There is no doubt that the last year has been the most unprecedented time in our lives, and from the beginning of the pandemic, through multiple lockdowns, “Red Zones” and every step of the way, the technicians in the craft bargaining unit have exceeded expectations in delivering the services the Company provides, to ensure the lives of Canadians can continue as best as possible.
TORONTO–Unifor will host a virtual news conference to outline budget recommendations, as the union conducts its pre-budget lobby week to advocate for critical priorities for workers.
“Unifor members are meeting with Cabinet Ministers and MPPs to discuss a dual strategy to keep Ontarians protected from COVID-19 while putting programs and infrastructure in place to build a better economy following this crisis,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias.
Unions representing 175,000 workers serving on the frontlines of this pandemic demand the Ford government support this female majority workforce TORONTO, ON – Today, SEIU Healthcare, Unifor, and CUPE, unions representing 175,000 healthcare workers across Ontario, held a virtual media conference to announce the launch of International Women’s Day actions with a clear message to Premier Ford: “Respect Us. Protect Us.
This column originally appeared in the Globe and Mail
The pandemic has demolished many conventional wisdoms when it comes to our economy, equality and work – especially essential work, so much of which is done by women.
Where would we be without the labour of women this past year? And yet as critical as that labour has been to the well-being of the country, we are still fighting for respect and fair pay.
TORONTO- SEIU Healthcare, CUPE, and Unifor to announce ‘Respect Us. Protect Us. Pay Us.’ campaign on behalf of the unions’ 175,000 combined health care members across Ontario.
Following the overstress of health care resources and failure of Ontario’s long-term care system during the COVID-19 pandemic, health care workers are uniting to demand action from the Ford government.
I am writing you both to express Unifor’s strong recommendation that Canada officially support the proposal to improve access to COVID-19 medicines and health supports, under World Trade Organization rules.
The telecommunications industry is ever changing. At the same time as technology evolved at a rapid pace and internet and telecommunications technologies are integrated into every aspect of worker’s lives in Canada, craft workers have seen so-called ‘old jobs’ disappear from our bargaining unit.
If industry evolution creates new opportunities, so we must ask- where are all these ‘new jobs’ going?
There is no secret that Bell Canada has used offshore call centers for many years. Most people think of incoming customer calls for service or installation orders, but the work doesn’t stop there.
Bell employs an estimated 7,00-10,000 offshore workers who do jobs that used to be done by Bell employees in Canada.
In addition to service and installation orders, offshore workers perform testing, trouble shooting, monitoring, and programming jobs that used to be done here, at home by Bell Craft Technicians.
The proliferation of contracting out began in small but noticeable ways, with jobs that were described as not “aligned with the core business” such as the digging of pits or pole replacement.
The company continues to chip away, bit by bit- with the formation of Expertech and what is now called BTS, to move away certain types of work. The formation of Progistix and Transervice saw the elimination of the auto mechanics and material handlers from the bargaining unit.
From March to June, the North American Solidarity Project will be putting on 7 online exchanges with the purpose of creating connections and meaningful discussions between workers in Canada, the United States and Mexico.
Registration is now open for all events. You can see the full list on the Events tab.
WINNIPEG—While full-scale privatization of Manitoba Hydro was not part of former Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall’s new report, it does suggest incremental privatization, says Unifor.
“We can’t trust Brad Wall to advise anybody but Brad Wall,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “As premier he never acted in the best interests of working people. Nothing has changed.”
The Bargaining Committee met on Tuesday via teleconference with the Local delegates from the various regions of our unit, Southwest, North/East, Quebec and the GTA. We spoke to them about how the Company’s concessionary demands would undermine our priorities on jobs as well as job security. Furthermore, they were advised the decision to file a notice of dispute was not simply made because our demands were ignored, but because the concessionary demands would eventually lead to the elimination of the bargaining unit.
EDMONTON—For Albertan families struggling under a pandemic and a slumping economy, the budget cuts introduced today will only make matters worse, says Unifor.
“Jason Kenney doesn’t get it: Albertans don’t need an experiment in austerity. They need good jobs and high-quality public services to weather these challenging times,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.
Long-term care staffing in Ontario remain far below pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels. The gravity of the staffing shortage requires a substantive and comprehensive recruitment, training and retention workforce strategy, say health care unions representing approximately 70,000 Personal Support Workers (PSWs).
This year, as many in our society both young and old feel isolated and alone, it is more important than ever to stand united against bullying on Pink Shirt Day, February 24, 2021.
Unifor is calling on the federal government to prioritize improvements to income security, pandemic supports, industrial strategy, critical infrastructure, and public services in the union’s federal budget recommendations, with the goal to #BuildBackBetter from COVID-19.
Unifor urges immediate action from the federal government to protect jobs in Canada’s aerospace industry as De Havilland Canada announces it will leave the current Downsview production facility and suspend production of the Dash 8.
This past year, workers experienced unemployment on a scale never before seen in Canada. At its first wave peak in June 2020, some 2.7 million workers in this country had no job. The magnitude of these losses effectively paralyzed the Employment Insurance system, requiring alternative means of income support via the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB).
