Government and Democracy

Unifor health care and social services workers from across Ontario gathered at Queen’s Park this week for a legislative lobby from May 25-28, demanding urgent action to strengthen public health care, address staffing shortages and stop the expansion of privatized care.

“Health care workers are holding this system together under impossible conditions,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. 

Unifor is condemning plans by the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) to eliminate 49 positions, warning the cuts will place additional strain on an already overburdened Unifor Local 2458 health care workers and further impact patient care. 

TORONTO—Unifor welcomes today’s federal defence procurement and policy announcements that put Canadian-built Bombardier Global aircraft, and the union members who build them, at the centre of enhancements to Canada’s defence and aerospace industry priorities. 

Without exception, working people benefit from uniting together around issues of common concern, such as their wages, working conditions, or safety at work. We have seen this time and time again when workers come together in unions to bargain collectively and work towards better standards and laws for everyone.

The separatist referendum effort in Alberta accomplishes none of these objectives and only serves as a distraction from the real issues facing workers.

TORONTO – Unifor challenges government biases against workers in the union’s submission to the Employment and Social Development Canada’s consultation on modernizing the federal labour relations framework. 

TORONTO- Unifor welcomes a new Advisory Opinion issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) affirming the right to strike is protected under existing International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions and urges the Government of Canada to take note of this opinion. 

Unifor attended Kruger’s press conference in Trois-Rivières on May 11, 2026, for the announcement of a major $333 million investment to launch a new biodegradable nonwoven materials production facility. The project will create 56 new permanent unionized jobs in Mauricie, a region that has been heavily impacted by the slowdown in forestry activities.

Invited to speak during the official announcement, Unifor Quebec Research and Strategic Planning Coordinator Simon Lavigne highlighted the critical role workers play in projects like this.

Watch National President Lana Payne testify to the House of Commons Natural Resources committee to express Unifor's support for reducing Canada's export dependency on the U.S. and warned against the industry's growing reliance on "run to fail" models that endanger energy workers and their communities.

Thousands of workers, including strong participation from Unifor members, took to the streets of Montreal on May 2, 2026, alongside other unions, community groups and student organizations under the banner “Rights trampled. We must resist,” marking International Workers’ Day and pushing back against attacks on workers’ rights.

This year, the main Montreal May Day demonstration was held on May 2 to allow broader participation and the response was clear: workers are mobilized and ready to stand together.