June 16, 2017 Toronto - The union representing 12,000 Canadian journalists and media workers joined today with News Media Canada in requesting a federal fund to support Canadian news outlets. “Canadian journalism is essential to our democracy. The proposal for an expanded Canadian Periodical Fund will put journalists back on the street at a time when the advertising revenue that pays for them is being stripped away by Google and Facebook,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.
June 16, 2017 Toronto, ON – Toronto 2017 North American Indigenous Games (NAIG) Host Society announced Unifor as a presenting partner for the multi-sport Games, taking place in the City of Toronto and Greater Toronto Area (GTA), this summer from July 16-23. Details of the Unifor agreement include official naming rights to the two, week-long cultural festivals on the campuses of McMaster University and York University, as well as naming rights to all medal ceremonies taking place at both the cultural festival sites and various sport venues.
June 15, 2017 TORONTO- Unifor welcomes the Heritage Committee report on Canadian media and local news. “The Heritage Committee conducted a 15-month study of Canadian media and have recommended 21st century solutions for 21st century problems,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias.
June 12, 2017 Toronto – Today's child care announcement by federal and provincial and territorial ministers responsible for early childhood education on a long-awaited framework agreement falls far short of what Canadians need. "Children are missing out on early learning and development opportunities and society is missing out on the talents of workers - mostly women - who cannot afford to enter or re-enter the workforce," said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.
Toronto - Unifor is calling on the federal and provincial governments to put a halt to the practice by clinics of charging user-fees for necessary health services, as found in a ground-breaking new report by the Ontario Health Coalition.
“Health care should never be a money-making venture,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. “The growth in private clinics is undermining universal accessible health care. Governments should not be so naïve to believe that the two can co-exist, without destroying our cherished public health care system.”
Thursday, June 1, 2017 Prince George—Pattern bargaining for Western Canada’s pulp and paper sector has concluded with a four-year tentative agreement signed by Unifor, the Public and Private Workers of Canada (PPWC), and Canfor Pulp. “The tentative agreement signed today reflects the important contributions of our members at pulp and paper workplaces across the West,” said Joie Warnock, Unifor’s Western Regional Director. Today’s tentative agreement with Canfor Pulp will set the pattern for Unifor and PPWC’s 17 other pulp and paper mills in BC and Alberta.
Monday, May 29, 2017 Victoria—The coalition announced by BC NDP Leader John Horgan and BC Green Leader Andrew Weaver reflects the will of BC’s voters and can initiate positive change, says Unifor. “This is a historic day that our members worked very hard for,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “The BC Liberals governed for their wealthy donors.
Thursday, May 25, 2017 Edmonton—Members of Unifor Local 21-A have voted to ratify a new three-year collective agreement with Imperial Oil at its Strathcona facility. “This was a tough round of negotiations but our bargaining committee persevered with a deal that they can be proud of,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. The new contract meets the intent of Unifor’s national pattern for bargaining in the energy sector and includes wage increases of 2% in year two and 2.5% in year three.
Tuesday, May 16, 2017 Nanticoke—The Unifor bargaining committee representing workers at the Nanticoke Imperial Oil facility have reached a tentative collective agreement with the employer. “I’m very proud of the skill shown by the bargaining team to get us a fair deal that matches the pattern Unifor set in the industry,” said Dan Valente, Unifor National Representative. “It was not easy but we achieved our main goals.” Unifor bargained a pattern agreement for the energy and chemical sector in 2016.
Wednesday, May 10, 2017 Vancouver—A likely BC Liberal minority government means that major pieces of legislation will require discussion, debate, and cooperation in the next legislative session. “Despite what our antiquated first past the post system produced last night, it’s clear that a majority of British Columbians want change,” said Joie Warnock, Unifor Western Regional Director.
Campbell River—Workers at the Myra Falls mine were surprised to learn that an area BC Liberal candidate was taking credit for the mine’s re-opening.
“Workers don’t appreciate being used as pawns in the election,” said Joie Warnock, Unifor Western Director. “Wearing a hard hat at a photo op is not the same thing as negotiating the re-opening of a mine.”
Monday, May 1, 2017 Vancouver—After months of bargaining, a four-year tentative agreement between Unifor and Loomis Express was signed late Sunday night. “The bargaining committee has secured a deal that includes strong gains for Loomis Express workers,” said Todd Romanow, Unifor National Representative. “I’m very proud of what the committee was able to achieve.” Unifor’s members at Loomis Express have been bargaining since January 2017. In March, union members voted 93% in favour of a strike if the company couldn’t negotiate a fair agreement by early May.
Regina—Unifor is calling on the Sask Party government to disclose why it is in such a hurry to make Bill 40 law, especially given an election promise to keep Crown corporations public.
“On Monday Bill 40 hadn’t been studied by a legislative committee. On Thursday it is law. Why the rush?” said Joie Warnock, Unifor Western Director. “Has Brad Wall already agreed to privatize something behind closed doors?”
Thursday, April 27, 2017 Vancouver—Contract talks between Unifor and Loomis Express may not be progressing enough to avoid job action, according to Unifor’s chief negotiator at the table. “I’m not encouraged by the pace of bargaining at this late stage,” said Todd Romanow, Unifor National Representative. “Our members deserve a contract that acknowledges their important contributions to the profitability of Loomis Express.” On April 21 Unifor’s members at Loomis voted to strike if bargaining doesn’t achieve a fair collective agreement by early May.
