Jobs and the Economy

TORONTO– Unifor welcomes measures in the new federal auto policy to map the direction of industry, with the understanding that this plan must be backed by bold action to safeguard Canadian auto jobs and ensure a future for autoworkers at idled plants in both Brampton and Ingersoll. 

Unifor Local 89 President Alex Dumais presented testimony about the province’s forestry sector to the Ontario Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs on January 27.

THUNDER BAY-Unifor is urging Thunder Bay Pulp and Paper to take every measure to mitigate job loss following the company’s announcement that it will cease newsprint operations by the end of the first quarter, potentially impacting more than a hundred jobs. 

OSHAWA–Workers at the General Motors Oshawa Assembly Complex will report for the final third shift today, as the company eliminates more than 700 direct jobs with hundreds of additional jobs lost at supply chain companies. The job cuts come in the same week GM reported more than $12 billion in pre-tax earnings for 2025, along with a plan to boost shareholders earnings through dividend increases and a $6 billion share buyback.

Members of one of the largest auto locals in the country sent a clear and united message to Prime Minister Mark Carney and the federal government, unanimously passing a motion stating that Unifor Local 222 does not support opening the door to cheap, subsidized Chinese EV imports at the expense of Canadian auto jobs.

ST. JOHN’S—Unifor is concerned following Loblaw’s decision to close a St. John’s Dominion store effective May 8, a move that will impact approximately 100 unionized grocery workers.

The affected Unifor members were informed of the closure on January 19. 

Unifor Local 597 represents more than 1,600 Dominion grocery workers at 11 stores across the province. Under their collective agreement, members have severance rights based on their seniority. 

Unifor is calling on the Quebec and federal governments to take immediate action to prevent irreversible damage to the F.F. Soucy mill and preserve any chance of a future restart.

RIVIÈRE-DU-LOUP — Following the bankruptcy of F.F. Soucy, Unifor is urging both levels of government to intervene without delay to ensure the mill remains heated and powered, and that skilled workers are retained to safely operate and maintain critical equipment.

THUNDER BAY, ONT.—Unifor is pleased that its Alstom members in Thunder Bay will benefit from the federal government’s Buy Canadian policy, a strategy to ensure public dollars are used to support Canadian jobs, businesses and communities, with a federal  investment of nearly $1 billion to fund new TTC subway cars.

HALIFAX—Unifor members at the now-shuttered Northern Pulp mill in Pictou, Nova Scotia, will see their pension fund made whole and fully wound up as the company’s woodland assets secures a buyer at auction for $235 million. 

This amount is enough to repay the $37 million owed to Unifor Local 440 members’ defined benefit pension plan.