Ahead of tomorrow’s budget in Ontario, hospital, and long-term care workers, who have borne the worst of pandemic risks in the last year, surrounded Queen’s Park in a drive-by action with a clear message for Premier Doug Ford and his finance minister: Respect Us. Protect Us. Pay Us.
The Together for Racial Justice webinar was held March 20 as part of the North American Solidarity Project, which Unifor is participating in along with several other unions across North America.
VANCOUVER—Unifor took its campaign for workers’ rights directly to provincial government legislators during an intensive online lobby session this week in British Columbia.
“Speaking directly with key decision-makers is a key part of our strategy for change,” said Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor Western Regional Director. “MLAs heard from Unifor members in dozens of sectors speaking directly about their experience on the shop floor. We also presented research to help make the case for a suite of new worker-friendly policies.”
TORONTO-Workers from all sectors of health care and long-term care will join supporters to demand funding to provide ‘Respect, Protect and Pay’ in the upcoming Ontario budget.
What: Pre-budget drive-by action at Queen’s Park
Who: Health care and long-term care workers and supporters
WINNIPEG—Unifor will resist the Brian Pallister government’s new attempt to ban peaceful protest and public dissent.
“We’ve seen this tactic before. When your record in office is a disaster, create a distraction,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Thankfully our right to free speech, to assemble, to protest, and to picket are all protected by the constitution.”
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is observed annually on March 21st - marred in history when police in Sharpeville, South Africa, opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration against apartheid “pass laws” in 1960.
TORONTO—One year has passed since government-levied travel bans, but despite growing aviation sector job losses, there has been no action to bolster Canada’s struggling aviation industry.
“Governments around the world acted swiftly to support their aviation sector. The Government of Canada disturbingly stands alone when it comes to turning its back on aviation workers,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Canada can’t have a safe economic recovery without a healthy aviation sector.”
Your Bargaining Committee will begin conciliation with the Company next week via Zoom. Over the past two weeks, we have shared eight historical analysis documents about our past struggles. The series highlighted just how critical it is to fight for our future and laid clear that 21 years of concessions is enough.
CHETWYND—Massive unannounced sour gas flaring at the SNRI gas plant has prompted outcry from workers and the local community.
"SNRI has to answer for this behaviour," said Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor Western Regional Director. "The company has no right to pollute the air of the Chetwynd region."
TORONTO—On the eve of the anniversary of government-initiated travel bans, Canada’s aviation workers will issue a renewed call for funding to save the industry from total collapse.
“Canadian workers and businesses need a healthy aviation sector,” said Unifor National President, Jerry Dias. “Federal inaction continues to pose an existential threat for an industry that employs tens of thousands of Canadians and supports virtually every sector of the economy.”
With the release of the company’s new recognition plan, “Better Together” they claim to want to “highlight the work being done by our colleagues across the Bell group of companies.”
This goal apparently supports their strategic imperative to engage and invest in their employees.
However, for the members of the craft bargaining unit this could not be further from reality.
In Spring of 2019, while raking in record profits, Bell decided to trigger a layoff.
A claim of “lack of work” was made, however how much of that work was going to contractors. We cannot predict when Bell will make the next move to trigger arbitrary layoffs.
The past year has laid bare the inequities in our society.
COVID-19 has shown that workers struggling to get by on minimum wage – from personal support workers, to grocery and warehouse workers – and those in the gig economy are not only essential, but put themselves at risk to keep our communities running during a pandemic.
Working families across our province have been forced to make impossible decisions between staying home when they are sick or going to work and risk spreading a deadly virus to their co-workers.
In the late 90’s and early 2000’s high-speed, non-dial up internet became an available service to the public. Digital Subscriber Lines meant there was no need for a second phone line for the dial up computer modem. It started first with Nortel 1Mbs modems and then with Alcatel modems capable of 3Mbs and higher.
There is no doubt that the last year has been the most unprecedented time in our lives, and from the beginning of the pandemic, through multiple lockdowns, “Red Zones” and every step of the way, the technicians in the craft bargaining unit have exceeded expectations in delivering the services the Company provides, to ensure the lives of Canadians can continue as best as possible.
TORONTO–Unifor will host a virtual news conference to outline budget recommendations, as the union conducts its pre-budget lobby week to advocate for critical priorities for workers.
“Unifor members are meeting with Cabinet Ministers and MPPs to discuss a dual strategy to keep Ontarians protected from COVID-19 while putting programs and infrastructure in place to build a better economy following this crisis,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias.
Unions representing 175,000 workers serving on the frontlines of this pandemic demand the Ford government support this female majority workforce TORONTO, ON – Today, SEIU Healthcare, Unifor, and CUPE, unions representing 175,000 healthcare workers across Ontario, held a virtual media conference to announce the launch of International Women’s Day actions with a clear message to Premier Ford: “Respect Us. Protect Us.
This column originally appeared in the Globe and Mail
The pandemic has demolished many conventional wisdoms when it comes to our economy, equality and work – especially essential work, so much of which is done by women.
Where would we be without the labour of women this past year? And yet as critical as that labour has been to the well-being of the country, we are still fighting for respect and fair pay.
Accessibility
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