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Pallister singles out most vulnerable workers for first labour attack

WINNIPEG, June 15, 2016 /CNW/ - Manitoba's most vulnerable workers will have fewer rights if Bill 7 becomes law, says Unifor.

"Brian Pallister is a bully who picks on those who can't defend themselves," said Jerry Dias, Unifor's National President. "Bill 7 was designed to keep Manitoba's most vulnerable workers poor and powerless."

Media Advisory Unifor National President to speak at Toronto Town Hall on TPP

TORONTO, June 14, 2016 /CNW/ - Unifor National President, Jerry Dias will participate in a public town hall to discuss the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement on Wednesday, June 15 at the University of Toronto.

The town hall meeting is organized by Global Affairs Canada and is part of a series of public consultations on the TPP being conducted by the federal government across the country.

Strike averted: Unifor and VIA reach tentative agreement

TORONTO, June 12, 2016 /CNW/ - Unifor has reached a tentative agreement with VIA Rail, avoiding a work stoppage that could have begun as early as Monday morning.  The new four-year tentative agreement was reached about an hour before the strike deadline of Sunday at 11:59 p.m.

Unifor standing up for workers at Whitby parts plant

WHITBY, ON, June 3, 2016 /CNW/ - With the unexpected announcement of some 270 auto parts jobs being lost at Johnson Controls Inc. in Whitby, Unifor is advocating for good jobs to be maintained in the plant or in the local area, and its members to stay with the work.

Unifor Auto Council calls for new investment in Canada

LONDON, ON, June 1, 2016 /CNW/ - Meeting in advance of the start of bargaining with the Detroit Three auto companies this summer, delegates to the Unifor Auto Council voted unanimously to make new investments in Canada, including new product allocations, the top priority of the talks.

Media Advisory - Union representing crown corporations' workers available for budget comment

REGINA, June 1, 2016 /CNW/ - The union representing most of the workers employed by Saskatchewan's Crown corporations will be available for comment following the tabling of the provincial budget.

"Accounting isn't this government's strong suit, so we'll be watching closely how the budget represents crown revenues and dividends," said Susan Saunders, Unifor National Representative.

Sunwing pilots ratify new collective agreement

TORONTO, May 31, 2016 /CNW/ - Pilots at Sunwing Airlines Inc., represented by Unifor Local 7378, have ratified a new collective agreement that breaks new ground for flight crew members.

"I would like to congratulate the bargaining committee and the Master Executive Council for their determination and loyalty to their members, this agreement could not have been reached without the support of the membership," said Joel Fournier, Unifor Director of Transportation.

Pacific Coach Lines workers ratify collective agreement

VANCOUVER, May 24, 2016 /CNW/ - Members of Unifor Local 114, representing 77 drivers, mechanics, service staff and ticket agents, have ratified a new 4 year collective agreement with Pacific Coach Lines.  

The new contract was ratified May 17th with 98 per cent of members voting in favour.  The deal improves benefit qualification, full time classification and severance packages for long-serving members.

Unifor Says Pipeline Expansion Is Short-Sighted

TORONTO, May 19, 2016 /CNW/ - Unifor is disappointed with the National Energy Board's (NEB) short-sighted decision to support the Trans Mountain Expansion Project, one that poses risks for the economy, Canadian jobs, and food security.

SaskTel workers ratify collective agreement

REGINA, May 19, 2016 /CNW/ - Members of Unifor Locals 1-S, 2-S and 3 have voted to support a new three-year collective agreement with SaskTel, as recommended by the union's bargaining committee.  The new contract was ratified May 19.

RNAO call for RN-only care is irresponsible

TORONTO, May 19, 2016 /CNW/ - In response to an inflammatory report by the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO), Jerry Dias, Unifor National President, has written to Ontario Health Minister Eric Hoskins calling on the Minister to convene a stakeholder panel.

Unifor marks first ever Personal Support Worker Day, calls for safer workplaces

TORONTO, May 19, 2016 /CNW/ - Unifor salutes the many thousands of Unifor members employed as Personal Support Workers (PSWs) as Ontario celebrates the first ever Personal Support Worker Day. PSWs are a vital and substantial portion of Ontario's health care workforce and provide much needed assistance in the activities of daily living for residents and clients in hospitals, in long-term care or home care. 

Unifor to appeal ruling on Suncor drug and alcohol testing program

FORT MCMURRAY, AB, May 18, 2016 /CNW/ - Unifor 707-A has announced the Union will appeal the Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta's decision to quash a previous Arbitration Panel ruling prohibiting the random drug and alcohol testing of the Union's members at Suncor in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo.

ORPP addresses retirement income crisis: Unifor

TORONTO, May 16, 2016 /CNW/ - Unifor commends the Ontario government for the significant contribution the Ontario Retirement Pension Plan will make to the retirement income security of Ontarians. Ontario is introducing the only major social program in Canada in many years.

Pulp and paper unions meet to develop bargaining strategy

VANCOUVER, May 13, 2016 /CNW/ - Unifor and the Public and Private Workers of Canada (PPWC) met this week in Vancouver to prepare for bargaining in 2017. This is the third joint meeting of the two largest unions in Canada's pulp and paper sector.

Advisory: Unifor to hold Parallel People's Trade Hearings on the TPP

TORONTO, May 10, 2016 /CNW/ - Canada's largest union in the private sector will be participating in two rallies this week outside consultations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal as the federal government's trade committee visits Windsor and Toronto.

PCL serves lock-out notice to its workers in an attempt to dodge severance obligations

VANCOUVER, May 6, 2016 /CNW/ - Shuttle company Pacific Coach Lines intends to lock-out over 70 members of Unifor Local 114 rather than complete good faith bargaining involving a fair severance package.

"PCL thinks it can dodge responsibility to pay severance to employees, some of them 20-year veterans who served the company with pride," said Mario Santos, Unifor National Representative. "PCL cannot escape their legal obligations under the collective agreement."

Liberals on fisheries committee turn their backs on BC coastal communities

OTTAWA, May 6, 2016 /CNW/ - Rather than take a principled position to protect BC's sensitive coast, Liberal MPs Scott Simms, Pat Finnigan, Ken Hardie, Bernadette Jordan, Ken McDonald, and Robert Morrissey have supported the controversial closing of the coast guard communication centre in Comox.

Sunwing Airlines pilots establish strike mandate

TORONTO, May 2, 2016 /CNW/ - Unifor Local 7378 representing Sunwing Airlines pilots have given a 96% strike mandate to its negotiating team.

Unifor's National Transportation Director, Joel Fournier said, "The vote sends a strong message to Sunwing management who attempted to conducted parallel meetings to try to convince the pilots not to support their Bargaining Committee."