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Casino Rama workers join Unifor

ORILLIA, ON, Feb. 13, 2015 /CNW/ - Workers at Casino Rama, one of Ontario's largest casino resorts, have voted overwhelmingly to become members of Unifor. They now join thousands of gaming and hospitality employees across Canada who are already represented by the union.

CAMI investment shows industry has strong future

TORONTO, Feb. 12, 2015 /CNW/ - General Motors' decision to invest $560 million in its CAMI Automotive plant is further evidence that automakers understand and appreciate the opportunities in this country and that Canada has a strong future in the auto industry.

"Canadian workers have the skill and dedication needed to build the highest-quality vehicles in the world," Unifor National President Jerry Dias said.

Unifor issues strike notice at CP Rail

MONTREAL, Feb. 12, 2015 /CNW/ - Unifor issued CP Rail a strike notice for February 15 at 12:01 a.m., late last night. The notice comes after five months of negotiations with the railway.

Unifor represents approximately 1,800 workers at CP, who conduct safety inspections on all rail cars and locomotives, as well as maintenance and repairs.

Unifor delegation presents to RFP review panel

A Unifor delegation, including school bus local presidents and national representatives, made a formal presentation to an Ontario panel reviewing the request for proposals (RFP) process for handing out school bus contracts. The delegation told the panel, led by former judge Colin Campbell, that RFPs drive down wages and worsen already challenging working conditions in the industry.

For more information, click here.

Arbitrator to decide on NS Health

Arbitrator Jim Dorsey must balance a bad law (Bill 1) that calls on him to divide health care workers into four unions (Unifor, CUPE, NSGEU, NSNU) while considering labour law principles he outlined in an interim decision in January.

Unifor disappointed by government decision to sell GM share

TORONTO, Feb. 5, 2015 /CNW/ - Unifor expressed its disappointment that the Ontario government has sold its last shares in General Motors.

"We need to utilize every bit of leverage we can to confirm GM's manufacturing footprint in Ontario going forward," said Unifor National President, Jerry Dias.

Unifor truckers make gains

MONTREAL, Jan.31, 2015 /CNW/ - Members of four Unifor locals across Ontario and Quebec, after bargaining as a team, have ratified a new three-year collective agreement that includes pay increases and improvements to scheduling to help ensure a more stable workweek.

Unifor makes ORPP submission

Unifor is calling for the planned Ontario Retirement Pension Plan (ORPP) to be a universal program

Unifor celebrates Supreme Court’s ruling on basic bargaining rights

Unifor members from coast to coast enthusiastically welcome today’s Supreme Court decision to reject legislation that sought to limit collective bargaining and legal job action. The Court has ruled that Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall’s attempt to strip public sector workers of fundamental rights under “essential services” legislation is unconstitutional.

CRTC misses the mark

TORONTO, Jan. 29, 2015 /CNW/ - This morning's announcements by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) do nothing to close a $100-million funding gap in local program funding, and may have made the situation even worse.

Decision on future of GM Oshawa must be made before 2016, says Unifor

TORONTO, Jan. 28, 2015 /CNW/ - A decision about the future of General Motors' Oshawa operations can and should be made now, according to Unifor National President Jerry Dias. The union is responding to a statement by GM Canada released this morning suggesting that the company would wait until after 2016 contract negotiations to make a decision about Oshawa's future.  

Election planning kicks off

Unifor leaders, activists and staff from BC, the Prairies, Ontario and the Atlantic came together...

Time to pay ‘amateur’ Jr hockey players

Appeared originally on January 12, 2015 in the Waterloo Region Record

By Jerry Dias

There's nothing that brings our country together like a game of hockey.

Whether it's the Olympics, a team in the Stanley Cup finals or the World Juniors, millions of Canadians are vicariously living out the excitement through our cherished players.

Air Canada's employees seek share of gains they helped create

TORONTO, Jan. 26, 2015 /CNW/ - Customer Sales and Service Agents at Air Canada will be seeking economic gains after having made many sacrifices during the turbulent times in the airline industry, according to Unifor. Bargaining for a new collective agreement opened today in Toronto.

CBC oversteps

The CBC is a vital organization, with dedicated journalists whose work has informed this country’s most important debates and kept Canadians informed on the important issues of the day.

African Heritage /Black History month

Unifor joins with people of African heritage in the celebration of Black History Month.  Every February communities across the country hold festivals and events to focus our collective attention on the role that Black individuals and communities have played in building a stronger, better, more diversified Canada.

Unifor sends a second letter to Minister Blaney

Unifor today sent a letter to federal Minister of Public Safety Steven Blaney, along with a petition signed by hundreds of armoured car workers and Unifor members, calling on the federal government “to develop a comprehensive regulatory framework for the armoured car industry, establish minimum standards on employee training, vehicle specifications, crew compliments and safety equipment.”

To read the letter, click here.