OTTAWA—Today Unifor learned that the Supreme Court of Canada will not be hearing Unifor’s case regarding random drug and alcohol testing.
As a result, the union’s grievance will be re-heard by a new arbitration panel. Unifor is confident that it will prevail before the new arbitration panel.
"There is no evidence that random testing improves safety," said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. "Unifor is committed to reliable methods to keep our members safe on the job while respecting their dignity."
HALIFAX - Representatives Unifor local MWF 1, which served 48 hour strike notice last night will hold a news conference to discuss the labour dispute with Irving Shipbuilding. No other interviews will be done until this time. What: Unifor Local MWF 1 News Conference When: 2 pm Thursday June 14, 2018 Where: 2nd floor Boardroom, 63 Otter Lake Court, Halifax
HALIFAX - Members of Unifor MWF 1 have voted to reject a tentative agreement with Irving Shipbuilding by 75 per cent after eight months of tense negotiations in Halifax.
“This is not just about economics, it’s about respect for workers and fixing the workplace for members and they are clearly sending a strong message to Irving today,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.
June 13, 2018 TORONTO - Canada’s largest media union is alarmed to see Ontario’s only French public broadcaster, Télévision française de l'Ontario (TFO), cut programs and lay off 37 workers, including 11 Unifor members. “Lack of provincial funding means the more than 600 thousand Ontario francophones will have fewer options to see Canadian programming, and our members are losing their jobs needlessly,” said Richard Paquin, Unifor National Representative.
BRAMPTON–On Thursday, June 14, a delegation of workers, including Unifor activists from Local 414 will hold a rally calling on the Peel Region council to keep the existing Holiday Shopping bylaw.
VANCOUVER—The British Columbia Container Trucking Commissioner has levied another significant fine against a trucking company for violating the law, this time against Aheer Transportation Limited.
TORONTO – Unifor, representing approximately 500 airport limousine drivers, stands opposed to the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) decision to allow Uber and Lyft ride service drivers to pick up passengers at Toronto’s Pearson Airport.
Sudbury – Gateway Casinos Sudbury announced Monday that seven of 40 workers will be laid off, and Unifor said the job loss is the direct result of privatization in Ontario gaming operations.
TORONTO - Ford win demonstrates need for continued activism to defend public services, workers’ rights and equity in Ontario.
“If Doug Ford thinks that the result of this election is a carte-blanche to wage attacks on workers and unleash cuts to public services from the PC handbook, then he’s about to be very surprised,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Working people in Ontario are strong, organized, and will continue to defend the gains we have made and push to make life better for all working people. Our mobilization starts today.”
HAMILTON - Naureen Rizvi will be available to comment on workers’ position concerning the provincial election race and results on Thursday, June 7.
“Unifor members and workers across the province made the case for a better future for Ontarians in this election, one with universal public services and good jobs for all,” said Naureen Rizvi, Unifor Ontario Regional Director. “The result of this election will shape the future for all people who call Ontario home, and Unifor is ready to continue to push for progress, no matter the outcome.”
OTTAWA—The union representing 12,000 Canadian journalists and media workers has endorsed the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission’s call for a “bold and judicious” overhaul of federal media regulation.
May 31, 2018 MONCTON – Premier Brian Gallant will deliver a keynote speech at Unifor’s Atlantic Regional Council in Moncton on Friday June 1, 2018. The annual Council with more than 200 delegates from across the region is meeting between May 31–June 2. “We are pleased the Premier will address our local union leaders who come from all corners of Atlantic Canada and work in every sector of the economy,” said Lana Payne, Unifor Atlantic Regional Director. Unifor represents more than 35,000 workers in the region, including 7,200 from New Brunswick.
VANCOUVER—The B.C. Court of Appeal has dismissed two container trucking companies’ challenge to the Container Trucking Act.
“Corporate greed loses again,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Unifor worked closely with both levels of governments to arrive at a fair system that levels the playing field for all trucking companies—but not all companies want to play fair.”
SURREY—Striking Unifor Local 3000 members at the Sheraton Vancouver Guildford Hotel have voted 92 per cent in favour of a new three-year collective agreement, ending the four-week strike.
“Unifor is a strong union for hotel workers,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “I’m proud of Local 3000 members who fought to get what they’ve earned from this employer.”
