Unifor and FFAW-Unifor brought workers’ priorities to the table as Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Tony Wakeham convened a roundtable on the escalating Canada-U.S. trade tensions.
The September 9 meeting was the first tariff roundtable hosted by Wakeham since his election last October. The roundtable was established to bring together unions, business leaders and other key stakeholders to identify ways to protect workers and navigate the growing threat of tariffs and trade disruption.
TORONTO—Unifor welcomes the Canadian tariff countermeasures announced today but is reiterating the union’s call for stronger industrial policies and income security measures, as the trade war with the United States escalates.
TORONTO—Unifor commends the decision to stand firm on securing a fair trade deal with the United States despite the Trump administration’s imposition of additional punishing and illegal tariffs.
“Canadian negotiators made the right decision by walking away. We can’t trade good jobs for a bad deal that would cement unjust, industry-killing tariffs,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “It was clear the never-ending list of concession demands were untenable.”
TORONTO—The U.S. move to implement a 50% tariff targeting a new list of Canadian goods is designed to inflict economic pain, pressure the federal government into giving concessions, and divide Canada, says Unifor.
“We cannot underestimate the potential threat of Donald Trump’s bully tactics as he attempts to drive wedges between provinces and force us into submission,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “The provincial and federal governments must stand firm and unite to protect jobs and Canada’s interests.”
Unifor is welcoming a federal government proposal to tighten the rules on aluminum imports, calling it a meaningful step toward protecting Canadian jobs and industry from unfair trade.
"Canadian aluminum workers produce some of the cleanest, highest-quality aluminum in the world. They shouldn't have to compete against shipments that hide their true origin to dodge our trade rules," said Unifor National President Lana Payne. "This is exactly the kind of action workers in our sector have been calling for, and it's a credit to every member who carried that message to Ottawa."
TORONTO - Unifor National President Lana Payne will advocate for bold federal action to protect Canadian jobs, rebuild domestic capacity, and put workers at the centre of Canada’s industrial strategy as a member of the new federal Advisory Committee on Canada-U.S. Economic Relations.
The following statement was released jointly today by Canada’s two largest industrial unions, Unifor and the United Steelworkers:
U.S. sector-based tariffs (“section 232 tariffs”) have hit Canadian manufacturing workers and businesses hard, impacting families and entire communities. Many Canadian steel mills, auto plants, wood product facilities and aluminum fabricators have slowed or shuttered production, leaving thousands of skilled workers unemployed.
Accessibility
Documents can be requested in alternative/accessible formats by emailing communications@unifor.org
