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Sault Ste. Marie – Paramedics represented by Unifor Local 1359 are rejecting arbitration and urging the District of Sault Ste. Marie Social Services Administration Board (DSSMSSAB) to return to the bargaining table to negotiate a fair deal.

WINNIPEG—Manitoba Hydro Utility Service’s management’s refusal to grant the public sector pattern wage increases has led to an overwhelming strike vote at Unifor Local 681.

“If Manitoba Hydro intends to widen compensation gaps within its workforce, we’re going to have a problem,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “Local 681 members will have the support of Unifor members from coast to coast as they pursue a fair contract.”

TORONTO—Enbridge Gas’ proposal to eliminate the evening and overnight emergency response shift will jeopardize the lives of customers and nearby residents, says Unifor.

“The disregard for public safety is breath-taking,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “If the company does not have enough workers to fulfil critical emergency roles, it is because it has laid off too many workers in pursuit of returns for shareholders.”

BRAMPTON—Workers at MDA Space ratified a new collective agreement today, bringing a nine-week strike at the aerospace manufacturer’s global headquarters in Brampton to an end. 

MONTREAL/TORONTO- Unifor members employed by Expertech, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bell Canada Enterprises Inc., ratified new collective agreements following several weeks of voting in Quebec and Ontario.  The new agreements cover approximately 730 members who work in clerical and technical capacities. 

TORONTO—Unifor applauds the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)’s announcement today of new supports for local Canadian news, in conjunction with its regulatory plan to modernize Canada’s broadcasting framework.
 

“Unifor has been advocating for American streamers to pay their fair share to the Canadian broadcasting system for over 15 years,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.

KANATA, ONT.—Unifor and the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) sent a joint letter to the Canadian Safety Nuclear Commission (CNSC) today, expressing their concerns about Best Theratronics using unqualified managers and non-union workers as scab labour to handle safety-sensitive equipment at its Kanata, Ont. facility, including those containing radioactive material.

OTTAWA – Unifor welcomes the passing of the third reading of the federal pharmacare bill, bringing Canada one step closer to making universal pharmacare a reality.

WILLIAMS LAKE—Unifor members at Local 3018 were forced to take strike action at the Gibraltar copper mine on June 1, 2024 after the company refused to negotiate basic terms of a new collective agreement.

“A fair collective agreement, with wages and benefits that reflect the significant contributions of our members, is not too much to ask. The disruption that began earlier today is entirely the company's doing,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.  

Fredericton —Unifor Atlantic Regional Director Jennifer Murray was present as the Green Party of New Brunswick tabled anti-scab legislation and says every party should be supporting this bill.

“The use of scabs undermines bargaining, breaks trust between employer and employees, and leads to longer labour disputes and a more toxic work environment,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “Every worker has a right to free and fair collective bargaining and anti-scab legislation upholds that right.”

May 30, 2024

TROIS-RIVIERES - Unifor announces that 298 members of Locals 136, 234, 234 cp and 265 working for the Kruger Trois-Rivières S.E.C. plant went on strike last night. This follows the overwhelming rejection of an offer from the employer.

After months of fruitless negotiations on monetary issues, the members voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action to express their dissatisfaction and their determination to obtain a fair collective agreement.

London, ON—Members at the newly organized Unifor Local 27 bargaining unit at The Original Cakerie have ratified a first contract that covers 820 workers who produce up to 10,000 cakes per day for Costco and other big chain grocery stores.

TORONTO—Workers at Nestle have ratified a new three-year contract today with the chocolate maker that has significant bumps in wages, pensions, and health benefits, ending a strike that began on May 5.

“Congratulations to the bargaining committee for their tenacious work in securing this deal, which protects members from precarious work and provides them and their families some cushion from the affordability crisis we’re in,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.

STONEY CREEK, ONT.—Unifor members at Waste Management Canada Corp. (WM) have ratified a new three-year contract today, ending a nearly month-long strike.

“We’re proud of our members for standing up for a healthier work environment,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.

“WM workers provide skilled and crucial waste management services in the southwestern Ontario region and they’re ready to get back to work and serve their communities.”

WILLIAMS LAKE—Unifor Local 3018 will begin legal strike action against Taseko (TSX:TKO) at its Gibraltar Mine if a fair settlement cannot be reached before Friday, May 31 at 11:59 p.m.

