The Unifor Skilled Trades Council and national Skilled Trades department are dedicated to raising standards and strengthening the Skilled Trades across Canada.
TORONTO – Unifor’s Social Justice Fund is making a $75,000 donation to the Humanitarian Coalition for the Türkiye and Syria Earthquake Relief Fund.
“The scale of the damage and suffering caused by these earthquakes is overwhelming, and the response must match the scale of the crisis,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “The Humanitarian Coalition is bringing together international partners to support search and rescue and family reunification, as well as deliver vital aid including physical and mental health supports.”
They huddled in sleeping bags in the back of their cars and set up tents in parking lots in locations across Canada in a show of solidarity to tackle homelessness.
Unifor locals, members and staff participated in Raising the Roof’s “One Night” event on Feb. 7, 2023 to raise awareness and money for the organization’s homelessness prevention programs. Unifor's fundraising efforts reached over $70,000, contributing approximately half of the $142,261 total raised nation-wide at One Night events.
“During the past three difficult years, the members of the Air Traffic Specialists Association of Canada, Local 2245, continued to demonstrate their dedication and commitment to the safety of the flying public across this country,” said ATSAC President Elizabeth O’Hurley.
Members at Windsor Machine voted overwhelming to ratify a new three-year collective agreement that delivered wage gains, a signing bonus and a host of contract language improvements.
“This is a healthy deal that reflects a greater worth in our members,” said Unifor Local 444 President Dave Cassidy. “The committee's experience and knowledge of the workplace were vital to the process, they remained focused on our member's critical issues throughout negotiations. I commend them for their commitment to our Windsor Machine members.”
Under the banner of “WOMEN-LIFE-LIBERTY,” members of Unifor Quebec and Quebec Director Daniel Cloutier braved the cold on Feb. 4, 2023 to support the Iranian people at a demonstration in downtown Montreal.
"As a union, how can we not respond to this call for freedom?” said Cloutier, addressing the protesters. “That's why we are here, to join our voice to those millions of other voices calling for freedom, justice and security.”
Members of Unifor Local 698 working for Gate Gourmet in Dorval, Que. learned earlier this week that the employer would be shutting its operations at the Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport and cutting 50 positions.
The closure is said to be due to the loss of a contract with the airline, Swiss Air.
Unifor’s Recreation Department has announced the winners of the NFL Fantasy Football Pool for this year, running up to Sunday’s Super Bowl LVII.
The second-annual online virtual pool ran from Sept. 8, 2022 to Jan. 8, 2023, attracting some 1,200 Unifor members across the country who participated picking games every week. The person with the most successful picks was the winner of the pool for that week.
ST. JOHN’S-Unifor is calling on the Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador and the President and Vice-Chancellor of Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador (MUN) to act to resolve the issues of striking Memorial University of Newfoundland Faculty Association (MUNFA) members.
Ornge paramedics, members of Unifor Local 2002, won their arbitration over a wage re-opener clause that hinged on Bill 124, Premier Doug Ford’s disastrous anti-worker wage-suppressing legislation.
ST. CLAUDE, MAN.—Unifor members working at Lactalis Dairy have ratified a new collective agreement with wage increases and improved benefits.
“Congratulations to the bargaining committee of Local 755 on their great work,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “The new agreement will see improved wages and benefits as we continue to fight hard for workers across bargaining tables everywhere.”
Members at Westrock Guelph packaging company signed a new four-year agreement with 11.25% total wage increases and their first Women’s Advocate and Racial Justice Advocate.
“My congratulations to the members at Westrock Guelph on their new agreement,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Local 1917 has done a great job with this round of bargaining, getting improvements to wages and benefits and negotiating Women's and Racial Justice Advocates. They should be very proud of their work to build a more inclusive workplace.”
Quebec City – Members of Unifor Local 1044, working at Gecko Alliance, were told last week that production will cease by July 2023 as the company has decided to transfer its operations remaining production to its plant in Mexico.
More than 15 people will lose their jobs. This is in addition to the dozens of people laid off since the beginning of the wave of relocation that began a few years ago.
The Government of Canada became the 25th country to ratify the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 190, or C190, which is a framework of global standards aimed at eliminating violence and harassment in the world of work. This is an important milestone in our union’s mission to create workplaces and communities free from violence, harassment, and discrimination.
As Unifor recognizes Black History Month, in 2023, our focus is empowering the next generation of Black youth.
