Vancouver—An arbitrator has upheld the Container Trucking Act’s wage floor, resulting in $90k in combined damages assessed to trucking companies Aheer Ltd and Sunlover Ltd.
“Yet again, the greediest trucking companies have failed to suppress wages by looking for loopholes in the Container Trucking Act,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “The companies that think they are above the law should be banned from the industry.”
September 13, 2017 Toronto – Reports that the proposed $15 minimum wage will result in the loss of 50,000 jobs in Ontario are misleading says Unifor. “The reality is that 50,000 workers are not expected to lose their jobs,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. “This figure is not a projection of actual lost jobs but rather a combination of estimates that includes potential, but not actual, future job creation and jobs lost to increased automation.”
Victoria—The B.C. budget update formalizes commitments to important gains for working people, says Unifor, Canada’s largest union in the private sector.
“British Columbians are getting the change that they voted for,” said Joie Warnock, Unifor Western Regional Director. “It is already clear that Premier John Horgan can deliver on policy proposals that will make life more affordable for British Columbians.”
September 11, 2017 Ottawa—Canada’s largest union in the rail sector says that Bill C-49’s amendments to the Canada Transportation Act constitute a landmark privacy violation and will not improve safety.
“Recording workers on the job is not a safety tool, it is a surveillance tool,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Managerial digital surveillance in the transportation industry is a dangerous precedent that will eventually spread to other sectors. This cannot become the government standard.”
September 7, 2017 MILTON - For the second day in a row, Unifor brought the call for Northstar Aerospace to fully fund the pension plan right to the company’s doorsteps, with a rally outside its Milton plant. “There are no fences and no security firms big enough to keep us from fighting for justice for these workers,” Unifor National President Jerry Dias told more than 200 people outside the Northstar plant in Milton this afternoon. The company erected two seven-foot fences around the plant and installed 24-hour security guards.
September 6, 2017 TORONTO - The union representing Chinese speaking journalists and media workers at Rogers' OMNI TV is taking legal action in response to the broadcaster's unprecedented subcontracting of its daily news coverage to its only competitor, Fairchild TV. "This $20-billion broadcaster is in violation of its CRTC licence to produce its own news coverage," said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. "Rogers promised the CRTC it would cover the news with its in-house staff.
TORONTO – Unifor is planning another action to demand that Northstar Aerospace fund a dramatic 24 per cent pension deficit for its retirees and members of the Milton plant, represented by Local 112.
“There is no financial reason for Northstar Aerospace to refuse to fund the pension plan. The only excuse is corporate greed,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. “If Northstar won’t meet with us we will take our message to the corporate board to demand action.”
September 5, 2017 Vancouver—Edgewater Casino food service workers received a notice this week that the company is reneging on a job security promise involved with its move this month. “Paragon Gaming’s word isn’t worth a quarter for slot machines,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Food service workers deserve to be treated fairly. Contracting out is a new low for Paragon Gaming and will hurt both patrons and workers.” Paragon Gaming is relocating Edgewater Casino to a new $600 million facility in late September.
September 5, 2017 Mexico City – Unifor put a spotlight on labour rights by bringing workers issues to the forefront during the second round of renegotiations on the North American Free Trade Agreement in Mexico City. “During this round of talks Unifor brought labour rights into discussion with Mexican workers, with NAFTA negotiating teams, and with international media,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias.
September 4, 2017 Mexico City – Unifor National President Jerry Dias has called on the Mexican government for the safe return of the President of the Los Mineros union, who has been living in exile in Canada. “Los Mineros is a leader in the fight for the rights of Mexican workers, but while I have the privilege of standing before you today your President is forced to live in exile in Canada,” Dias told the 500 conference delegates. “Unifor calls on the Mexican government to publicly state that Napoleón Gómez Urrutia can return to home to Mexico with a guarantee of his safety”.
MEDIA ADVISORY September 3, 2017 Mexico City – On Labour Day, Unifor National President Jerry Dias will open the Conference of the National Union of Mine, Metal, Steel and Similar Workers of the Mexican Republic, known as “Los Mineros”. “Los Mineros is a leader in the fight for the rights of Mexican workers, but its President is forced to live in exile in Canada,” said Dias.
September 1, 2017 Mexico City – Unifor joined thousands of Mexican workers at a labour rights rally, as the second round of meetings to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement began in Mexico City. “Donald Trump talks of building a wall. We do not need a wall, we need a bridge,” Unifor National President Jerry Dias told the cheering crowd.
August 31, 2017 Mexico City – As the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade resumes, Unifor National President Jerry Dias will speak to thousands of Mexican workers at a rally for labour rights in Mexico City. “NAFTA may have brought jobs to Mexico, but it did not bring prosperity as international companies instead chose to pit worker against worker in a race to the bottom,” “said Dias. “Unifor stands united with the working people of Mexico.
