All News

TORONTO – The 1,400 members of a Unifor Local 2002 unit have voted 80% in favour of ratifying a new four-year contract with the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA).

“I’m so proud of the bargaining committee at Local 2002,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “This agreement is groundbreaking in the aviation industry and sets a new standard for what we can accomplish moving forward. It is a testament to the committee, who has tirelessly represented the members’ interests throughout the negotiation process.”

REGINA—For the third time this year Unifor has uncovered a privatization scheme at SaskTel that sends work out of province or to a low-bid non-union firm.

“The Sask Party government seems intent on bleeding all of the good jobs out of SaskTel,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “SaskTel was once a local, good job creator. Then Scott Moe and Brad Wall got their hands on it.”

TORONTO – Unifor is deeply concerned and outraged about today’s announcement from Bell Canada Enterprises Inc. (BCE Inc.) to cut 1,300 positions and to close six and sell three radio stations in response to not being able to outwait Bill C-11.

TORONTO – The 1,400 members of a unit at Unifor Local 2002 have reached a tentative deal with the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) after over four weeks of negotiations.

“Congratulations to the bargaining committee for all their hard work,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “This agreement is a significant step forward in securing improved working conditions and benefits for our aviation members at GTAA.”

The members in this unit are in 350 different job classifications, based out of Pearson International Airport in Toronto.

HAMILTON, ON – Hundreds of hospital staff including nurses, personal support workers and lab technologists rallied today at St. Joseph’s Healthcare in Hamilton against the Ford government’s plan to contract out hospital services to private, for-profit clinics.

OSHAWA—Unifor General Motors members at Oshawa Assembly will build the next-generation of full-size internal combustion engine pickup trucks with the announcement today that GM will invest $280 million in the plant.  

WINGHAM, ON—A Wescast Industries internal company memo obtained by Unifor says the Wingham foundry’s overseas owners will not close the facility, a claim the union says is dubious.

“The record of Wescast management and its owner is one of broken promises, repeated violations of the collective agreement and disrespect towards workers,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Our union is not going to take the company’s claims on faith. At this time, Wescast’s words are not worth the paper they’re printed on.”

MONCTON-Unifor is donating $50,000 to the Red Cross Nova Scotia and Atlantic Fires Relief fund to assist members, their families, friends and neighbours affected by the wildfires across the region.

TORONTO-More than 11,000 Unifor grocery store members are preparing to take on Canada’s Big Three grocery giants, Loblaw, Metro and Sobeys, in upcoming contract negotiations. The front-line supermarket workers are seeking pay increases, benefit improvements and more full-time jobs as bargaining begins next month.

EDMONTON—Losing 11 seats in the Alberta legislature shows a growing number of workers are rejecting the extreme policies of the United Conservative Party (UCP), says Unifor.

“There is one clear trend in tonight’s results: the UCP’s mandate has been significantly reduced,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “While we would have preferred a different outcome it doesn’t change our commitment to standing up for the rights of working people in Alberta.”

WINGHAM, ON—Wescast Industries’ decision to close its foundry operations will devastate workers, families and the community of Wingham, where the facility has operated for more than a century, Unifor says.

“Wescast and its overseas owners are turning their backs on the foundry’s dedicated workforce and the community that has supported them for generations,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “The Wingham foundry closure announcement must serve as a wake-up call to every level of government that Wingham auto parts workers urgently need support.”

With an agreement reached, the snow crab tie-up ended on Friday and a fishery is now underway in most areas of the province. The secured agreement is a formula structure that guarantees a lowest minimum price of 2.20 per pound with incremental increases as the Urner Barry market price increases.

LONDON—Pensions, wages, transition plans as autoworkers shift to producing electric vehicles, and confirmation of new investment and product lines emerged as the bargaining priorities at the Unifor Special Auto Council, as the union prepares for upcoming negotiations with the Detroit Three automakers (Ford, General Motors and Stellantis).

WINDSOR—Urgent action is required by the federal government so that construction can resume on the five billion Stellantis EV battery plant in Windsor, Ontario.

“It’s outrageous that tens of thousands of jobs are in jeopardy due to a failure to come to terms on government investment,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “The situation is as serious as it gets. This needs to be resolved immediately to preserve workers’ livelihoods and construction of the EV plant can resume.”  

WINDSOR—Unifor is calling on the federal government and Stellantis to deliver on commitments to a new Windsor EV battery plant to safeguard Canadian auto manufacturing jobs. 

