As the Clash’s Joe Strummer once sang, we “fought the law.”
Except this time, the law didn’t win.
Delegates gathered Dec. 2 to 3, 2022 at the Sheraton Hotel in Toronto for the first in-person Unifor Ontario Regional Council (ORC) since the pandemic began.
THUNDER BAY—The number of workers at the Alstom Thunder Bay plant has hit an all-time low, a situation deeply aggravated by the Ontario government’s awarding of a $9 billion contract to a consortium run by Hitachi Rail, according to Unifor.
In 1992, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed December 3 as International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPWD).
This year, the theme of IDPWD 2022 is “Transformative Solutions of Inclusive Development”. Unifor seeks to build upon innovation and technology to maintain meaningful employment for persons with disabilities.
Unifor remains committed to addressing the challenges and barriers faced by people with disabilities seeking meaningful employment and those who are seeking to continue meaningful work when experiencing a disability.
Local 100 and Council 4000 bargaining committees continued negotiating with the employer this week in Montreal.
Talks, again this week, were productive with the employer and are progressing well. At the table, we worked through work rules and language proposals. We have agreed on some items and are still wading through others.
We have agreed to meet with the employer the week of Dec. 12, 2022 in Montreal. We will continue discussing non-economic items and hope to convene discussions on monetary items.
TORONTO–Unifor is relieved that its member, Bal Krishna Dubey, who has been detained in the Dominican Republic with four other Pivot Airlines crew members since April 2022, is finally home in Canada in time for the holidays.
“It’s been a long and exhausting journey for the crew,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Unifor supported our member throughout this ordeal and our union will continue to support him with all available resources as he recovers from this harrowing and traumatic experience.”
WHISTLER—Wage increases and improved sick day benefits are key features of a new three-year collective agreement signed between Unifor Local 3000 and the Aava Hotel Whistler.
“Unifor contracts lead the hospitality sector in Whistler and across British Columbia,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “With Unifor, hospitality workers have a reason to be optimistic about the opportunities to secure fair wages and safe working conditions.”
EDMONTON—Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s very first piece of legislation is a breath-taking power grab that will only cause chaos and distract her government from the real economic problems facing Alberta’s families, says Unifor.
Unifor Local 252 has ratified a new three-year deal with Carpenter Canada Ltd. in Vaughan, Ont.
“Congratulations to the bargaining team for negotiating well-deserved wage increases for Carpenter Canada members,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “We all know inflation is impacting workers today and the team took that into consideration as they fought for better wages for Unifor members.”
The new contract begins Jan. 1, 2023 to Dec. 31, 2025. It was ratified on Nov. 26 at 74%.
TORONTO – Unifor celebrates today’s decision by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, which ruled that Premier Ford’s Bill 124 unduly infringes on workers’ rights.
“Today’s decision is a victory for not only public sector workers and unions across Ontario, but also for every Ontarian who relies on our public services,” Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “For the past four years, workers fought back against this wage suppression bill through direct action, lobbying, and sharing personal experiences. When workers organize for justice, we can win.”
Unifor Local 2002 customer and aircraft services members at Air Canada Jazz have ratified a new five-year contract with retroactive wage bumps, increases to pension plan benefits and improved bereavement, personal and sick leave language.
Unifor addressed key industry concerns including understaffing, a living wage at airports for all aviation workers, an end to contract flipping, introduction of successorship rights, and proper training and true protection for the harassment endured by workers on the job at the federal government’s National Summit on the Recovery of the Air Sector on Nov. 24, 2022 in Ottawa.
NAPANEE, Ontario- Unifor members at Strathcona Paperworks voted 94% in favour of strike action as negotiations with their employer have stalled.
“Strathcona Paperworks has enjoyed record profits over the last few years but they aren’t coming to the table with an offer that recognizes the workers behind those profits,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “These members are ready to stand up for themselves and the union stands with them all the way.”
Originally published in The Hill Times on November 28, 2022.
By Lana Payne
Canada’s aerospace sector is in a slow burning crisis. Workers have, out of frustration, issued many calls for proactive measures to help the industry.
Recently, the federal government gave strong signals to Unifor that more support for the industry is on its way. Recognition of the long-standing challenges faced by workers in the sector are indeed much-needed, and support is needed urgently.
FREDERICTON- Unifor, Canada’s largest union in the private sector, stands in firm solidarity with New Brunswick public sector workers and their unions amid the Higgs government’s anti-worker, anti-labour legislation to amend the Public Service Labour Relations Act.
