TORONTO—The 25% tariff imposed on Canadian steel and aluminum exports by U.S. President Donald Trump will cause serious damage to industry and workers in both countries, says Unifor.
“Trump is knowingly inflicting damage to the North American manufacturing sector with these inflationary tariffs that will injure workers, eliminate jobs, and hurt consumers,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
DELTA, B.C.—Citing “an altered economic environment”, ready-to-assemble furniture manufacturer Prepac is preparing to terminate more than 170 jobs and shift operations to its North Carolina facility.
“Our union has been warning about lost investment and production since Trump began his economic war on Canada and Canadian workers,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “In this case, Prepac and its equity owners are using the tariffs as an excuse to redirect all their production to the US. It’s pure greed.”
Secure Canada’s energy and energy product supply chains
Unifor is mobilizing an economy-wide fightback against U.S. tariffs on Canadian products with sector specific analyses.
A key component of the campaign is working with the federal government and the provinces to provide a bold policy options that would protect Canadian jobs and support workers impacted by the economic consequences of an irrational and aggressive American trade war.
CAMPBELL RIVER, B.C.—A mediator was unable to help Unifor Local 3019 make any progress in contract negotiations after the employer, global commodities giant Trafigura, refused to back down from aggressive proposals to undermine union rights.
“Stripping Unifor members of their rights is a non-starter,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “We will resist every proposal that disrespects the union rights of miners in Myra Falls.”
TORONTO – Unifor urges the Hudson’s Bay Company ULC (HBC) to protect and prioritize worker’s wages, pension and benefits during forthcoming restructuring.
“Friday’s news left HBC employees reeling with the uncertainty of what’s to come and anticipating the worst. Through what’s sure to be a difficult period, HBC is still bound by its collective agreements, must deliver on wages and benefits and communicate with workers and their union about what lays ahead,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
TORONTO – The federal government’s March 7 statement encouraging additional privatization of Canada’s airports is a bad idea shown to siphon off profits, suppress wages, and increase costs for travelers, says Unifor.
Nominations are now open for the annual Unifor Bud Jimmerfield Award.
This is Unifor’s longest-running award and is one way the union honours Bud’s work and celebrates those who continue his remarkable legacy of improving working conditions through health and safety activism.
HALIFAX–Unifor is celebrating the federal government’s signing of the River-class destroyer (RCD) contract with Irving Shipbuilding – the largest and most significant “Buy Canadian” procurement program, and largest shipbuilding effort since WWII.
“There is perhaps no moment more significant than the one we’re in right now to prove the value and importance of domestic procurement,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
TORONTO – Unifor, Canada’s largest private sector union, calls expanded access to Canada’s Work-Sharing Program a good first step in a broader tariff mitigation strategy but says the federal government must deliver a far more ambitious plan to stop job losses and safeguard workers in the face of aggressive U.S. trade actions.
KAMLOOPS, B.C.—Unifor Local 10-B members at Kruger in Kamloops, B.C., ratified a new four-year collective agreement with 91% approval that will set the pattern for negotiations across the Western Pulp and Paper Caucus.
TORONTO- Unifor celebrates today’s federal announcement of the continuation of Canada’s $10aDay child care, but urges the Premiers of Alberta and Saskatchewan to also sign on and not threaten future funding for affordable child care.
LONDON— The Unifor Auto Council and Independent Parts Suppliers (IPS) Council held an emergency joint meeting today to address the ongoing tariff threat and U.S. President Donald Trump’s open demand for Canadian auto and parts jobs to be moved to the United States.
Unifor’s Auto Council and Independent Parts Suppliers Council, representing 37,000 autoworkers across Canada, condemn the unjust imposition and ongoing threat of tariffs, by the United States, on Canadian goods.
At a special joint meeting, Council delegates adopted a zero-tolerance position on U.S. tariffs and threats to Canadian jobs and Canadian sovereignty.
This position commits the full resources of our respective local unions and the National Union to take direct action, to support Canadian jobs, by whatever means necessary.
