Government and Democracy

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.”

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.

OTTAWA- Unifor’s National President, Lana Payne, and additional union leaders, will hold a media conference to kick off a week of lobbying on worker issues and the union’s 2023 federal budget priorities in Ottawa.

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. 

TORONTO- Unifor joined a media conference with CUPE education workers following a commitment by Premier Ford to fully repeal Bill 28 and return to the bargaining table with education workers.

TORONTO- Unifor and Unifor’s Ontario Regional Council (ORC) announce joint donations to support CUPE education workers fighting Ford’s egregious attack on workers’ rights using the Notwithstanding Clause.

“This morning, Unifor members are out in force on CUPE picket lines, but we need to pool our support as CUPE members and the union face threats of excessive fines for taking job action,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “The provincial government attacked all workers with its targeting of CUPE members, so all workers must respond.”

Unifor is Canada’s largest private sector union, with more than 310,000 members. Our union represents more than 10,000 media workers, including journalists in the broadcast and print news industry.

Journalism is a public good and its role in holding power to account, strengthening democracy and building community has never been more important. Social media has proven to divide us, pitting neighbour against neighbour.  We are more polarized than ever, but a strong Canadian news media can build community.

The Honourable Doug Ford, M.P.P.
Premier of Ontario
@email

Dear Premier Ford,

Re: Keeping Students in Class Act, 2022

The extraordinary action your government has taken, through the Keeping Students in Class Act, 2022, to deny CUPE members their constitutional right to strike, but also deny their right to free and fair collective bargaining, is an egregious and needless assault on trade union freedoms.