Regina—Another Brad Wall election promise was broken today as the Sask Party government used its majority to force through legislation to enable privatization of Crown corporations. “
Bill 40 has one goal: to make it easier to sell off our Crown corporations,” said Joie Warnock, Unifor Western Region Director. “Privatization of any fraction of Crown corporations is a betrayal of what Brad Wall told voters in 2016.”
Monday, April 24, 2017 Ottawa—Canada’s 202,000 forestry workers are waiting with bated breath to see if Prime Minister Trudeau has a plan to deal with U.S. lumber tariffs—which could be levied as early as Tuesday. “It’s hard to exaggerate the impact tariffs will have on hundreds of small communities. The federal government needs to have a plan in place and act swiftly,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. As Canada’s third largest export sector, forestry directly employs 202,000 people in every region of the country.
Thursday April 20, 2017 Paul Godfrey, President and CEO of Postmedia and Brian Gibson, President of the Media Union of BC, Unifor Local 2000 are pleased to announce that the tentative collective agreement announced on April 15, 2017 was ratified at a vote of members on April 19, 2017. “This is a good example of management and the union working together to find efficiencies within the collective agreement that allowed us to preserve content and invest in our editorial products,” said Paul Godfrey.
Tuesday, April 11, 2017 Winnipeg—Conservative Premier Brian Pallister’s second budget puts the province’s future at risk with cuts to services and higher costs for young people. “Cuts are cuts, and Manitoba’s families will feel them immediately,” said Paul McKie, Unifor Area Director. Unifor says that Minister of Finance Cameron Friesen is misleading Manitobans when he claims that there are tax cuts in the budget because students and families will pay more as a result of higher tuition fees and less financial aid.
WATERLOO, April 2 – Workers, represented by Unifor Local 4304, at the Grand River Transit Authority reached a tentative agreement, averting a strike set to begin in Kitchener-Waterloo and Cambridge on Monday morning. “After intense negotiations this weekend, the union is pleased to have reached a mutual agreement with the employer to address Unifor’s main concerns, and will keep our drivers on the road serving the people of Kitchener-Waterloo and Cambridge,” said Tim Mitchell, Unifor National Representative.
Regina—Gil Le Dressay, Vice President of Refinery Operations and Scott Doherty, Executive Assistant to the Unifor National President are pleased to announce that the two sides have reached a tentative collective bargaining agreement.
“We are pleased that we could reach an agreement that was fair for both sides. While the agreement is still tentative pending ratification by the membership we are encouraged by Unifor’s support for the agreement,” said Le Dressay.
The transit authority’s refusal to augment training and take working conditions seriously will result in service disruption in the Kitchener-Waterloo and Cambridge area.
Monday, March 27, 2017 Waterloo— Voting on a tentative agreement for Grand River Transit (GRT) drivers has yielded a split result, so transit service will continue during more negotiations. “There are aspects of the agreement that were rejected and remain unresolved,” said Tim Mitchell, Unifor National Representative. Unifor Local 4304 has reached out to the employer to return to the table this week to avoid job action, but the union warns that GRT has to be committed to progress.
Unifor invites former General Electric-Canada Peterborough workers, their families, and the community to attend information sessions on Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) claims related to hazardous material exposure at the plant. Unifor will be in attendance to aid current and former members who have or are considering an occupational disease claim. Information will be provided on the claims system, the status of cases, and the next steps in the process.
Wednesday, March 22, 2017 Regina—The Sask Party has introduced measures that punish families and could slow the economy even further—exactly the opposite of what the province needs, says Unifor. “The Sask Party has failed voters. This government has created a mess of our province’s finances yet they’ve asked families, the working people of the province, to bail them out,” said Paul McKie, Unifor Area Director.
OTTAWA, March 22 – While today’s federal budget contains several encouraging elements to grow and strengthen an economy that helps working people and their families, more could have been done, says Unifor National President Jerry Dias. “It is encouraging to see investment measures in this budget that will help workers, their families and their communities to build better futures,” Unifor National President Jerry Dias said.
OTTAWA – Unifor National President Jerry Dias will be in the Centre Block of Parliament as the federal budget is released on Wednesday, and available to do media interviews on what the budget means for working Canadians.
“Working people in Canada need a budget that addresses the real needs they face and creates opportunities for them, their families and their communities to prosper,” Dias said. “Canadians need to know that their government is working to improve their lives.”
OTTAWA, March 21 – Unifor National President Jerry Dias will be in the Centre Block of Parliament as the federal budget is released on Wednesday, and available to do media interviews on what the budget means for working Canadians.
“Working people in Canada need a budget that addresses the real needs they face and creates opportunities for them, their families and their communities to prosper,” Dias said. “Canadians need to know that their government is working to improve their lives.”
Toronto - Unifor’s East Danforth Community Chapter and the South Asian Women’s Rights Organization will host a public forum on March 23 to reveal the illegal, unfair and discriminatory employment practices of temporary agencies. “Illegal working conditions are experienced by too many workers, but our voices are often silenced as we move from job to job,” said Syeda Sabiha President of the Unifor East Danforth Community Chapter.
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