Ontario health care worker representatives joined with union leaders from Unifor, CUPE, SEIU Healthcare, ONA and OPSEU/ SEFPO to deliver an 'all we want for Christmas' holiday card that called on Premier Doug Ford to repeal Bill 124.
“Across the country, Unifor members are making their voices heard and pushing for the change needed in our workplaces and communities. Together we are making a difference everywhere.” Unifor National President Lana Payne reflects on 2022, a historic year with the highest number of labor disputes since the creation of Unifor, and looks ahead to the challenges workers face in 2023.
Today, December 20, nurses represented by the Royal College of Nursing union across England, Wales and Northern Ireland are staging the largest strike in the history of the National Health Service.
Unifor expresses solidarity with striking nurses and with thousands of workers from many sectors taking strike action this month in the UK. The strikes to demand economic and social justice for all working people were initiated by rail workers and have continued to gain support across the country.
SAINT JOHN– New Brunswick labour leaders will protest Bill 23 outside Labour Minister Trevor Holder’s office on Monday, December 19, 2022.
“The labour movement will not sit quietly while Premier Blaine Higgs passes legislation that strips rights away from the hard-working people of this province,” said Daniel Legere, President of the New Brunswick Federation of Labour.
SAINT JOHN– New Brunswick Federation of Labour, its affiliate unions, and Unifor will protest Bill 23 outside the offices of Labour Minister Trevor Holder, and MLAs Ernie Steeves (Moncton), Arlene Dunn (Saint John), and Jill Green (Fredericton) on Monday, December 19, 2022.
“The labour movement will not sit quietly while Premier Blaine Higgs passes legislation that strips rights away from the hard-working people of this province,” said Daniel Legere, President of the New Brunswick Federation of Labour.
Unifor files for Conciliation for Negotiations with CN
Unifor’s national collective agreements with Canadian National Railway Co. that cover the working conditions of more than 4000 workers at Canada’s largest railway expire on December 31, 2022. Agreements 5.1, 5.1 Supplemental and 5.4 (Council 4000 Bargaining Committee) and Agreement 12 (Local 100 Bargaining Committee).
QUEBEC CITY - Local 2002 members working at the Aéroport de Québec in Quebec City voted 70% in favour of the tentative agreement presented to them at a ratification meeting on Dec. 12, 2022.
The new three-year contract offers wage increases of 6% in the first year, 4% in the second year and 4% in the third year.
Unifor’s newest members from Local 4003, working at Saputo Dairy Products, have ratified their first collective agreement with the company.
Congratulations to the bargaining committee on standing firm and negotiating a strong first collective agreement for Local 4003 members,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “It’s been a long road, and our members were determined to get a fair deal that reflects the economic moment. The first contract always sets a standard and this deal addresses the workers’ priorities.”
Unifor members from across British Columbia gathered at a regional council for the first time since the pandemic began. During the meeting, they set out a plan for growing the union and fighting for social justice.
The 220 Unifor members of Local 1411 have ratified a new three-year contract with their employer, ZF Automotive, in Midland, Ont.
Key victories include keeping the Defined Benefit pension plan and Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) – which means $1.70 rolled into the base wages.
Wage increases were achieved in all classifications, with progression reduced by one year, resulting in 81 members receiving an additional $1 an hour raise on day one (in addition to the COLA roll-in and wage increases).
MISSISSAUGA—Unifor Local 1285 members at the Kuehne + Nagel Hogan warehouse location have voted overwhelmingly to accept a new collective agreement, ending a six day strike action.
“I am so incredibly proud of these courageous members who stood firm in their demand for fair treatment from global giant Kuehne + Nagel,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “They are truly an amazing group of workers who fought to get their union in the first place and were now fighting for economic justice and respect.”
Tiff Macklem and the Bank of Canada doubled down on a failing strategy this week when they raised the interest rate for a seventh time this year.
He could have chosen to take a pause or even cut the rate increase in half in order to show he is taking heed of warnings from across the economy that the rate increases are too much, too fast. Instead, he raised the rate by 50 basis points to 4.25%.
