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Decision on future of GM Oshawa must be made before 2016, says Unifor

TORONTO, Jan. 28, 2015 /CNW/ - A decision about the future of General Motors' Oshawa operations can and should be made now, according to Unifor National President Jerry Dias. The union is responding to a statement by GM Canada released this morning suggesting that the company would wait until after 2016 contract negotiations to make a decision about Oshawa's future.  

Air Canada's employees seek share of gains they helped create

TORONTO, Jan. 26, 2015 /CNW/ - Customer Sales and Service Agents at Air Canada will be seeking economic gains after having made many sacrifices during the turbulent times in the airline industry, according to Unifor. Bargaining for a new collective agreement opened today in Toronto.

Bill 1 arbitration decision orders a collaborative bargaining structure

HALIFAX, Jan. 19, 2015 /CNW/ - Arbitrator James Dorsey's Bill 1 decision supports Unifor's position that the Nova Scotia government's health care restructuring legislation allows the existing health care unions to create province-wide collective bargaining agents.

Dorsey issued his decision Monday resulting from the December arbitration involving Unifor and the other three major health care unions in the province. 

Unifor urges change to EI qualifying hours, after mass Target layoff

TORONTO, Jan. 15, 2015 /CNW/ - In light of the mass layoff announced today at Target, Unifor is urging federal Minister of Employment Jason Kenney to provide emergency access to Employment Insurance benefits for Target workers who won't otherwise qualify.

"Many Target workers who have just lost their jobs won't even qualify for unemployment insurance," said Unifor National President Jerry Dias.

Chrysler investment welcome: Unifor

TORONTO, Jan. 13, 2015 /CNW/ - Chrysler's announcement that it is investing $2 billion in its Windsor minivan plant shows the importance of the facility and the value of its trained and experienced workforce, Unifor National President Jerry Dias says.

Unifor members at CP Rail vote to strike, if necessary

CALGARY, Jan. 13, 2015 /CNW/ - Workers at CP Rail, represented by Unifor Local 101R have voted 97 per cent in favour of going on strike if necessary. The deadline is set as February 15 at 12:01 a.m. Voting took place at meetings right across the Canada over the last week.  

New hotline launched to protect temporary foreign workers

EDMONTON, Jan. 12, 2015 /CNW/ - A confidential hotline has been created to help temporary foreign workers get answers about their rights, both under the federal program and at work.

"Temporary foreign workers have rights just like Canadian workers, and we intend to ensure that they are enforced across the country," said Wally Ewanicke, an organizer with Unifor. "The new hotline is a confidential resource for workers who need answers about their rights at work."

Media Advisory - Unifor to comment on Trans Mountain Pipeline toll decision

VANCOUVER, Jan. 8, 2015 /CNW/ - Canada's energy workers' union will be available to comment following the release of the National Energy Board's (NEB) decision about tolls on Kinder Morgan's existing Trans Mountain Pipeline. The decision will be announced at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time.

The NEB began a review of the process of apportionment for oil drawn from the pipeline in October 2013.

Hibernia workers sign new collective agreement

ST. JOHN'S, Jan. 7, 2015 /CNW/ - Workers at the Hibernia offshore oil platform, represented by Unifor, have voted to accept a new collective agreement with their employer.

The new agreement includes improvements in wages, benefits and working conditions including for temporary employees. It was accepted by a margin of 58% and will expire on June 30, 2019. Unifor represents nearly 400 people on the platform.

Talks with CN break down, two sides to regroup in January

MONTREAL, Dec. 18, 2014 /CNW/ - CN and Unifor have been unable to reach a new tentative collective agreement, after months of negotiations and long hours this week at the bargaining table. Unifor had four CN bargaining tables meeting concurrently since Monday morning, in Montreal. 

Unifor opened ne‎gotitiations with CN on September 19, in advance of the expiry of the current agreement on December 31, 2014.

Ontario to push for broad ORPP

TORONTO, Dec. 18, 2014 /CNW/ - Unifor welcomes the opportunity for our local unions and members to participate in public consultations and to express their support for the Ontario Retirement Pension Plan and ideas for improving it, Unifor National President Jerry Dias says.  

Media Advisory - Container truck drivers to meet to discuss port protests

SURREY, BC, Dec. 18, 2014 /CNW/ - Container truck drivers servicing Port Metro Vancouver will be meeting to discuss action following Monday's proposal from the BC government for sector-wide wage cuts.

"A deal is a deal. Truck drivers have every right to expect that the wages and round-trip rates negotiated will be honoured," said Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor's BC Area Director.

