Government and Democracy

Unifor National President Lana Payne shared her determination to fight for Canada's workers at Ontario Council this past weekend. "We will be the voice of workers and good jobs as we climb this mountain, as we navigate the very difficult days ahead, as we force governments and the business community to understand there is nothing normal about these times."

Shortages of ambulances and dangerous wait times are just two consequences of a province-wide staffing crisis in the province’s paramedic services. Despite repeated calls for action, the Ford government has never taken the steps needed to ensure adequate paramedic services for Ontario residents.

Now Ontario New Democrats and four unions that represent thousands of Ontario paramedics are demanding the Ford government act to address longstanding issues in the sector.

HALIFAX—Unifor commits to continue the fight to strengthen workers’ rights in Nova Scotia following the re-election of the Progressive Conservative government with a second majority win. 

On November 19 – World Toilet Day – Unifor stands in solidarity with the global movement of ensuring that employers and governments provide everyone with access to safe and inclusive washroom facilities, particularly women and 2SLGBTQI+ members. 

Safe sanitation at work is a fundamental human right. Workers and workplaces are diverse, so every employer must take steps to ensure sanitation facilities are clean, appropriate and safe to meet the individual needs of workers.

Unifor National President Lana Payne delivers a solidarity message to long-term care members in Ontario and Nova Scotia as they prepare for critical bargaining in 2024.

WINNIPEG—Unifor is celebrating the Manitoba government’s adoption of long-awaited anti-scab and unionization legislation, a major milestone that enhances workers’ rights in every sector of the economy.

“This is a pivotal moment for workers in Manitoba,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “By banning scab labour, the NDP government is strengthening the integrity of the collective bargaining process and helping ensure fairer outcomes for workers.”

MONCTON–Unifor is celebrating Premier Holt’s reversal of the policies that limited surgical abortion to hospital settings in New Brunswick within days of forming government.

“Expanding access to women’s reproductive care, to health care, is what we and many others advocated for, and what New Brunswickers voted for,” said Atlantic Regional Director Jennifer Murray. “This is a bright light in a week where we have been reminded that our human rights, our right to self-determination, and our access to life-saving health care should never be taken for granted.”

Unifor members across the country have closely followed the 2024 United States election. Canada and the United States are economically interdependent. As a result, any change in U.S. policy and the U.S. economy is consequential to Canadian jobs, communities, economic sectors and trade. 

REGINA—Unifor members worked for a different election result but the largest union in the private sector is now turning its attention to protecting workers’ rights and defending public services under a re-elected conservative provincial government.

“The Sask Party’s diminished majority is a sign that voters are increasingly unhappy with the direction of the province,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “Unifor will not stop mobilizing to ensure public services and Crown corporations receive the public investment they need.”