Unifor joined with a coalition of progressive groups to condemn attempts to revive the Trans-Pacific Partnership without the United States, including hosting meeting a meeting in Toronto of participating countries. "We were told we had to be in the TPP because the U.S. was in it. Now, the U.S. is out," said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. "Why would we revive a trade deal that was so bad for Canadian workers and communities?" For more details, click here.
Monday, May 1, 2017 Vancouver—After months of bargaining, a four-year tentative agreement between Unifor and Loomis Express was signed late Sunday night. “The bargaining committee has secured a deal that includes strong gains for Loomis Express workers,” said Todd Romanow, Unifor National Representative. “I’m very proud of what the committee was able to achieve.” Unifor’s members at Loomis Express have been bargaining since January 2017. In March, union members voted 93% in favour of a strike if the company couldn’t negotiate a fair agreement by early May.
Regina—Unifor is calling on the Sask Party government to disclose why it is in such a hurry to make Bill 40 law, especially given an election promise to keep Crown corporations public.
“On Monday Bill 40 hadn’t been studied by a legislative committee. On Thursday it is law. Why the rush?” said Joie Warnock, Unifor Western Director. “Has Brad Wall already agreed to privatize something behind closed doors?”
Thursday, April 27, 2017 Vancouver—Contract talks between Unifor and Loomis Express may not be progressing enough to avoid job action, according to Unifor’s chief negotiator at the table. “I’m not encouraged by the pace of bargaining at this late stage,” said Todd Romanow, Unifor National Representative. “Our members deserve a contract that acknowledges their important contributions to the profitability of Loomis Express.” On April 21 Unifor’s members at Loomis voted to strike if bargaining doesn’t achieve a fair collective agreement by early May.
Unifor’s campaign against Bill C-27 has forced the federal government to take a step back, halting the bill’s progression. The campaign continues to seek full withdrawal of the proposed legislation, which threatens pension security for members in federally regulated sectors.
“This shows the power of political lobbying,” said Jerry Dias, National President. “The Liberal government tried to ram this through but the tremendous online response has made them think twice.”
Regina—Another Brad Wall election promise was broken today as the Sask Party government used its majority to force through legislation to enable privatization of Crown corporations. “
Bill 40 has one goal: to make it easier to sell off our Crown corporations,” said Joie Warnock, Unifor Western Region Director. “Privatization of any fraction of Crown corporations is a betrayal of what Brad Wall told voters in 2016.”
Monday, April 24, 2017 Ottawa—Canada’s 202,000 forestry workers are waiting with bated breath to see if Prime Minister Trudeau has a plan to deal with U.S. lumber tariffs—which could be levied as early as Tuesday. “It’s hard to exaggerate the impact tariffs will have on hundreds of small communities. The federal government needs to have a plan in place and act swiftly,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. As Canada’s third largest export sector, forestry directly employs 202,000 people in every region of the country.
Toronto—The re-introduction of duties on Canadian softwood exports will endanger upwards of 25,000 good jobs in nearly every region of the country, according to Unifor.
“Workers on both sides of the border will be the losers of a trade war,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Tariffs on our lumber have already been squashed. The Americans should have learned their lesson the first time.”
Thursday April 20, 2017 Paul Godfrey, President and CEO of Postmedia and Brian Gibson, President of the Media Union of BC, Unifor Local 2000 are pleased to announce that the tentative collective agreement announced on April 15, 2017 was ratified at a vote of members on April 19, 2017. “This is a good example of management and the union working together to find efficiencies within the collective agreement that allowed us to preserve content and invest in our editorial products,” said Paul Godfrey.
Unifor National President Jerry Dias told a Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs that rather than review how to implement CETA, they should reject the deal - saying there has never been a proper review, and that there have been too many changes since a partial text was first released. For more information, click here.
Tuesday, April 11, 2017 Winnipeg—Conservative Premier Brian Pallister’s second budget puts the province’s future at risk with cuts to services and higher costs for young people. “Cuts are cuts, and Manitoba’s families will feel them immediately,” said Paul McKie, Unifor Area Director. Unifor says that Minister of Finance Cameron Friesen is misleading Manitobans when he claims that there are tax cuts in the budget because students and families will pay more as a result of higher tuition fees and less financial aid.
