Toronto—Frontline grocery workers at 27 Metro stores in the GTA will begin strike action on Saturday, July 29, at 12:01 a.m., with picket lines forming at each store at 8:00 a.m.
The strike action comes after Unifor Local 414 members voted to reject a tentative collective agreement.
TORONTO- In the past week, Unifor submitted three submissions to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) and the Heritage department, responding to draft regulations and Bell Media’s attempts to water down its news requirements.
Nurses represented by four unions in Nova Scotia have voted in favour of a five-year contract that will see historic improvements in wages, premiums, occupational health and safety, and work-life balance.
Voting on the agreement took place from July 21st until noon today. Approximately 87.5 per cent of those who voted cast ballots in favour of the new agreement that was reached during Conciliation.
On August 1, 1834, the Slavery Abolition Act took effect laying a pathway to freedom for enslaved people in British colonies across the globe, including here in Canada. The ongoing impact of slavery on Black and Indigenous peoples spans generations. If we are to uproot and dismantle racism, we must confront our history and the terrible legacy of exclusion, segregation, displacement, and violence.
Unifor is proud to announce that more than 700 workers from the Original Cakerie in London, Ont. will join the union following a successful organizing campaign.
“The best way to get respect and a voice at work is to organize,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
“A very warm welcome to our newest members from the Cakerie who have voted overwhelmingly to show they are ready to work collectively – through our union - for better working conditions and for a better world.”
The vote to join Unifor was held over a period of 48 hours beginning on July 24, 2023.
78 workers from Twin Lakes Terrace Long Term Care Community have voted overwhelmingly to join Unifor.
"The 78 workers at Twin Lakes Terrace Long Term Care Community have made a powerful decision to join Unifor,” Lana Payne, National President of Unifor Canada. “This organizing victory reflects the unity and determination of these new members to fight for better working conditions and a stronger, more equitable workplace."
INGERSOLL— Unifor welcomed news today that construction of a new EV battery module facility will bring 300 new jobs to the Ingersoll, Ontario General Motors (GM) CAMI Assembly Plant, with production scheduled to begin next year.
“This is good news for Unifor Local 88 members, good news for the community and good news for the economy,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “This investment is another important step in expanding Canada’s EV footprint and good union jobs for the next generation of autoworkers.”
WINDSOR—A tentative agreement has been signed between the bargaining committee representing members of Unifor Local 1959 and 240 and the employer, Windsor Salt.
The union began legal strike action 154 days ago, on February 17, 2023.
More details will be made available after the ratification vote on July 26.
This round of bargaining is the first since Windsor Salt was purchased by Stone Canyon Industries in 2021, a U.S-based private holding firm.
We are happy to announce that the Local 100 membership working at the Hudson Bay Railway (HBR) has voted to ratify the tentative agreement reached between the parties on June 28, 2023.
Unifor represents approximately twenty (20) Local 100 mechanics working in The Pas, Manitoba, who inspect, repair and maintain HBR’s Freight Car and Locomotive fleet.
HALIFAX – Unifor members of Local 2215 at IMP Aerospace have filed for conciliation to set a new pace for contract negotiations.
“This is a vulnerable time for many workers, with the rising cost of living putting extra pressure on every paycheque,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Local 2215 members are using the tools available to them in the labour relations toolbox in order to get an agreement in a timely manner. They have the total support of their national union.”
Unifor supports the calls by families of missing women Morgan Harris and Marcedes Myran for police and municipal professionals to thoroughly search the Brady Road landfill for their remains. Police believe the bodies of the two women were deposited there by their killer last year.
Unifor also supports extending the search at the landfill to include Tanya Nepinak, whose remains were suspected to have been taken there in 2011.
“This is a different shipyard than the one Unifor first knew”
After an early morning breakfast meeting with the leadership of MWF Local 1, National President Lana Payne, Atlantic Regional Director Jennifer Murray, and Unifor staff pulled into the parking lot of Irving Shipbuilding nestled on the shoreline of the Halifax Harbour.
“It looks different from even four years ago,” said Payne. “And I remember before the new module hall was here – this is a different shipyard than the one Unifor first knew.”
It was the news Canadians were dreading. As the Bank of Canada raised the interest rate to 5%, hearts sank and anxiety rose for workers and their families.
The hike will prove to be a disaster. It will not solve the affordability crisis and it will not have an influence on inflation. Instead, it will continue to force housing costs even higher and will not address the causes of the rising price of food (ahem, profiteering) at all. But it will cause hardship.
Members of Unifor Local 112 working in the hospitality industry in the Greater Toronto Area met during a day-long strategy session on July 17, 2023.
The session kicked of planning for the next round of bargaining at five hotels, expected to start in the late fall this year.
“The hospitality sector has recovered from COVID-19, and so has the employer’s financial stability. Our collective agreements must reflect the new normal, including recent cost of living increases,” said Greg Burton, Assistant to the Unifor National Officers who helped lead the meeting.
