TORONTO—The PC government’s hurried passage of gas sector legislation will result in a failure to properly contain methane leaks, an increase to operational costs, and greater contracting out of union jobs, says Unifor.
More than 100 Unifor Local 530-A members turned out April 24 to leaflet the gates of their workplace at the Shell Scotford facility in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta. The energy workers are raising the profile of wage gaps between their facility and Shell Scotford's competitors.
“Implementing the gains from the national pattern agreement is a top priority for Unifor,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “Whatever efforts the members at Shell Scotford undertake to secure the pattern, they have the full support of Unifor.”
Unifor and its predecessor unions have bargained a national pattern in the energy and chemical sector since 1965. Over the last year, many members identified ideas for updating or modernizing the process, and Unifor’s energy and chemical sector council convened a meeting in Calgary during April 9–11 to amend the program.
Quebec Director Daniel Cloutier opened the meeting with remarks that described how profitable the sector is in 2024, and that the national pattern should stay ambitious to ensure the workers are getting their fair share of the profits.
Unifor Ontario Regional Director Samia Hashi and President of Unifor Local 975 Doug Carter testified on April 8 to the Standing Committee on the Interior about contracting out and methane leaks in Ontario’s gas sector that result in increased costs to consumers.
“The Ontario government has a unique chance to contain household gas prices increases, fight climate change, and protect good jobs at the same time. It’s a win-win for workers and Ontario families,” said Hashi.
More than 50 workers at Cancarb in Medicine Hat have joined Unifor after a certification vote on February 26 and 27, 2024. They will join the amalgamated Unifor Local 4050.
“We are thrilled to welcome Cancarb workers to Unifor,” said Western Regional Director Gavin McGarrigle. “We’re going to get to work right away on a contract to secure compensation and improve working conditions.”
Unifor is actively campaigning to ensure Canada’s efforts to mitigate methane emissions along Canada’s natural gas infrastructure relies on good union jobs.
On February 20, Unifor National President Lana Payne wrote to federal Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Jonathan Wilkinson to detail recommendations for reducing methane leaks across the natural gas supply chain. The letter augments a written submission to the federal government’s regulatory body earlier in 2024.
The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, P.C., M.P. Minister of Energy and Natural Resources
Minister Wilkinson,
On behalf of Unifor, Canada’s largest private sector union representing 315,000 members in every sector of the economy, including nearly 15,000 members working in oil and gas extraction, natural gas distribution, electric utilities, nuclear energy, and petroleum refineries, I am writing with recommendations to support the reduction of methane leakage.
On February 7 Unifor members refining and distributing petroleum products at the Shell refinery in Sarnia ratified a new three-year contract with a 12% wage increase over the life of the agreement.
The contract also includes improved vacation benefits and more flexibility to bank statutory holidays.
Finish Product Specialists will receive a $5,000 bonus. A one-time lump sum of $500 will be awarded to Lab Incumbents.
Province of Ontario’s investment supports made in Canada low-carbon energy solution
Refurbishing units at Pickering Nuclear Generating Station is a win for Ontario’s energy workers, the economy, and a net-zero future, says the Society of Professional Engineers and Associates (SPEA-Unifor).
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