“With the rising cost of living it's crucial that our members at Gibraltar receive fair wages, strong safety protocols, and equitable treatment on the job,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.

VANCOUVER—Workers at the Amazon facility in Delta can vote this week to join Canada’s largest union in the private sector after the B.C. Labour Relations Board (BCLRB) dealt with Unifor’s application on May 27, 2024.

“The power of union representation is within reach for Amazon workers at Delta,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “The best way to have a strong voice at work is to vote to join our union and send your employer a clear collective message.”

The 85 members of Local 2022 working at Viterra Canada's canola and soybean processing and refining plant in Bécancour began strike action on May 26, following a unanimous strike vote taken earlier in the month.

The workers are denouncing the inadequacy of the employer's proposals after eight fruitless negotiation sessions.

OTTAWA—Unifor applauds Members of Parliament for unanimously passing the amended Bill C-58, otherwise known as anti-scab legislation, today, but now urges the Senate to approve so the law can be implemented as soon as possible.

“This legislation is about protecting the right to fair and free collective bargaining, including the right to strike,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “Workers have fought for generations to get to this day, but there is still a final step.”

OTTAWA— In what was supposed to be an uplifting email message to workers over the Victoria Day long weekend, Best Theratronics (BTL) owner Krishnan Suthanthiran instead went on a tirade, casting his workers as entitled and lazy for having too many statutory holidays, touting the benefits of a seven-day workweek, and even threatening to move jobs of workers on strike at the company overseas.

HALIFAX—Unifor welcomes news that fully funding the workers’ pension plan is part of the agreement reached between the Province of Nova Scotia and Paper Excellence, the parent company of the Northern Pulp mill in Pictou, N.S.

TORONTO—Unifor will join members and supporters for a solidarity rally on Thursday, May 23 at 10 a.m. to support Unifor Local 252 on strike at Nestle’s Toronto manufacturing plant. 

“It’s been nearly three weeks since our workers went on strike and Nestle has refused to budge on pension improvements and the time it takes to get to the top rate of pay,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.

MONTREAL—Unifor welcomes the Quebec government's creation of a new aerospace innovation zone in Greater Montreal. Espace Aéro helps meet the aerospace industry’s needs identified by key stakeholders and reflects the strategic role it plays in Quebec’s economy. This initiative will help strengthen Montreal's position as one of the world's leading aerospace industrial centres and improve future prospects for thousands of the sector’s workers.

STONEY CREEK—Unifor is extremely concerned about Waste Management Canada Corp. (WM) using managers and outside workers as scab labour and creating safety concerns.

“It is clear by the company’s actions that they will resort to any means necessary to try to bust our strike and demands for a fair collective agreement,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “WM’s use of unqualified scabs creates a dangerous work environment, and it is our concern as a union that health and safety is at risk as a result.”

BRAMPTON—Workers and community supporters rallied today at the MDA Space headquarters in Brampton, Ontario where workers have been on strike for the past five weeks, fighting for a fair contract. 

TORONTO - Following a decisive round of bargaining with the Ontario Hospital Association, Unifor northern Ontario hospital workers have ratified a new collective tentative agreement. 

TORONTO—The PC government’s hurried passage of gas sector legislation will result in a failure to properly contain methane leaks, an increase to operational costs, and greater contracting out of union jobs, says Unifor.

BRAMPTON—Unifor National President Lana Payne will join members and supporters from across the GTA for a rally on Thursday May 16 at 10 a.m. to support Unifor Local 112 and 673 on strike at MDA Space in Brampton, Ontario. 

SYDNEY, N.S.—Unifor members at the Sobeys store in Sydney, N.S. ratified a new collective agreement that continues the union’s pattern of achieving record wage gains in the grocery sector.

OTTAWA– Unifor applauds yesterday’s Ontario Superior Court ruling that the City of Ottawa was negligent in enforcing its taxi bylaw when it allowed Uber to illegally operate in 2014 for two years, effectively harming the taxi industry – many of whom are Unifor members.

“Hard-working, established taxi drivers in Ottawa finally have some justice after being abandoned by their city, who succumbed to the whims of multinational tech giants,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.