Manufacturing

THUNDER BAY, ONT.— Unifor applauds today’s federal government announcement that Alstom has been awarded a $4.7 billion contract to build 313 passenger cars for VIA Rail, securing significant work for Unifor Local 1075 members at the company’s Thunder Bay facility.

Unifor Quebec urges Premier Fréchette to issue clear directives to state-owned corporations and calls for a commitment from all political parties

While Canada’s last heavy truck assembly plant has been particularly hard hit by U.S. tariffs, the Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ) has just issued two requests for proposals for the acquisition of new trucks, with the contract to be awarded based solely on the lowest cost. No consideration is given to the economic benefits for Quebec, the resilience of our supply chains, or local manufacturing jobs. A truck assembled in Sainte-Thérèse by Quebec workers would be evaluated on an equal footing with an imported vehicle.

For Unifor Quebec, this move reflects a fundamental contradiction. On the one hand, Quebec has repeatedly claimed it wants to protect its economy and its manufacturing jobs from Donald Trump’s tariff attacks, even as a new wave of 50% tariffs has just been imposed on Quebec products. On the other hand, the Quebec government’s own state-owned corporations are sourcing their trucks based on the lowest possible price, regardless of where they come from.

Meanwhile, the PACCAR plant in Sainte-Thérèse, which assembles Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks and at one point provided for some 1,400 families, has faced successive rounds of layoffs since Washington imposed a 25% duty on heavy trucks under Section 232. Over 600 jobs at the plant have been lost so far.

“We can’t claim to be fighting to protect our jobs on Monday, and then turn around and purchase from abroad using Quebecers’ money on Tuesday,” decried Unifor Quebec director Daniel Cloutier. “We don’t control the trade war. But we do control public purchasing. It is the most direct tool Quebec has at its disposal for protecting our factories, and it refuses to use it.”

An immediate and clear directive

Unifor Quebec is calling on Premier Christine Fréchette to immediately issue a clear directive to all state-owned corporations, instructing them to adopt and prioritize a genuine made-in-Quebec procurement policy.

The SAQ already has such a policy in place. The problem is that it lacks teeth. It is possible to do much better while respecting the trade agreements to which Quebec is bound. 

A test for all the parties

With just weeks to go before the October 5 election, Unifor Quebec is challenging the leaders of all political parties to clearly explain in their platforms, in black and white, how they intend to ensure that procurement by state-owned corporations is aligned with Québec’s economic interests.

“Preventing a plant closure by using the levers we control is the true test of economic consistency in this campaign,” added Daniel Cloutier. “The workers in Sainte-Thérèse don’t want sympathy. They want purchase orders.”

Members, families, retirees and supporters gathered outside the Saint-Gobain plant in Plattsville, Ontario on August 20 for a solidarity barbecue backing the 42 Unifor Local 12 members on strike at the facility.

“No one on this picket line is standing alone,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “Local 12 members deserve fair wages, a secure pension, respect on the job and Unifor will stand with you until we reach a fair agreement.”

PLATTSVILLE, ON—Unifor members at the Saint-Gobain plant in Plattsville, Ontario began strike action on July 24, 2026, after the company failed to make a fair offer.

“Our hard-working members at Saint-Gobain have the full support of Unifor members across the country in their fight for a contract that reflects their contributions to the company,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.

Members voted 97% in favour of strike action if a new collective agreement could not be reached. Key bargaining issues include pensions and wages.

OTTAWA—The Canadian International Trade Tribunal has ruled that dumped and subsidized tableware imports from China caused injury to Canada's domestic industry, a decision that protects the jobs of Unifor members at CKF Inc., ensuring that import duties remain in place.

“The ruling is a win for Canadian workers and for the principles of fair trade,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “When foreign producers break the rules and flood our market, Canadian communities pay the price. We are pleased with the Tribunal’s ruling and support fair trade regulation.”

OTTAWA – The federal government’s spring fiscal update includes a number of important advances including in the area of worker training but presents an overly-optimistic view of Canada’s economic health, as millions of workers face ongoing uncertainty amid U.S. trade tensions, public sector cost-cutting, affordability challenges and global political instability, says Unifor.   

Unifor recently took part in the General Assembly on Trade Unionism, a unique forum for reflection in Quebec that brought together over 500 activists from the province’s main union organizations. The aim of this initiative was to re-examine the role and approach of the labour movement and to identify concrete solutions for dealing with current and future challenges.

WINNIPEG — Unifor welcomes the official opening of a new bus manufacturing facility in Winnipeg by NFI Group and its subsidiary New Flyer, marking an important step forward for Canadian manufacturing and the creation of good union jobs.

“This investment means more union jobs in Winnipeg and more Canadian-made buses on our roads,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “When we build here at home, we strengthen our communities, support families with good wages and benefits, and ensure Canada can build and maintain the transit vehicles commuters rely on.”

AMHERSTBURG, Ont. - Diageo has closed its Crown Royal whisky plant in Amherstburg, Ontario two days ahead of schedule, without advance warning to workers. 

AMHERSTBURG, ON-Unifor is demanding transparency from Diageo, as the company plans to shut down its Amherstburg, Ontario plant while claiming Crown Royal will continue to be mashed, blended, aged, and distilled in Canada for all markets, including the U.S.