The 17th Unifor Quebec Council was held in Montreal on the weekend of November 25-27. It was the first Quebec Council since the election of the new Quebec Director, Daniel Cloutier.
The Council got under way with a report from Cloutier, who outlined the many issues the union is currently facing, both in workplaces and at the political level. Cloutier also presented two recommendations, the first, dealing with sexual and reproductive health rights and the second, requesting support for women in Iran.
The second day of the 2022 BC Council opened with remarks from Angela MacDougall of Vancouver’s Battered Women’s Support Services. MacDougall is a well-known activist who has worked for decades to end femicide, the killing of women and girls because of their gender.
She shared statistics about the alarming rise of violence against women during the pandemic and provided examples of the campaign work BWSS has done recently raising awareness of the crisis.
The BC Regional Council opened on November 25, 2022 with a warm welcome to the unceded, shared, traditional territories of the Squamish Nation and Lil’wat Nation from cultural ambassadors Tmicwts’a Irene Terry Peters and Romie Napoleon James. Delegates were also treated to a performance by Coastal Wolfpack Dancers.
Unifor opens contract talks with Toronto Terminals Railway
Unifor opened bargaining for a new collective agreement with Toronto Terminals Railway (TTR) this week.
"Our members working at TTR are loud and clear that they need an agreement that addresses the crushing inflation on an already high cost of living in Vancouver," said Rick Raso, President of Unifor Local 101R. “Workers are falling behind and the bargaining committee is determined to push back and fight for wages that keep up with rising costs.”
A new Labour Action Centre to support former Syncreon Automotive workers has officially opened in Windsor, Ontario. The Centre will assist the almost 300 Unifor Local 195 members who lost their jobs when Syncreon closed last month, following the Stellantis decision to insource the work back into the Windsor Assembly Plant.
November 25 starts a global campaign of 16 Days of Activism for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. This year’s theme is Unite: Activism to End Violence Against Women. In the spirit of unity, Unifor is raising awareness among the membership about the Signal for Help, which began in 2020 as a way for women to silently show they need help and want someone to safely check in with them.
TORONTO – In a historic moment, Ontario’s five largest health care unions have joined forces, issuing an SOS appeal to Premier Doug Ford and Health Minister Sylvia Jones: your plan is failing – take action and adopt our solutions to stabilize Ontario’s crashing health care system today.
The full-zip, fleece-lined sweatshirts distributed at this year’s Women’s Conference were a big hit. The union has received many requests on how to order them for Locals – and now is your chance.
The union- and Canadian-made Unifor Rosie Solidarity sweater is $60 and local unions can order and purchase directly from the Unifor Store.
Today, the Fish Food and Allied Workers Union (FFAW-Unifor) is celebrating World Fisheries Day. One day, held annually on November 21, internationally recognizes commercial fisheries and the many people whose livelihoods rely on sustainably managed ocean ecosystems.
In Newfoundland and Labrador, the commercial fishery of today is not the fishery of our grandfathers and great-grandfathers. The commercial fishery of 2022, in many ways, would be unrecognizable to our forefathers.
Local 100 and Council 4000 bargaining committees met with the employer this week to begin discussions on non-economic proposals which includes the addressing the on-going issue of contracting out unionized work.
Your Master Bargaining Committee feels that talks this week were productive with the employer and are progressing well. We are committed to impress upon the company that our members deserve a collective agreement that treats you with dignity and respect.
ESTERHAZY, SASKATCHEWAN–Unifor Local 892 has filed for mediation after contract negotiations with Mosaic Potash Esterhazy Limited reached an impasse.
“Mosaic is a multi-national corporation that rakes in billions yet refuses to help its workers keep up with the cost of living,” said Unifor Western Regional Director Gavin McGarrigle.
Unifor recognises November 20 as the Trans Day of Remembrance (TDOR). November 20 is a day of mourning, as our union comes together to recognize those whose lives - overwhelmingly Black trans women and femmes - have been taken due to anti-trans violence.
On Saturday, November 20, Unifor encourages members to engage with this important day of remembrance by attending a vigil and sharing the union’s resources.
On World Toilet Day, November 19, Unifor renews its call for employers and governments to ensure all workers have access to safe sanitation at work.
“Safe sanitation at work is about dignity,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President and ITF Board Member., “Workers and workplaces are diverse, so every employer must take steps to ensure sanitation facilities are clean, appropriate and safe to meet the individual needs of workers.”
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