WATERLOO—Wage increases and benefits enhancements are highlights of a new collective agreement ratified today by members of Unifor Local 4304 working at Grand River Transit.

“Unifor members in the transit sector have done a terrific job of serving the public. They negotiated very hard to get improvements in their contracts,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “I’m proud of Local 4304 and congratulate them on this progress.”

The ratification means service will resume on May 11, 2023.

WATERLOO—Unifor Local 4304 members working at Grand River Transit will vote Tuesday, May 9 on a tentative agreement signed on the weekend with the employer.

Service will resume May 11 if the contract is ratified by the Local 4304 membership.

Details within the agreement will be available to the public following ratification.

TORONTO – The 350 members of Unifor Local 531 have overwhelmingly ratified their first collective agreement with WestJet at Pearson International Airport in Toronto (YYZ).

“Congratulations to our WestJet members and the bargaining committee,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.

WATERLOO—Unifor Local 4304 members working at Grand River Transit (GRT) began strike action early on May 1 after rejecting the tentative agreement negotiated with the transit service.

“It’s clear the employer has not met the expectations of transit workers,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Local 4304 members provide key services for the region and expect wages and benefits to keep pace with economic growth.”

No bargaining meetings with the employer are currently scheduled.

TORONTO – The 350 members of Unifor Local 531 have reached their first tentative deal with WestJet at Pearson International Airport in Toronto.

“A first contract sets the base from which we bargain in the future and WestJet members have worked hard to reach this tentative agreement,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “By joining Unifor, WestJet members have gained a strong voice to improve their working conditions and can now do so through collective bargaining.”

MONTREAL - Unifor members at Canadian National (CN) Rail have ratified a new two-year contract.

Ottawa – Bill C-228, a private members’ bill that gives pension plan members super-priority during plan windups and bankruptcy proceedings received royal assent.

“This change has been many years in the making. I’m glad to see lawmakers in both chambers say ‘enough is enough’ and put workers first by adopting this legislation,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Pensions are deferred wages and they cannot be allowed to be stripped away and put to the back of the line if the company closes up shop.”

WATERLOO—Members of Unifor Local 4304 could go on strike Monday, May 1 if a new contract cannot be negotiated before midnight on April 30, 2023.

“Transit operators were on the front lines of the pandemic and maintenance staff made sure the busses were roadworthy,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Local 4304 members have shown how critical they are to the Waterloo area’s economy. They have earned a fair contract.”

OSHAWA— Unifor members at Durham Region Transit (DRT) are celebrating the announcement that Durham Region will more than double bus service provided by the transit authority over the next decade.

“Our union has diligently worked to expand public transit and are pleased to see Durham Region’s decision to dramatically increase funding to support public transit service and infrastructure,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “This is good news for our members and for the community."

ST. JOHN’S, NL – Close to a thousand people gathered today in St. John’s in front of the Confederation Building, calling for action to save the province’s snow crab fishery. The Union that represents over 14,000 people in the province, including all 10,000 professional fish harvesters and some 3,000 processing workers, says that it’s the government’s responsibility to protect the people who rely on the fishery, and ensure processing companies operate in a manner that benefits the people of our province. 

TILLSONBURG–Unifor has launched a new labour action centre to assist former Adient workers, who were displaced when the company abruptly announced the closure of its Tillsonburg seating foam plant in November 2022.

SURREY—Wage increases and benefits enhancements are key features of a collective agreement between Unifor and Coast Mountain Bus Company, ratified today by members of Unifor locals 111 and 2200. 

“The gains in this collective agreement will help improve working conditions and the quality of life for Metro Vancouver’s transit workers and their families,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President.

VICTORIA—The membership of Unifor Local 4276 voted overwhelmingly today to ratify a new three-year contract with their employer at the Fairmont Empress Hotel.

“Unifor members at the Fairmont Empress have secured a strong collective agreement and have helped set the table for upcoming negotiations in the hospitality sector,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Congratulations on a job well done.”

OAKVILLE—Unifor welcomed today’s announcement by the Ford Motor Company that the company is investing $1.8 billion to retool the Oakville Assembly Complex beginning mid-2024 to build next-generation passenger electric vehicles in 2025.

Fort Frances, Ontario - Over 55 members of Unifor Local 324-19 voted 96% in favour of a new three-year contract with Weechi-it-te-win Family Services on April 3.