OTTAWA – Unifor members from across Canada are on Parliament Hill to lobby MPs for an expansion of public services, including national child care and pharmacare programs, and action on climate change.
WINDSOR – A tentative deal has been reached with Postmedia just hours before a strike deadline at the Windsor Star.
“We are relieved to have reached a tentative agreement that we can recommend to our members who have been serving this community by providing high-quality daily local news for decades,” said Julie Kotsis, Chair of the Joint Council of Unions, which represents members of Unifor Locals 240 and 517-G, as well as Communications Workers of America-Canada Local 30553.
VANCOUVER—The wage increases and enhanced resources for reliable enforcement measures announced today by the Government of British Columbia will help container truckers earn a decent living and move closer towards peace at Vancouver’s ports, says Unifor.
“Unifor worked hard to negotiate a plan that all sides agreed to,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Unlike its predecessors, this government is moving to faithfully implement the signed plan.”
WINDSOR - Daily local news coverage in Windsor is under threat as owners of the Windsor Star seek massive concessions, while a midnight Friday strike deadline looms.
“Our newsroom has shrunk by more than 25 per cent as Postmedia seeks multi-year wage freezes while executive compensation climbed on average 33 per cent last year,” said Julie Kotsis, Chair of the Joint Council of Unions, which is bargaining for members of Unifor Locals 240 and 517-G, as well as Communications Workers of America-Canada Local 30553.
SURREY—Workers at one of Surrey’s largest hotels have walked off the job after the employer refused to bargain with the union.
“It is a total lack of respect for the workers who make that hotel a success,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Hospitality workers deserve good working conditions and fair compensation.”
Job action began at 4:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 1 after the Collective Agreement expired.
GODERICH—The employer’s demand for concessions have forced mine workers at the Compass Minerals’ facility in Goderich to take legal job action.
“Our members are pivotal to the success of the Goderich mine,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Miners deserve a fair deal, not dramatic concessions.”
April 28, 2018 AJAX – Unifor members at Lear Ajax began strike action as of 12:01 a.m. April 28 after negotiations to secure a new collective agreement failed. “Unifor bargained up until the deadline but unfortunately it became clear that Lear was just unwilling to make a fair offer,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. The 320 workers, represented by Unifor Local 222, had delivered an overwhelming 99 per cent strike mandate earlier this week.
SURREY— The employer’s refusal to respond to the union’s proposals has forced Unifor Local 3000 to serve 84-hour strike notice at one of Surrey’s largest hotels.
“Reckless bargaining by the employer is going to result in a disruption in customer service,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “We’re prepared to bargain but the Sheraton hasn’t demonstrated the same commitment to getting a contract.”
TORONTO—Unifor joins several stakeholders, including most Canadian airport authorities, in celebrating news that the federal government’s controversial study of airport privatization has been shelved.
“Privatization is a scam that threatens the security and service at Canadian airports,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Airports are too important to be left to privatization experiments with the private sector.”
April 21, 2018 TORONTO – Unifor National President Jerry Dias is available to comment on the government review of personal emergency leave for auto workers. The review comes after Ontario Labour Minister Kevin Flynn met with a Unifor led delegation of unionized and non-unionized auto workers. “We had a frank discussion on how regulation 502/06 creates a lesser standard of personal emergency leave for auto sector workers. It is unfair and is hurting workers and their families,” said Dias.
VICTORIA—A forestry roundtable convened to deal with the crisis caused by U.S. tariffs on five Canadian paper mills has resolved to protect affected communities and recruit the federal government to fight back.
“President Trump’s tariffs on paper mills are grossly unfair and may cause several mill closures,” said Scott Doherty, Executive Assistant to the Unifor National President, who was at the meeting. “The federal government needs to act now to protect forestry communities and good Canadian jobs."
WINDSOR - On Sunday April 22, Unifor is holding a community rally to support striking Caesars Windsor hospitality workers calling for respect and demanding a better contract to address workload issues.
VANCOUVER—Eliminating two sub-minimum wages is an important step for reducing exploitation and poverty of some of the province’s most vulnerable workers, says Unifor.
“Liquor servers and others struggling under the sub-minimum wage deserve a raise,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “We look forward to working with the British Columbia government to use employment standards improvements to make these wage gains go even further.”
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