Media

U.S. President Donald Trump is focusing on Canada’s film industry in his latest attack on Canadian jobs, ordering the U.S. Department of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to begin the process of imposing a 100% tariff on movies produced outside the United States.

"Once again, President Trump is using bogus national security claims to justify punishing tariffs against Canadian workers," said Unifor National President Lana Payne. "This is an attack on one of Canada’s key cultural and economic sectors, and it’s nothing short of outrageous."

Unifor recognizes May 3, World Press Freedom Day, proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993. 

World Press Freedom Day is a reminder to governments of their commitment to press freedom and provides an opportunity to pay tribute to journalists and media workers who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

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.

TORONTO—Unifor is pleased to see a path forward to distribute Google’s $100 million annual contribution to Canada’s news businesses, after the Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) announced Monday it was granting Google a five-year exemption from the Online News Act (ONA).

World News Day on September 28 is a global initiative that spotlights the role journalists play in providing trustworthy news and information. 

This year it will also draw awareness to the turmoil and threats facing the industry, which undermine citizens and democracy all over the world. 

Every year, our union marks World News Day because we believe it is impossible to improve the conditions of work, and the conditions of the world, without trusted news sources.

Unifor members at CTV Ottawa have ratified a new three-year deal with their employer this week.

“Congratulations to the bargaining committee for fighting for the needs of our members,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.

“We all know the state the media sector is in and every contract our union bargains to strengthen wages and create more job security for journalists and media workers helps make their lives more stable.”

ST. JOHN’S—Unifor continues to advocate for its members and their work at The Telegram in St. John’s as Postmedia moves through the process to purchase most of the assets of The Telegram’s parent company, SaltWire Network, Inc.

TORONTO – Unifor is deeply concerned after Corus Entertainment Inc. – which owns Global News – announced job cuts that will affect Unifor media workers and journalists across the country.

“Every time an announcement like this comes in the media sector, it’s both heartbreaking and boils my blood,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. 

TORONTO—Unifor supports the Ontario government’s announcement today that it will direct key provincial agencies to ensure at least 25% of their ad spends will go to Ontario publishers, a move that encourages saving local news.

“We all know that community, regional and national news publishers have been facing and struggling with declining ad sales,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.