August 29, 2017 Pittsburgh, PA — Leaders of the U.S. union United Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers of America (UE) and Unifor signed a cooperation agreement to change and renew the North American labor movement, based on shared values and commitment to aggressive struggle, equity and political independence. “Working people in the United States, like working people in Canada, are confronted by rising inequality and a political establishment that refuses to confront that inequality head-on,” said UE General President Peter Knowlton.
Victoria—Workers at the Hotel Grand Pacific have voted 92 per cent in favour of a new three-year collective agreement that secures, among other things, wage gains and a pension plan.
“Unifor contracts in the hotel sector are a ticket to a living wage and job security,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Hotel workers deserve to share in the success and profits of their employers.”
August 25, 2017 Peterborough – General Electric has eliminated approximately 358 good manufacturing jobs as the company announced it will cease operations at its Peterborough, Ontario plant by the end of the third quarter in 2018. “General Electric has been an integral part of Peterborough’s history for over a century,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. “Now the company is rewarding the loyalty of the community by pulling up the stakes and moving jobs out of the country.” The workers, members of Unifor Locals 599 and 524 were informed of the impending shutdown today.
August 22, 2017 Victoria—The bargaining committee of Unifor Local 114 have reached a tentative agreement with the employer. “The Unifor pattern agreement for hotel workers was always going to be the solution to this round of bargaining with the Grand Pacific,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Unifor is committed to fair contracts for hotel workers.” Earlier this month, Local 114 members voted to strike if necessary before the expiration of their current contract on September 1.
Victoria—Members of Unifor Local 114 working for the Hotel Grand Pacific have voted to strike if the employer refuses to bargain a fair deal by September 1 when the current contract expires.
“Other hotels in BC have signed onto a pattern agreement, but the Hotel Grand Pacific refuses to join the norm,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Local 114 members deserve what other hotel workers have achieved, so the Grand Pacific is risking a major customer service interruption to buck the trend.”
VANCOUVER—A planned bump in the minimum wage next month is a good step but the government must commit to a timeline to get to $15 per hour.
“British Columbia’s working poor deserve a $15 per hour minimum wage,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Too many workers, especially in Metro Vancouver, are making impossible choices between paying the rent and other bare necessities like medicine or groceries.”
REGINA— Right-wing Premier Brad Wall’s resignation won’t halt the Sask Party government’s reckless privatization and threats to the integrity of Crown corporations, says Unifor.
“Since the 2016 provincial election, Sask Party cabinet ministers have been sneaking around trying to sell off Crown corporations,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Brad Wall lied in the election and there’s no reason to believe that the rest of his caucus will honour their election promise to keep Saskatchewan’s Crowns public.”
VANCOUVER—Members of Unifor Local 4275 have voted 97% in favour of legal job action if a new contract cannot be reached by this weekend.
“The employer has been dragging their feet. There has been little or no response to our proposals and there are concessions that our members simply cannot afford,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.
The strike vote puts the union in a position to serve 72-hour notice of a legal strike.
VANCOUVER—Nearly 100 food service workers at Edgewater Casino will have to re-apply for their jobs when the company moves to the new facility, says Unifor.
“It’s a kick in the teeth to workers who’ve been working hard and are loyal to this company,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Vancouver has the highest cost of living in Canada, but that doesn’t matter to corporations like Paragon Gaming. Union-busting and wage suppression is the only business model they know.”
July 18, 2017 Toronto—Unifor’s regional councils have added another $120,000 to BC wildfire relief donations, bringing the union’s total Red Cross donation to over $220,000. “I want to thank our regional bodies for stepping up to extend Unifor’s solidarity,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.
Toronto– A renegotiated North American Free Trade Agreement must include fundamental changes, including enforceable labour and environmental standards and the elimination of the disputes settlement system, Unifor tells the federal government.
July 14, 2017 Kitimat—Members of Unifor Local 2301 have voted 99.5% in favour of a strike if a fair deal cannot be reached at the bargaining table before July 23. “Rio Tinto has created a climate of extreme disrespect in the workplace, and it should be no surprise that these workers are fed up,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.
July 13, 2017 Campbell River—Unifor has reached a tentative agreement with Nyrstar at its Campbell River ore mine. “This is great news for workers and the community that has been impacted by unpredictable closures,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Our members are eager to get the mine fully operational again.” A combination of factors led the mine to slow operations nearly two years ago, reaching a total shut down in April 2017. Since then, Unifor has been working to help miners get re-training and find other work.
Toronto—Unifor is responding to the wildfire crisis in BC’s Interior with a $100,000 donation to the Canadian Red Cross, and is encouraging its local unions and members to give.
“Unifor members have been following the devastation caused by the fires very closely and we feel compelled to act,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “We encourage Unifor members and all Canadians to make a donation to the Red Cross so that the affected families can rebuild and recover.”
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