WINDSOR – A tentative deal has been reached with Postmedia just hours before a strike deadline at the Windsor Star.
“We are relieved to have reached a tentative agreement that we can recommend to our members who have been serving this community by providing high-quality daily local news for decades,” said Julie Kotsis, Chair of the Joint Council of Unions, which represents members of Unifor Locals 240 and 517-G, as well as Communications Workers of America-Canada Local 30553.
VANCOUVER—The wage increases and enhanced resources for reliable enforcement measures announced today by the Government of British Columbia will help container truckers earn a decent living and move closer towards peace at Vancouver’s ports, says Unifor.
“Unifor worked hard to negotiate a plan that all sides agreed to,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Unlike its predecessors, this government is moving to faithfully implement the signed plan.”
WINDSOR - Daily local news coverage in Windsor is under threat as owners of the Windsor Star seek massive concessions, while a midnight Friday strike deadline looms.
“Our newsroom has shrunk by more than 25 per cent as Postmedia seeks multi-year wage freezes while executive compensation climbed on average 33 per cent last year,” said Julie Kotsis, Chair of the Joint Council of Unions, which is bargaining for members of Unifor Locals 240 and 517-G, as well as Communications Workers of America-Canada Local 30553.
World Press Freedom Day takes place every year on May 3rd. It is a great moment to take stock of press freedom around the world, including in Canada. This year is particularly important as it marks the 25th edition of World Press Freedom Day, which was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993.
SURREY—Workers at one of Surrey’s largest hotels have walked off the job after the employer refused to bargain with the union.
“It is a total lack of respect for the workers who make that hotel a success,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Hospitality workers deserve good working conditions and fair compensation.”
Job action began at 4:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 1 after the Collective Agreement expired.
The Council of Health Care Unions is recommending its members ratify a proposed agreement with the Nova Scotia Health Authority and IWK.
Yesterday, all bargaining committee members met and voted to recommend ratification of the proposal to its members.
If ratified the agreement provides a mediation arbitration process that will conclude collective agreements for all four bargaining committees in Health Care, Nursing, Support Services, and Administrative Professionals.
The Nova Scotia Council of Health Care Unions has received the results of the recent province wide strike vote
The health care bargaining unit members who voted - voted 93% in support of a strike,
The unions would like to thank all the members who participated in the vote, and showed solidarity with their bargaining committee.
But this does not mean there is going to be a strike. In a message earlier today, members were informed of a proposal on the table from the Employers, that if ratified, would avoid any job action.
GODERICH—The employer’s demand for concessions have forced mine workers at the Compass Minerals’ facility in Goderich to take legal job action.
“Our members are pivotal to the success of the Goderich mine,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Miners deserve a fair deal, not dramatic concessions.”
April 28, 2018 AJAX – Unifor members at Lear Ajax began strike action as of 12:01 a.m. April 28 after negotiations to secure a new collective agreement failed. “Unifor bargained up until the deadline but unfortunately it became clear that Lear was just unwilling to make a fair offer,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. The 320 workers, represented by Unifor Local 222, had delivered an overwhelming 99 per cent strike mandate earlier this week.
SURREY— The employer’s refusal to respond to the union’s proposals has forced Unifor Local 3000 to serve 84-hour strike notice at one of Surrey’s largest hotels.
“Reckless bargaining by the employer is going to result in a disruption in customer service,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “We’re prepared to bargain but the Sheraton hasn’t demonstrated the same commitment to getting a contract.”
The employer’s demand for concessions have forced mine workers at the Compass Minerals’ facility in Goderich to take legal job action.
“Our members are pivotal to the success of the Goderich mine,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Miners deserve a fair deal, not dramatic concessions.”
Please accept this submission on Bill 107, amending the Labour Standards Code, Respecting Leaves of Absence.
Unifor represents 315,000 members across Canada, 14,000 of which work and live in Nova Scotia. As the Atlantic Regional Director, I connect with members in various sectors of the economy, working for employers large and small. I've supported the work that my union has done to negotiate programs and policies dealing with domestic and intimate partner violence. I am proud to say that we are a leader in workplace supports.
TORONTO—Unifor joins several stakeholders, including most Canadian airport authorities, in celebrating news that the federal government’s controversial study of airport privatization has been shelved.
“Privatization is a scam that threatens the security and service at Canadian airports,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Airports are too important to be left to privatization experiments with the private sector.”
April 21, 2018 TORONTO – Unifor National President Jerry Dias is available to comment on the government review of personal emergency leave for auto workers. The review comes after Ontario Labour Minister Kevin Flynn met with a Unifor led delegation of unionized and non-unionized auto workers. “We had a frank discussion on how regulation 502/06 creates a lesser standard of personal emergency leave for auto sector workers. It is unfair and is hurting workers and their families,” said Dias.
VICTORIA—A forestry roundtable convened to deal with the crisis caused by U.S. tariffs on five Canadian paper mills has resolved to protect affected communities and recruit the federal government to fight back.
“President Trump’s tariffs on paper mills are grossly unfair and may cause several mill closures,” said Scott Doherty, Executive Assistant to the Unifor National President, who was at the meeting. “The federal government needs to act now to protect forestry communities and good Canadian jobs."
Unifor welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to New Brunswick’s consultation on domestic, intimate partner or sexual violence leave legislation (Bill 44). We are Canada's largest union in the private sector with 315,000 members in every sector of the economy. We have particular expertise to offer to this consultation. Both our founding unions, CEP and CAW, have a long history of addressing domestic violence. In particular, we’ve been bargaining paid domestic violence leave into our collective agreements for over 25 years.
This is a community town hall to discuss an issue that impacts all of us – trade. Everyone is welcome to join the conversation as Unifor re-imagines what a People’s Trade agenda might look like.
Hear from Maude Barlow, Council of Canadians Honorary Chairperson
Canadians deserve to have a voice in the development of trade policy. We need to set the rules for what trade should achieve and how trade should work for us - not just for corporations. Join us for an important community conversation as we discuss and develop a People’s Trade Agenda, together.
WINDSOR - On Sunday April 22, Unifor is holding a community rally to support striking Caesars Windsor hospitality workers calling for respect and demanding a better contract to address workload issues.
VANCOUVER—Eliminating two sub-minimum wages is an important step for reducing exploitation and poverty of some of the province’s most vulnerable workers, says Unifor.
“Liquor servers and others struggling under the sub-minimum wage deserve a raise,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “We look forward to working with the British Columbia government to use employment standards improvements to make these wage gains go even further.”
HAMILTON - On Friday April 20, Unifor launches its cross country town hall tour to explore a progressive trade agenda.
“Canada’s approach to trade has been flawed and now is the time to do things differently,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “There is an opening to talk about the failures of free trade and an opportunity to imagine a new approach – a different kind of trade agenda, one that is for people not profits, and that is truly progressive.”
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