General Manufacturing

TORONTO- Infrastructure, industry and health care investments are welcome in the Ontario budget, but government needs to take the next step and translate spending into good jobs and a stronger public health care system, including workforce development strategies.

"The Ontario government has put much needed money on the table - now they have to finish the job by ensuring that the work is done here in Ontario by Ontario workers. If we are going to build the transit of the future, let’s build it in Ontario,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President.

Manufacturing workers at Ingredion – which processes corn into sweeteners and other products in Cardinal, Ont. – have ratified a new four-year agreement.

“This agreement recognizes the skill and hard work of our members at Ingredion,” said Local 483 President Bill Garlough. “There were no concessions in the new agreement.”

The 150 members of Local 483, which includes processing and Skilled Trades workers, voted to ratify the contract on March 3, 2023, by 82%.

The new agreement begins March 15, 2023, and expires April 14, 2027.

The Robinson Solutions Maintenance unit from Unifor Local 222 in Oshawa, Ont. ratified a new agreement Feb. 28 at 84%, ensuring that members from Skilled and Semi-Skilled Trades get the respect they deserve.

“We made sure that our Skilled Trades workers had an hourly wage that reflected the global competitiveness of the skilled trades market,” said Local 222 President Jeff Gray. “These skilled workers deserve to be paid what they are worth. We are very proud that the goal was achieved. As the expression says, skilled labour isn’t cheap and cheap labour isn’t skilled.”

The 55 members of Unifor Local 197, working at Jubilant Draximage in Montreal, accepted the tentative agreement recommended by the negotiating committee at a meeting held last week.

"The negotiation process was long, but the outcome is more than positive,” said Hugues Perreault, Unifor Quebec National Representative. “I would like to acknowledge the exemplary work of the union committee and the rigor they demonstrated throughout this round of negotiations.”

The eight members of Unifor Local 591G at Shorewood Packaging have struck a new four-year deal with their Scarborough, Ont. employer.

“The members who work at this shipping location should be proud of the big gains made in this agreement,” Burke Moffat, President of Local 591G.

“This was a strong agreement that would not have been possible without the ground support from members who attended meetings and made their voices heard along with the hard work and commitment of the bargaining committee.”

The 200 Unifor members at Post Foods in Niagara Falls, Ont. voted 84% in favour of a new three-year agreement on Jan. 14, 2023.

Key victories include a 12% wage increase over three years, with 6% in the first year, and 3% in the second and third year. Members have improved working conditions and work practices, including addressing unscheduled overtime procedure and new language where the company must fist contact the union prior to contracting out work.

Workers at Unifor Local 6006 won a number of significant gains with a new three-year contract with Commercial Bakeries Corp. in Toronto.

“Congratulations to the bargaining committee for negotiating a strong deal for Local 6006 members,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “The biggest challenge was the difference in priorities between the committee and the company. The strength and solidarity of the union is what made it possible for workers’ needs to be addressed.”

Wages, an RRSP match program and improved benefits were among the gains in the latest contract from food services company, Aramark Canada Ltd., which was ratified by Unifor members on Oct. 22, 2022.

“Congratulations to the bargaining committee for negotiating the best deal for their members,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “The bargaining committee fought for our members tooth-and-nail down to the wire and were able to avoid a strike.”