Unifor has reached a tentative agreement with Metro grocery stores. The agreement covers 3,700 frontline grocery workers at 27 Metro stores across the Greater Toronto Area.
On strike since April 3, 2023, the 50 members of Unifor Local 700 who work for Autobus Venise have unanimously rejected the management offer presented to them at a meeting on July 7.
After an attempt at conciliation, the union and the employer were unfortunately unable to resolve the dispute. Despite the union’s efforts, negotiations remain deadlocked, highlighting the employer’s unwillingness to meet the workers’ legitimate demands.
TORONTO, ON – Workers from hospitals across Toronto held a series of rallies today outside St. Joseph’s Health Centre, St. Michael’s Hospital, and Providence Healthcare to speak out against the Ford government’s plan to privatize hospital services. Healthcare workers from the three sites, which are operated by Unity Health Toronto, included nurses, personal support workers, laboratory technologists, health care aides, cleaners, clerical staff, and many more.
Toronto, ON— Unifor has set a strike deadline of 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday July 18 for more than 3,700 frontline grocery workers at 27 Metro stores across the GTA.
CALGARY—Wage gains, seniority protections, vacation time, and pension increases are all features of a new collective agreement signed by Unifor members working as screening officers at the Calgary airport for Gardaworld.
“Unifor is a strong union for airport workers,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “First contracts can be tricky to negotiate, so we’re proud of the work done by the committee to get the job done.”
VICTORIA—Members of Unifor Local 114 working at the Victoria Clipper say the pace of bargaining for their next contract suggests that the Victoria-Seattle ferry service could be disrupted before the end of the summer.
“The Clipper’s negotiators seem to be stuck in a pandemic concessionary mindset,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Ferry ridership has rebounded from COVID-19. The company simply has no excuse to drag its feet on a fair contract for workers.”
Members lined up bright and early on July 9 for a day of roller coasters, hot dogs, burgers and mountain selfies at Unifor’s Member Appreciation Day at Canada’s Wonderland in Vaughan, Ont.
This is the sixth year Unifor has organized a day at the amusement park (taking a pause during the pandemic), where members can connect with each other, let their hair down and enjoy a summer’s outing with their families. The event sold out after more than 5,500 tickets were purchased this year.
Shinade Allder, Unifor Ontario Regional Council Chair, has won the 2023 Leading Women, Leading Girls, Building Communities Award for her leadership work to break down racial barriers and encourage Black youths to pursue careers where they can make change.
“Congratulations, Shinade, for all your hard work,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “This is a wonderful recognition of her activism and the barriers she crushes everyday.”
Allder was presented the award by New Democrat MPP Peggy Sattler last week.
TORONTO – In the wake of Meta’s threat to ban Canadian news on its platforms because of the Online News Act, Unifor is calling on all provincial and municipal governments to follow the federal and Quebec governments’ announcements that they will stop advertising on Facebook and Instagram.
Unifor is also calling on corporations who are responsible for a large portion of the more than $4 billion in revenue Facebook takes out of Canada every year to also stand up for local news and Canadian content.
VANCOUVER—Unifor calls on the BC Maritime Employers’ Association to bargain in good faith and negotiate a fair settlement with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union.
“Unifor is very familiar with the underhanded tactics used by employers at the ports in Metro Vancouver,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Unifor members, including hundreds of container truckers at the ports, stand united with ILWU in its strike for a fair contract.”
WINDSOR—Stellantis and the federal and Ontario governments have reached an agreement that will see construction of the Windsor EV battery plant resume, preserving current and future jobs in Canada’s auto manufacturing sector.
Unifor members, fellow unionists and community supporters from across Southwestern Ontario travelled to Windsor for a rally on Thursday, June 29. Members of Local 1959 and 240 have been on strike at Windsor Salt since February 17, 2023.
“Unifor members on strike have the full support of our union from coast to coast,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Members at Local 1959 and 240 have shown incredible solidarity and determination for months. We’re here to show them their struggle matters and we’re all-in to get them a fair contract.”
The president of Unifor Local 551 is warning that importing Korean line-pipe products will have a detrimental effect on Canadian jobs.
Amanda Servais testified on July 4 at the Canadian International Trade Tribunal during a hearing about Korean line-pipe imports to Canada, which is in competition with products that are built by Unifor members at Evraz in Camrose, Alta.
“Without adequate protections, the workers at Evraz Camrose will face layoffs, bargaining concessions, and potentially even the closure of the plant,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
MONTREAL – Unifor Local 522 members working for Canadian Aviation Electronics Ltd. (CAE) ratified their tentative agreement.
"Throughout these negotiations, we faced increased demands for efficiency and versatility from the employer,” said Sophie Albert, president of Local 522. “However, through our determination and commitment to our members, we managed to find an acceptable compromise that preserves all jobs.”
The members stood in solidarity when they rejected the initial employer offers on June 17 and voted for a strike mandate by 98%.
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