Unifor has launched a new labour action centre to assist Unifor Local 199 members at the GM Propulsion Plant in St. Catharines and independent parts suppliers throughout the region, including TORA, Spencer ARL, Knights Facilities Management, and Assemble Rite, who were laid off as a result of retooling delays for electric drive unit production and the end of life of the High Feature V6 (HFV6) engine and GF6 six-speed transmission programs.
Autoport Charney workers have ratified a new four-year contract, securing a 17 per cent wage increase and enhanced pension benefits.
“Securing gains at the bargaining table is only possible because of the hard work and determination of Autoport Charney members and their bargaining team,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “The small but mighty 12-member bargaining unit can now look forward to a more stable financial future and greater security in retirement, making this agreement a significant win.”
Moments before intimate partner violence was declared an epidemic in Nova Scotia, Unifor Atlantic Regional Director Jennifer Murray and ARC Women's Committee Chair Koren Baeman had a chance encounter with Premier Houston, compelling him to change his mind and pass this important legislation.
Unifor members across the country participated in the 2024 Tears to Hope relay to raise funds for the Tears to Hope Society, an Indigenous-led organization primarily focused on supporting the families and loved ones of MMIWG2S, raising awareness, and promoting prevention.
Members in 15 communities mobilized to show their support. Photos from the event can be found in twoalbums on Unifor’s Facebook page.
The Canadian Air Navigation Specialists Association (CANSA), Unifor Local 1016, is shining a spotlight on employer NAV Canada’s determination to break pattern bargaining. Contract talks broke down in February, propelling the union to file for conciliation.
“Nav Canada is intent on disrupting the Unifor pattern,” said Jim Walker, president of Unifor Local 1016.
GANDER, NFLD. – Pilots at the Exploits Valley Air Services (EVAS), represented by Unifor Local 2002, have voted 100% in favour strike action if a fair collective agreement cannot be reached with the company.
“Our members are highly skilled and valued workers in the sky,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “They deserve to be shown respect and paid a fair wage.”
The vote took place on Oct. 8 and 9 online to grant the bargaining committee a strike mandate.
CALGARY—Unifor Local 101R has officially opened contract talks with Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), seeking to address key issues affecting rail workers across 17 CPKC workplaces in Canada.
Unifor is supporting Médecins Sans Frontières Canada and the International Federation of Journalists humanitarian and journalistic work in Gaza with a $20,000 donation from the union’s Social Justice Fund as the war in Gaza passes the one year mark.
Unifor welcomes 125 new members at The Nuance Group (Canada) Inc., located at Pearson International Airport in Toronto.
“A big welcome to our union’s newest members,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “These workers are employed in a bustling airport in one of Canada’s busiest travel hubs and like all workers their goal is decent work and fairness.”
Health care workers gathered at Unifor’s Family Education Centre in Port Elgin, Ontario from October 4 to 6, 2024, for the Health Care Conference, where they shared experiences, discussed health and safety challenges, and strategized to face the ongoing crisis in the sector.
SAULT STE. MARIE — Paramedics represented by Unifor Local 1359 have successfully ratified a new three-year collective agreement with the District of Sault Ste. Marie Social Services Administration Board, securing important gains that will improve working conditions and benefits for members.
Members of Local 434 at Maibec CanExel, who manufacture wood siding products at their sawmill in East River, Nova Scotia, ratified an agreement by 89% securing sick days for the first time in addition to wage increases and other improvements.
“The Local 434 bargaining committee did a great job and achieved strong gains for Maibec workers,” said National President Lana Payne. “Congratulations to the committee and members on this new agreement.”
The 2024 Bud Jimmerfield award was presented to Unifor Local 1937 member Robert Girard at Canadian Council in Montreal.
“Our union recognizes Robert’s tireless work as a health and safety advocate over many years, both to thank him and to inspire other Unifor members to follow in his footsteps,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “We know it is this essential union-building work that helps to ensure workers are going home to their families at the end of each day. Defending health and safety is the ultimate in solidarity and is worthy of our union’s highest recognition.”
TORONTO/MONTREAL – Following Expertech’s move to cut 120 positions across Ontario and Quebec on October 1, Unifor is once again sounding the alarm about the hollowing out of good jobs at Bell Canada Enterprises Inc. (BCE Inc.) and its subsidiaries.
TORONTO— Unifor applauds the implementation of a 100% tariff on imported Chinese EV vehicles, effective today, and looks forward to the imposition of 25% tariffs on unfair imports of targeted Chinese steel and aluminum products, effective October 22, 2024.
The opening day of Unifor’s 2024 Canadian Council in Montreal, Que., was moving, inspiring and full of support. Delegates were officially welcomed by Don Barnaby, a Mi'kmaq First Nations member and traditional dancer, who spoke about his journey of healing generational trauma.
With Barnaby’s remarks and a powerful discussion on Sunday morning, the meeting both opened and closed with a focus on Indigenous rights and the lifelong work of reconciliation.
TORONTO— Unifor opened bargaining with DHL Express Canada today on behalf of members at local unions who work at the courier’s locations across Canada.
“Improving working conditions and securing fair wages at DHL Express Canada is all about demanding respect, safety, and improved conditions for our road transportation members,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
The closing day of Canadian Council presented an opportunity for listening, learning, and teaching about Canada’s dark history of settler colonization and exploitation of Indigenous people on the eve of National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, marked annually on Sept. 30.
“Today, we turn our focus to one of the highest priorities to us as trade unionists and as residents of this land,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
In her report to Canadian Council, Samia Hashi, Unifor Ontario Regional Director, shared a warning about the horrors of a hollowed out increasingly private health care system. She pledged to keep up the fight against conservative privatization in Ontario and support the efforts of the union to organize new members right across the province.
Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor's Western Regional Director had a lot to celebrate in his report at Canadian Council 2024- including a year of exciting organizing drives, historic strike action, and working to throw out an anti-worker conservative government in Manitoba.
But there's a lot of work left to do, including acting on climate change and continuing Unifor's bargaining and political action campaigns.
In one short day in September 2024, Atlantic Regional Director Jennifer Murray and other Unifor members got the Nova Scotia government to reverse course and declare intimate partner violence an epidemic. Hear the story and more updates from a year of action in Atlantic Canada.
Unifor's National Secretary-Treasurer Len Poirier reports on the union's activity over the past year- including an unprecedented year of strikes for members across the country.
He shone a light on how members' dues are at work defending worker's rights at the bargaining table and on the picket line, shared appreciation for the members that make our union great and called out Bell for sowing chaos in Canada's telecommunications industry.
In the past year, Unifor members in Quebec mobilized in forestry, aerospace, marine, telecommunications and so much more. Watch Daniel Cloutier's address to Canadian Council in Montreal.
Lana’s speech set the tone for the day, highlighting the energy and strength of everyone in the room. From industry councils to local leadership, she reflected on the challenges we’ve faced and the victories we’ve achieved through collective action. Watch as Lana Payne reminds us to continue building on our momentum and reminds us that our greatest power is in our solidarity.
The first day of Unifor’s Canadian Council was a tour de force.
A thousand Unifor local leaders and activists packed Montreal’s Palais des congrès on Sept. 27 ready to celebrate the last year of the union’s victories, share stories of activism, and renew a shared commitment to move forward with solidarity during the three-day council.
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