HALIFAX –Unifor is congratulating Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) on their long-fought victory for wage increases following today’s Nova Scotia government announcement to invest an additional $75 million annually in the sector.
“Accessible, affordable, quality child care is what underpins our workforce and it doesn’t work without living wages for ECEs,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Respecting child care workers will ensure the success of the Canada-wide $10-a-day child care plan and strengthen the Canadian economy.”
HALIFAX––Unifor has reached a tentative agreement on behalf of workers at the Autoport vehicle processing and transshipment facility, located in Eastern Passage, Nova Scotia at the mouth of the Halifax harbour.
“With the united support of the membership behind them the bargaining committee was able to secure a tentative agreement that addresses key priorities for the workers,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
More than 150 health and safety representatives and leaders gathered at Unifor’s Family Education Centre in Port Elgin, Ont., for the 2022 Health and Safety Conference. Held biannually, this was the union’s first in-person health and safety conference in four years, but in that time, the pandemic meant the national union and local leaders were more occupied with health and safety issues than ever before.
Unifor Local 222 members at Mills Motors recently ratified a collective agreement, focusing on job security at the automotive dealership.
“The ongoing supply chain shortages and other economic interruptions have squeezed automotive dealerships, and by extension, workers. Congratulations to the bargaining committee for securing this contract amidst difficult times for the auto industry,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President.
Local 100 and Autoport Eastern Passage Bargaining and Strike Vote Results
The bargaining committee at Autoport Eastern Passage has been negotiating with the employer since February 15, 2021. The collective agreement expired on December 31, 2021.
October 4 is a day to honour murdered and missing Indigenous women, girls and two-spirited persons (MMIWG2S) while showing love and support for their families.
This year we mark Women’s History Month in Canada with the knowledge that gains toward equality are fragile and need vigilance to continually protect and enshrine them into the fabric of our union and country.
As we reach back into our past to share the stories of women who have been trailblazers, we learn important lessons from their struggles and triumphs that we need to continually remind ourselves of today.
It was Lana Payne’s career in journalism that sparked her love of unions.
When the Unifor National President was 21, she worked for her hometown paper, the St. John’s Evening Telegram in Newfoundland and Labrador, calling it a “baptism by fire,” enduring night shifts and eventually discovering her passion in covering labour issues. She found her beat.
TORONTO –Unifor is disheartened that news of a court application to dissolve NordStar Capital Inc., the controlling company of Torstar and the Toronto Star, came from a media outlet, rather than the employer.
"Today's unexpected news was completely disrespectful to the hard-working Toronto Star staff who felt blindsided by this information – or rather, lack-of,” said Unifor’s National President Lana Payne. “Journalists and media workers often put their lives on the line to provide fact-based reporting to the public and they deserve better.”
September 30 is a national statutory holiday to recognize the widespread abuse at residential schools, honour survivors, and work for reconciliation. The event has been known as Orange Shirt Day since 2013. It is named after the clothing taken from Phyllis (Jack) Webstad when she was six years old on her first day at residential school.
Unifor has reached a tentative three-year agreement with Saputo Dairy Products after a six-month period of negotiations.
“Congratulations to the bargaining team to stand firm on negotiating the best collective agreement for new members,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “The first contract always sets a standard and this deal addresses the needs and concerns of our members.”
On October 1, we celebrate the International Day of Older Persons.
First observed in 1991, the General Assembly of the United Nations designated this day to draw attention to the important contribution of seniors and to changing demographics: the greying of the population, or the "age of ageing." We mark this day as a way of providing education on public issues and concerns, to mobilize for change and action and to celebrate achievements.
Unifor stands with journalists and independent news organizations on World News Day – Sept. 28, 2022 – a day where many recognize the importance of fact-based journalism.
The rise of misinformation and the acute lack of funding for quality local news is leading Canada to a crossroads. As a country, we can choose to fund and value local news and the work of journalists, or face the consequences caused by fake news and unreliable information spread on social media.
Fact-based news is an integral part of a healthy democracy, and it must be defended and adequately funded.
