Government and Democracy

Course correcting Canada’s troubled aerospace sector

Originally published in The Hill Times on November 28, 2022.

By Lana Payne

Canada’s aerospace sector is in a slow burning crisis. Workers have, out of frustration, issued many calls for proactive measures to help the industry.

Recently, the federal government gave strong signals to Unifor that more support for the industry is on its way. Recognition of the long-standing challenges faced by workers in the sector are indeed much-needed, and support is needed urgently.

Unifor attends air sector recovery summit in Ottawa

Unifor addressed key industry concerns including understaffing, a living wage at airports for all aviation workers, an end to contract flipping, introduction of successorship rights, and proper training and true protection for the harassment endured by workers on the job at the federal government’s National Summit on the Recovery of the Air Sector on Nov. 24, 2022 in Ottawa.

Unifor will fight anti-worker changes to NB labour relations act

FREDERICTON- Unifor, Canada’s largest union in the private sector, stands in firm solidarity with New Brunswick public sector workers and their unions amid the Higgs government’s anti-worker, anti-labour legislation to amend the Public Service Labour Relations Act.

Unifor opposes health care privatization in Manitoba

WINNIPEG—Unifor will fight for public health care after conservative Premier Heather Stefanson promised increased private sector delivery in the speech from the throne.

“Privatization means cutting corners and prioritizing profits over proper care,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Private health care might be popular among the PC’s elite donor class, but it is a non-starter with working people.”

Unifor federal lobby calls for worker-centered policies and action on affordability

OTTAWA – Unifor National President Lana Payne called for urgent action to address the affordability crisis and for enactment of policies that will bolster and support workers and their families as she outlined the union’s 2023 federal budget priorities to start the union’s lobby week.  

Payne spoke at a media conference alongside Len Poirier, Unifor National Secretary-Treasurer, Daniel Cloutier, Unifor Quebec Director and Matthew Green, NDP MP for Hamilton Centre.

FFAW Echoes Call for Increased Search and Rescue in Labrador

On the heels of the Newfoundland and Labrador Fish Harvesting Safety Association (Nl-FHSA) Safety Symposium last week and the arrival of Minister Joyce Murray in St. John’s this week, the FFAW’s Inshore Council is reiterating the need for increased search and rescue resources in Labrador.