lack of respect and consideration from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Science branch when it comes to engagement and consultation.
TORONTO – The Progressive Conservative’s fall economic update is a clear signal that austerity measures are coming to Ontario.
“Doug Ford’s economic plan won’t lift Ontario working families out of poverty, it will take them back to the days of Mike Harris,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. “Like Harris, Doug Ford is hiding austerity measures under the guise of efficiencies.”
TORONTO – Unionized workers at The Globe and Mail could be on strike by midnight Wednesday as they seek pension protection and an end to a pay gap between male and female employees.
“There is no excuse for a pay gap between women and men at a newspaper that considers itself Canada’s paper of record,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor’s National President.
MISSISSAUGA—Nestlé’s subsidiary Purina will force at least 87 Canadians out of work when the GTA pet food manufacturer moves operations to the United States in 2019.
“There’s no reason for Nestlé to close this facility,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Generations of Canadians have worked at Purina since 1967 and now politics is forcing people out of work.”
TORONTO- Unifor members at Bombardier were left in the dark when the Company announced plans to cut 5000 jobs globally. Bombardier also announced the sales of its Q Series turboprop aircraft program and business aircraft flight and technical training units.
“Today’s announcement came as a complete shock,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Bombardier has backtracked on commitments made during bargaining. This sends a troubling message to aerospace workers.”
OTTAWA – Unifor delegates from the aluminum sector will meet with MPs from all parties to urge action to address the 10 per cent tariff imposed on Canadian producers by the United States.
TORONTO— A reform announced today by Minister Hajdu in Toronto will extend Canadian Labour Code wage protection to airport workers who face contract flipping.
“Contract flipping at Canada’s airports, with the intent to lower working conditions, eats away at the foundation of good jobs in our country,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Today’s announcement by Minister Hajdu is a victory for our union that has been years in the making.”
HALIFAX – Unifor is concerned by the federal government’s decision to divide maintenance work on Halifax-class ships, but hopes for positive news tomorrow.
CALGARY—Bargaining for a new collective agreement began this morning in Calgary between Unifor Local 101R and Canadian Pacific.
“Our members are frustrated by heavy handed, unreasonable discipline that breeds distrust on a daily basis, and creates financial hardship and stress for families,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.
Unifor Local 101R represents 1200 workers from British Columbia to Quebec, who service locomotives and freight cars, and produce track and freight car/locomotive components.
OTTAWA - Unifor welcomes the federal government's launch of proactive pay equity legislation to close the gender wage gap in federally regulated sectors.
“It’s time that we address the undervaluing of women’s work and put measures in place to ensure compliance, and the proposed Pay Equity Act does just that,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “This is what our members have been pushing for in consultations across the country.”
TORONTO- Premier Doug Ford’s plan to scrap Ontario College of Trades could erode quality and harm skilled trades workers.
“Skilled trades workers fought hard for the establishment of the Ontario College of Trades - to ensure high-quality workmanship that Ontarians can rely on,” said Naureen Rizvi, Unifor Ontario Regional Director. “Apprentices in the trades need reliable training to support their learning, and a united, independent OCOT to maintain safety and excellence in Ontario’s skilled trades.”
OTTAWA- The union representing 12,000 Canadian journalists and media workers is urging members of the federal cabinet to implement key policy recommendations from the 2017 Commons Heritage report on local news in the upcoming federal budget.
TORONTO- Unifor condemns the provincial government’s plan to claw back workers’ rights and protections.
“Fair scheduling, equal pay for equal work, paid sick days. These rights are not frivolous- they are practical, minimum standard for fairness. Standards that help grow good jobs and keep workers safe,” Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “This Act is a direct attack on millions of workers, backed up by an imaginary crisis.”
FREDERICTON – Unifor is calling on all New Brunswick MLAs to support today’s Throne Speech.
The results of the provincial election dictate that collaboration and consensus-building are expected by New Brunswickers, and this Throne Speech is evidence the Liberals were listening.
The Speech contains a number of initiatives that can and should be supported by most if not all the political parties.
TORONTO – Two thousand Unifor members and retirees are expected to join the rally with the Ontario Health Coalition and other advocates to defend public health care on Tuesday, October 23, at Queen’s Park, Toronto.
OSHAWA—The Unifor bargaining committee representing 73 transit workers has reached a tentative agreement with PW Transit. “Unifor is a union for transit workers,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Our members do important work in the regional transit network and deserve a fair contract.” The committee worked late into the night to secure the tentative agreement.
October 19, 2018 OTTAWA – A delegation of Unifor activists and leaders will be in Ottawa next week to urge the federal government to take action to address the crisis in Canadian journalism as newsrooms continue to shrink across the country. “There are plenty of things the federal government can do to stop the drain of revenues to Facebook and Google and boost Canadian media,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.
OSHAWA—Pacific Western Transit’s failure to negotiate a fair contract means more than 73 transit workers could be on strike as of October 27 at midnight.
“Our members are proud to serve their communities in Durham,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Fairness for these workers needs to be a higher priority.”
HALIFAX – Hundreds of Unifor members and supporters will depart from the Irving Shipyard and march along Barrington Street to Grand Parade on Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. to support the Ships Stay Here campaign.
POWELL RIVER—Unifor members at three B.C. paper mills are welcoming news that a major paper manufacturer has stepped in to purchase the troubled Catalyst Paper.
“A vibrant forestry industry is pivotal to so many B.C. communities,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “B.C.’s pulp and paper industry is both environmentally sustainable and a source of good jobs.”
TORONTO—Unifor Local 7575 members at the Hyatt Regency hotel have voted to ratify a new collective agreement that includes major economic gains and secures good jobs in the industry.
“Unifor’s new members in the hospitality industry are seeing tangible benefits of joining an activist union,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Unifor has proven that we will fight for sector-leading collective agreements."