TORONTO- Unifor will donate $500,000 to the Canadian Red Cross for the Hurricane Fiona in Canada Appeal in support of recovery efforts in Atlantic Canada and eastern Quebec.
“The devastation in coastal and Atlantic communities cannot be overstated. Recovery efforts will be ‘all hands on deck’ and Unifor is prepared to step up and participate through what will surely be a long and difficult period,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President.
TORONTO— Members at the Extendicare group of nursing homes across Ontario ratified 10 new collective agreements with precedent-setting improvements including a pilot project to move the entire workforce to full-time.
FORT MCMURRAY—A new memorandum of understanding signed with Suncor will convert 300 temporary positions into permanent jobs by the end of 2024.
“Local 707-A has done great work to secure these additional good jobs by mutual agreement with the employer,” said Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor Western Regional Director.
The 2022 Employment Insurance and Canada Pension Plan (EI/CPP) Conference, hosted at the Unifor Family Education Centre, took place over a monumental weekend for EI benefits in Canada.
On Saturday, September 24, the remaining EI temporary measures were allowed to expire by the federal government. Delegates were trained to navigate a much different system where fewer Canadians will be able to qualify for benefits, and where separation payments will now be allocated all despite Unifor’s ongoing campaign efforts.
TORONTO –In light of the changes the Canadian government announced yesterday – on Sept. 26, 2022 – to drop all COVID-19 travel requirements beginning Oct. 1, 2022, Unifor is calling for ongoing and vigilant attention to the health, safety and respect of workers in that industry.
Workers and government representatives spent the past two weeks at the Ontario Superior Court, presenting arguments against and in support of Bill 124.
Professional fish harvesters on the southwest coast of the province are left reeling after post-tropical storm Fiona made landfall in the area on Friday and Saturday. The damage left in Fiona’s wake has impacted multiple enterprises, leaving significant damage to gear, boats, motors, and sheds. FFAW-Unifor is seeking financial support from federal and provincial governments to assist these inshore harvesters in their rebuilding efforts.
Families across Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Quebec are facing devastation of their homes and neighbourhoods, displacement, injury, and other damaging effects of Hurricane Fiona today.
This is a storm like we have never experienced before. Indeed, the severity and frequency of such storms has increased dramatically in recent years due to climate change. The toll of the damage is still unknown but reports grow as we cautiously wait for the weather to clear and for more information to come in.
TORONTO—Wage increases and improved sick day provisions are part of a new five-year collective agreement ratified today by Unifor members at Loomis Express.
“Unifor is a strong union for courier industry workers,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Time and again, Loomis Express workers have identified policies that will improve working conditions and bargained skillfully to achieve new gains.”
Workers at radio station CKNX in Wingham, Ont., have ratified a new three-year collective agreement with its parent company, Blackburn Media Inc.
“Congratulations to the bargaining team on negotiating a strong deal for the membership,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Local broadcasters provide a vital service to rural communities by keeping listeners informed and connected.”
Like so many, we at Unifor are grieving the loss of life and suffering experienced by the people of James Smith Cree Nation and in the community of Weldon. For our Union, the loss is deeply personal, Carol Burns was a valued member of Unifor Local 2S.
We expect that many difficult moments will lie ahead for all of the families, friends and communities impacted by the senseless violence. Unifor sends its support and solidarity to the Indigenous Elders carrying the weight of these painful events as they focus on assisting their peoples and communities.
Last week, Ontario’s Financial Accountability Office (FAO) revealed that the province spent $776 million (nearly 2% less than planned) in the first quarter of the year.
Here’s how that spending was broken down, and what it means for workers in Ontario.
The shortfall in spending falls into health services and the early learning and child care plans – two sets of programs that are very important to our members, Ontario’s residents and the economy.
Air travellers are frustrated, and for good reason. A shortage of workers in the industry has clashed with rapidly returning demand for air travel to create cascading flight delays, lost luggage, cancellations and other disruptions at airports around the world.
These problems have been experienced at airports around the world, but Canada’s airports have been the worst.
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