WATERLOO, April 2 – Workers, represented by Unifor Local 4304, at the Grand River Transit Authority reached a tentative agreement, averting a strike set to begin in Kitchener-Waterloo and Cambridge on Monday morning. “After intense negotiations this weekend, the union is pleased to have reached a mutual agreement with the employer to address Unifor’s main concerns, and will keep our drivers on the road serving the people of Kitchener-Waterloo and Cambridge,” said Tim Mitchell, Unifor National Representative.
Regina—Gil Le Dressay, Vice President of Refinery Operations and Scott Doherty, Executive Assistant to the Unifor National President are pleased to announce that the two sides have reached a tentative collective bargaining agreement.
“We are pleased that we could reach an agreement that was fair for both sides. While the agreement is still tentative pending ratification by the membership we are encouraged by Unifor’s support for the agreement,” said Le Dressay.
The transit authority’s refusal to augment training and take working conditions seriously will result in service disruption in the Kitchener-Waterloo and Cambridge area.
In the past decade, employers in Ontario have shifted to rely on precarious and contract jobs. Temporary agencies and part-time temp work has grown rapidly in the province and across the country. These agencies not only benefit from, but also drive predatory employment practices that target immigrants and women of colour like those in the East Danforth Community Chapter (EDCC).
Monday, March 27, 2017 Waterloo— Voting on a tentative agreement for Grand River Transit (GRT) drivers has yielded a split result, so transit service will continue during more negotiations. “There are aspects of the agreement that were rejected and remain unresolved,” said Tim Mitchell, Unifor National Representative. Unifor Local 4304 has reached out to the employer to return to the table this week to avoid job action, but the union warns that GRT has to be committed to progress.
Unifor invites former General Electric-Canada Peterborough workers, their families, and the community to attend information sessions on Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) claims related to hazardous material exposure at the plant. Unifor will be in attendance to aid current and former members who have or are considering an occupational disease claim. Information will be provided on the claims system, the status of cases, and the next steps in the process.
Wednesday, March 22, 2017 Regina—The Sask Party has introduced measures that punish families and could slow the economy even further—exactly the opposite of what the province needs, says Unifor. “The Sask Party has failed voters. This government has created a mess of our province’s finances yet they’ve asked families, the working people of the province, to bail them out,” said Paul McKie, Unifor Area Director.
OTTAWA, March 22 – While today’s federal budget contains several encouraging elements to grow and strengthen an economy that helps working people and their families, more could have been done, says Unifor National President Jerry Dias. “It is encouraging to see investment measures in this budget that will help workers, their families and their communities to build better futures,” Unifor National President Jerry Dias said.
Our budget 2017 submission focuses on policy priorities and budgetary investments that will create good jobs, strengthen Canadian businesses and increase economic prosperity for Canadian workers, their families and communities.
OTTAWA – Unifor National President Jerry Dias will be in the Centre Block of Parliament as the federal budget is released on Wednesday, and available to do media interviews on what the budget means for working Canadians.
“Working people in Canada need a budget that addresses the real needs they face and creates opportunities for them, their families and their communities to prosper,” Dias said. “Canadians need to know that their government is working to improve their lives.”
OTTAWA, March 21 – Unifor National President Jerry Dias will be in the Centre Block of Parliament as the federal budget is released on Wednesday, and available to do media interviews on what the budget means for working Canadians.
“Working people in Canada need a budget that addresses the real needs they face and creates opportunities for them, their families and their communities to prosper,” Dias said. “Canadians need to know that their government is working to improve their lives.”
Toronto - Unifor’s East Danforth Community Chapter and the South Asian Women’s Rights Organization will host a public forum on March 23 to reveal the illegal, unfair and discriminatory employment practices of temporary agencies. “Illegal working conditions are experienced by too many workers, but our voices are often silenced as we move from job to job,” said Syeda Sabiha President of the Unifor East Danforth Community Chapter.
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