CN-Unifor negotiations: union to provide update today at 4 pm

MONTREAL, Dec. 18, 2014 /CNW/ - Unifor will be issuing an update on negotiations with CN Rail today at 4 pm, via CNW. Unifor is the largest union at CN, representing 4,800 workers right across the country.

Negotiations with CN began on September 19 and are currently taking place in Montreal.

Unifor: C-525 undemocratic and unfair

TORONTO, Dec. 17, 2014 /CNW/ - Unifor is disappointed that Senate has passed Bill C-525 which it recognized was flawed – and is aware will make it more difficult for workers to join a union in a federally regulated sector and easier for a minority of workers to have a union's bargaining rights revoked.

Unifor members make big gains at Canadian Forest Products

GRANDE PRAIRIE, AB, Dec. 16, 2014 /CNW/ - Nearly 150 Unifor members at Canadian Forest Products achieved significant wage and benefit increases in the newest collective agreement, ratified this week.

"This deal brings us to the forefront of the industry in Alberta," said Phil Brinson, Unifor Local 446 President. "I would like to thank the bargaining committee for their work on this collective agreement."

Unifor calls on Resolute to help protect future of Iroquois Falls

TORONTO, Dec. 15, 2014 /CNW/ - Unifor is calling on Resolute Forest Products to do all it can to ensure a future for the Iroquois Falls paper mill it currently operates and is the heart of the local economy.

Recently, Resolute announced it is closing its newsprint mill in Iroquois Falls, putting 180 people out of a job. The mill is the town's largest employer.

Unifor: GM can have a strong future in Canada

TORONTO, Dec. 11, 2014 /CNW/ - Today GM announced a major investment in Mexico.

"Unifor is disappointed by this announcement but our determination to work with GM to ensure it has a strong future in Canada is unwavering," said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.

According to GM, Canada ranks #6 in its global manufacturing and is one of its strongest markets.

Unifor welcomes Uber bill

TORONTO, Dec. 3, 2014 /CNW/ - Unifor, which represents thousands of cab drivers in Ontario, welcomes a private member's bill introduced in the Legislature this afternoon to address the issue of app-based bandit cabs in the province.

Saskatchewan hi-tech firm on verge of legal job action

REGINA, Dec. 3, 2014 /CNW/ - IT support services for several large corporations and government agencies across Western Canada could be disrupted if a deal is not reached during bargaining this month at ISM Canada. More than 300 Unifor Local 911 members could take legal job action if massive concessions are not withdrawn by the IBM-owned company.

Resolute commits to protect Fort Frances pulp mill

TORONTO, Nov. 29, 2014 /CNW/ - Unifor is pleased that calls from the union and Fort Frances community to protect a pulp mill currently owned by Resolute have been heard.

After discussion between Resolute, the Wynne government and Unifor, Resolute has announced that it will be heating the closed mill over the winter in order to protect the equipment in the mill.

Unifor reaches and approves new deal with RA Centre

OTTAWA, Nov. 23, 2014 /CNW/ - Unifor has reached and ratified a new deal with RA Centre, approved by RA workers by 96 per cent. Unifor Local 4270 represents the 35 unionized staff members at the RA Centre who met this afternoon to review the details of the new contract.

Media advisory - RA Centre workers to conduct info picket outside AGM - tonight

OTTAWA, Nov. 20, 2014 /CNW/ - RA workers will be leafleting outside of the centre's annual general meeting as of 6:30 tonight. RA workers will be asking centre members to pose key questions around labour relations during the course of the meeting.

The picket starts as 6:30 p.m. and the annual general meeting begins at 7:30 p.m.

RA Centre
2451 Riverside Drive
Ottawa, Ontario

Health care talks move to arbitration after mediation fails

HALIFAX, Nov. 18, 2014 /CNW/ - Unifor, as a committed health care union, is extremely disappointed a mediated settlement among the four Nova Scotia health care unions and the acute care employers could not be reached.

Talks break down with RA Centre

OTTAWA, Nov. 17, 2014 /CNW/ - Negotiations between Unifor and the RA Centre have broken down as of last night, after RA tabled a final offer that failed to meet even the most common of contract provisions.

The RA Centre won't even agree to basic provisions around job security, work hours and lay-off protection, said Mike Armstrong, Unifor National Representative.

Lost opportunity in Ontario's forestry industry

TORONTO, Nov. 13, 2014 /CNW/ - Unifor is calling on the Wynne government to ensure an opportunity to expand and strengthen Ontario's recovering forestry sector is not lost.

"We are frustrated that plans to save a closed pulp mill in Fort Frances currently owned by Resolute Forestry are needlessly floundering," said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.