TORONTO - Bill C-35 is important legislation to enshrine the federal government’s commitment to early learning and child care, says Unifor.
“We welcome the protection of child care investments for generations to come,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Working parents need high-quality, affordable child care more than ever and we will continue to work with provincial, territorial and federal governments to make child care accessible to all.”
On December 10, Unifor joins with members, locals, activists and progressives across the globe to celebrate the 75th year of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
MONTREAL- Voting in a virtual meeting, Transervice members ratified the settlement proposed by the mediator by 72%, thus putting an end to the six-week-long strike.
The four-year contract includes wage increases of 10.5% over the duration of the collective agreement, in addition to a signing bonus and several other improvements to working conditions.
All members are slated to return to work on December 12, 2022.
Joint Statement in solidarity with Indigenous families mourning the murder of four Indigenous women
December 6, 2022 – As we observe the 16 Days of Activism on Gender-Based Violence and the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, the announcement of charges in the murder of four Indigenous women at the hands of an alleged serial killer linked to white supremacist ideology is a tragic indication that the urgent action long called for by Indigenous women, families, and communities to address the ongoing genocide of Indigenous women, girls,
The 40 members from Unifor Local 591-G have ratified a new agreement with Thistle Printing Ltd. that sees a 3% increase in each year of the three-year contract.
The contract – retroactive from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2025 – also stipulates the Toronto commercial printing company will pay the five bindery assistants a $4 per hour increase from $16 to $20 (a 25% increase), also retroactive to July. The group also gained improvements to applicable pensions and benefits as well.
TORONTO – Sunwing pilots are celebrating news the company has decided to abandon its intention to use the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) to boost staffing levels.
“Our main concern from the get-go was training and safety,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “As a union, we expect rigorous analysis before an employer is allowed to use the TFWP. We’re pleased that Sunwing chose to back away from using TFWP and honour our collective agreement.”
MONTREAL- On Wednesday, Unifor Local 62 members working at Bombardier’s Laurent Beaudoin Completion Centre voted 83.8% in favour of the new tentative agreement.
The new contract lasts three years and includes wage hikes of 6.5% for the first year and 3% for each of the second and third year, as well as a signing bonus of $2,000 to protect against inflation. The monthly retirement pension benefit will also be raised by $4.00 as of January 1, 2023, $2.00 on January 1, 2024 and $2.00 on January 1, 2025.
CALGARY—New Unifor members at the Caroline, Alberta facility of Pieridae Energy will enjoy significant wage increases as part of a contract ratified this week by Local 4050.
“Unifor is Canada’s leading, and growing, union for energy workers,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “We’re excited to welcome these members and look forward to growing good jobs in the energy sector.”
La Tuque, QC - Members of Unifor Locals 530 and 27Q working for WestRock in La Tuque, Quebec, voted in favour of the mediator’s proposed settlement presented to them Monday at a general meeting, bringing an end to their labour dispute.
Roughly 90 Durham College foodservice workers who have been on the picket line since Nov. 28, 2022, in Oshawa, Ont., ratified a new deal with their employer, Compass Group Canada, ending the week-long strike.
MISSISSAUGA—International logistics conglomerate Kuehne + Nagel is jeopardizing holiday package delivery by refusing to offer decent pay to 140 striking workers at its Hogan warehouse in Mississauga, Ontario.
INGERSOLL—Unifor National President Lana Payne joined autoworkers, local union leaders, General Motors representatives and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier Doug Ford to celebrate the opening of the newly retooled GM CAMI assembly plant in Ingersoll, Ontario.
Unifor extends its deepest condolences to the families of murdered women Rebecca Contois, Morgan Harris, Marcedes Myran, and Mashkode Bizhiki’ikwe, or Buffalo Woman.
“Our CATCA members provide critical services needed for safe travel in our country. They are professionals who see collective bargaining as a way to improve that service to Canadians," said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Local 5454’s bargaining team are experienced and will be in our members’ corner every step of the way and ready to fight for a fair contract.”
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