As we reflect on Black history, Black accomplishments and the contributions of the many Black communities here in Canada and globally, we also reaffirm the collective work and collective responsibility we all have to continue to advocate to end Anti-Black racism in all institutions and society. We owe it to future generations.
WINDSOR, ONT. –Postmedia's decision to close the Windsor Star's Starway Printing Plant brings an end to more than a century of daily print newspaper publishing in Windsor and comes at the cost of eliminating roughly 75 media jobs in the city, say unions Unifor and CWA Canada.
Sault Ste. Marie, ON – EllisDon Facilities Services (SAH) Inc. workers represented by Unifor Local 1359 will conduct an information picket outside the Sault Area Hospital on February 1 to demand the company return to the bargaining table instead of going to arbitration.
WINNIPEG—Wage increases and a night shift wage premium are highlights of a new collective agreement ratified by Unifor members working at the Association for Community Living (ACL).
ACL provides housing to people with developmental disabilities, and supports families through advocacy, individual consultation, and training and information. Unifor Local 468 members provide essential support by helping clients with their daily needs, including eating, bathing, doctor appointments, and recreational activities.
Unifor and CWA Canada locals and members in Windsor are protesting Postmedia’s decision to eliminate editorial and inserter positions, and outsource printing of the Windsor Star, cutting the jobs of over 75 people.
CALGARY—Unifor Local 1410 members were successful in winning unionization for the part-time merchandisers in a new four-year collective agreement ratified on Jan. 28, 2023.
“Organizing new members is a key priority for many Unifor locals,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Local 1410 should be very proud of the work they’ve done to secure an excellent agreement and expand the bargaining unit. Congratulations to them and welcome to our new members.”
Unifor Western Regional Director Gavin McGarrigle says Local 892 members at the Mosaic potash mine in Esterhazy, Saskatchewan can count on the power of Canada’s largest union in the private sector if negotiations fail to produce a new collective agreement in the next few weeks.
“It’s simple: cost of living is increasing. Wages and benefits must keep up. If that doesn’t happen, Mosaic’s customers are going to see a disruption in service,” he said.
I write to you at what I know is a time of great fear and uncertainty for Unifor Postmedia members in every corner of the company, from coast to coast. Andrew MacLeod’s January 18th memo detailing a number of cost-cutting measures, followed by the company’s subsequent announcements about significant lay-offs countrywide, are only the latest in a long series of discouraging restructuring moves by the company.
Unifor Local 21-A bargaining committee and Procor Ltd. have reached a tentative collective agreement.
“This was a difficult round of negotiations, but our bargaining committee stood together for our rail sector members,” said Michelle Barsness, Unit Chair and Treasurer of Local 21-A. “This agreement would not have been reached without the skills and solidarity of the bargaining committee.”
TORONTO –Unifor is disappointed and frustrated that Postmedia has largely kept the union and media workers hanging with a slow bleed of information that has provided no real clarity to workers about what jobs are on the chopping block.
“Workers are still in the dark after the company announced restructuring plans over a week ago. To dangle dire news that is detrimental to media workers’ livelihoods, careers and families is disrespectful and hurtful to the workers who have given so much to the company,” said Unifor’s National President Lana Payne.
The Right Honourable Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
The Honourable Chrystia Freeland
House of Commons, Canada
OPEN LETTER RE: Ontario’s Health System at Risk
Dear Prime Minister Trudeau and Deputy Prime Minister Freeland,
As Ontario’s largest health care unions, CUPE, SEIU Healthcare, OPSEU/SEFPO, ONA, and Unifor, we write on behalf of 295,000 workers concerned that Premier Ford’s privatization plan is putting our members and the people they care for at risk.
OTTAWA – As Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his cabinet gather in Hamilton for a three-day retreat, a broad coalition of unions and progressive groups says that implementing a comprehensive pharmacare program must be a top priority for the Liberal government. The cost-of-living crisis has significantly increased cost-related obstacles to Canadians’ access to prescription drugs, while high drug prices are draining billions of dollars from hospitals’ budgets.
DELTA, B.C.—Workers at the Cascades casino in Delta became Unifor’s newest members after the B.C. Labour Board certified the unit on January 24, 2023.
“Unifor is very proud to welcome a new group of hospitality and gaming workers into our union, joining thousands of Unifor members in the sector. We thank the Cascades workers for choosing Unifor and I know they are eager to get started on having a say in improving their working conditions,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
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