HAMILTON - On Friday April 20, Unifor launches its cross country town hall tour to explore a progressive trade agenda.
“Canada’s approach to trade has been flawed and now is the time to do things differently,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “There is an opening to talk about the failures of free trade and an opportunity to imagine a new approach – a different kind of trade agenda, one that is for people not profits, and that is truly progressive.”
On April 28 Unifor joins workers across Canada to observe the National Day of Mourning to remember and honour those workers who have died or who have been injured on the job. It has been 34 years that the day has been official recognized.
Unifor is calling for a strong strike vote mandate among health care members in Nova Scotia to send a message to both the employers and the McNeil government.
“This government has interfered with fair collective bargaining from day one through its multitude of laws which have strengthened the hand of the employers by imposing wage freezes and concessions,” said Lana Payne, Unifor Atlantic Regional Director.
TORONTO - Strategic investments in workforce development coupled with wise regulation will help Canada maintain its unique aerospace advantage, according to a new policy paper published today by Unifor.
“The success of the Canadian aerospace industry is no accident,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Maintaining our advantage will take collaborative planning from industry, labour, and all levels of government.”
April 11, 2018 TORONTO – Unifor National President Jerry Dias will lead a delegation of auto workers to meet with Ontario Labour Minister Kevin Flynn about personal emergency leave exemptions that unfairly punish those employed in the sector. “Employment standards should be fairly applied to all workers - full stop,” said Dias. “Auto workers have the same need for personal emergency leave as everyone else, they too have family members to mourn and care for.
TORONTO—Unifor has published a video with interviews of Canadians directly impacted by the new U.S. tariffs levied against paper mills in Newfoundland & Labrador, Québec, and British Columbia.
“Right now Donald Trump is poised to do irreversible damage to five small communities across Canada,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “The Canadian government needs to act, and it needs to act now to protect local economies and good jobs.”
REGINA—Unifor says Saskatchewan families are getting more of the same from rookie premier Scott Moe: public service cuts and reckless disregard for the province’s most vulnerable residents.
“Scott Moe’s imagination doesn’t go beyond cutting services and experimenting with privatization,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “It’s simply more of the same and more suffering ahead for Saskatchewan families trying to make ends meet.”
TORONTO- The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission’s rejection of Unifor’s complaint against Roger’s contracting out its Chinese language newscasts is a huge loss to local news says Unifor, Canada’s largest media union.
“Local news is essential and licensed news broadcasts are not playing cards to be swapped with the only competing TV station in the community,” said Jerry Dias, National President. “Rogers promised not to do this. They did it anyway.”
April 9, 2018
GANDER - Aerospace workers in Gander, Newfoundland voted 97 per cent against the latest offer from D-J Composites, their American employer who locked them out of work 16 months ago.
TORONTO – Amid hurried negotiations to meet an artificial deadline Unifor warns that a rushed North American Free Trade Agreement will put workers in peril.
“Canada must not be pushed into a hasty NAFTA deal that will impact workers and jobs for a generation to come,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. “There is no reason to sign on to half-baked trade policies simply to meet foreign political agendas.”
MONCTON – Workers at Moncton Honda have given their bargaining committee a strike mandate after negotiations between Unifor Local 4501 and the dealership reached an impasse.
“This is incredibly disappointing as the bargaining committee has given Moncton Honda every opportunity to reach a deal,” said Christian Laforge, Unit Chair, Unifor Local 4501. “Our members have been working without a contract since December 31, 2017 and yet the dealership is continuing to drag this out by refusing to address key issues.”
For more than 470 days, workers at the DJ Composites aerospace facility in Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador, members of Unifor local 597, have been locked out by their American-based employer.
These workers earn modest wages, by any standard and certainly by aerospace industry standards.
WINNIPEG—The union at one of Canada’s largest heavy-duty transit manufacturers has reached a tentative agreement with their employer, New Flyer Industries.
“I commend the bargaining committee for holding the line on their defined benefit pension plan,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “These Unifor members have earned their defined benefits plans, and it’s an issue worth fighting for.”
HALIFAX-Failing to make domestic violence leave paid leave allows a major barrier to remain for Nova Scotia women who need to flee violent homes says Unifor.
“Protected leave is important so women do not lose their jobs for missing work. but we know that economic security is critical when a woman decides to escape a violent situation and today’s legislation misses this critical fact,” said Lana Payne, Atlantic Regional Director.
TORONTO- The Ontario budget’s investments in public services show continued momentum towards social justice and the effectiveness of political activism.
OTTAWA – Unifor National President Jerry Dias will host NAFTA: A Worker’s View Roundtable, featuring Mexican and Canadian labour leaders, Canada’s Chief NAFTA negotiator Steve Verheul and members of Canadian civil society groups.
“This is a critical time for the voices of workers to be heard on the true impact of NAFTA in both nations,” said Dias. “There is real danger that the sudden push by the U.S. for a rush deal could lead to a further deterioration of living standards for workers.”
OTTAWA – Unifor National President Jerry Dias will host NAFTA: A Worker’s View Roundtable, featuring Mexican and Canadian labour leaders, Canada’s Chief NAFTA negotiator Steve Verheul and members of Canadian civil society groups.
“This is a critical time for the voices of workers to be heard on the true impact of NAFTA in both nations,” said Dias. “There is real danger that the sudden push by the U.S. for a rush deal could lead to a further deterioration of living standards for workers.”
TORONTO- Unifor representatives will be available to comment following the release of the 2018 Ontario provincial budget.
“The Liberals’ announcement of free public childcare for preschool children shows the pressure that workers are putting on this government is being felt,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.