Unifor joins more than 100 groups calling on Ontario Premier Ford to secure the future of affordable child care in Ontario. The union signed onto today’s joint letter prepared by the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care along with other child care programs, provincial early learning and child care associations, and unions, policy and advocacy groups.
In an International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) webinar this week, Unifor shed light on how United States President Donald Trump’s attacks on press freedom in the U.S. has ushered in a similar ripple effect in Canadian media.
EDMONTON—The Alberta government’s 2025 budget delivers tax cuts while shifting costs onto workers, underfunding public services, and funnelling more money into private schools at the expense of the public education system.
“Workers aren’t fooled by this government’s spin,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “This budget gives tax cuts with one hand but takes from workers with the other through higher fees, property tax hikes, and underfunding public education and health care.”
VANCOUVER— Unifor is deeply concerned about the announcement of Glacier Media’s digital community newspaper closures affecting the jobs of Unifor members at Local 2000, in the communities of Burnaby, New Westminster, Port Moody, Anmore Village, Belcarra Village, Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam, contributing to the troubling news deserts in Metro Vancouver.
“In these troubling economic and political times, we cannot let democracy dry up as more news deserts surface in Canada,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
TORONTO—The unjust imposition of tariffs on Canadian goods by U.S. President Donald Trump is an economic call-to-arms for Canada says Unifor.
“After months of taunts and threats that have already hurt investment decisions and jobs in Canada, Trump has fired the first shot in a full-on trade war and now every Canadian politician, business leader, worker and resident must fight back,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “Trump has seriously misjudged the resolve and unity of Canadians, and he has misjudged how damaging this trade war will be for American workers.”
Last week, the federal government announced a high-speed rail project in the Toronto–Quebec City corridor, marking a significant shift toward privatization in Canada’s passenger rail system. Instead of strengthening VIA Rail as a publicly accountable passenger rail service, the government has handed over control to private, for-profit interests.
TORONTO—A new executive order by U.S. President Donald Trump to launch a s. 232 (National Security) investigation into wood products imported into the United States is a direct threat to Canadian softwood lumber and downstream wood products, placing thousands of jobs across Canada at risk.
Unifor is proud to welcome 245 part-time workers at the Nuance Group (Canada) Inc. at Pearson International Airport in Toronto.
“We are thrilled to have Nuance members join Unifor,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “We look forward to bargaining your first contract and improving working conditions for airport workers, including pushing back against contract flipping, and making sure you’re treated with the respect you deserve.”
In its new Unions’ Power Prosperity report released Feb. 26, 2025, the Union-Led Advisory Table (ULAT) outlined key recommendations and areas for action for the federal government to safeguard mid-career workers in the changing labour market.
Unifor members from across the country gathered—both in person at the national office in Toronto and through virtual watch parties—for the union’s second national Black History Month event, held on February 22, 2025.
Unifor stands united in our commitment to eradicating bullying and fostering workplaces and communities built on respect, kindness, and inclusivity.
Pink Shirt Day’s origin story
Pink Shirt Day began as a simple yet powerful act of solidarity in 2007 when students in Nova Scotia stood up for a classmate who was bullied for wearing pink. What started as a local gesture has since grown into a global movement—one that reminds us that when we stand together against bullying, we create real change.
Sisters, on International Women’s Day, we rise together – unstoppable, unbreakable and united in our shared fight for gender justice. We honour the legacy of the women who came before us—those who organized, resisted, and built the foundations of the rights we hold today. Our fight is far from over. Across workplaces, communities, and nations, women still battle gender-based violence, pay inequity, discrimination, and economic insecurity.
SAINT JOHN–Unifor is disappointed and frustrated by Irving Paper’s communication that 104 members will be laid off in 45 days, with the union committing to fight to prevent job losses.
“My thoughts right now are with the families who are digesting this news tonight and are feeling uncertain about their futures,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “Unifor will continue pushing for a smart industrial strategy for forestry that supports these good jobs across New Brunswick and prepares the sector for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.”
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