VANCOUVER-Unifor is calling for an immediate response by all levels of government to support the Vancouver Island forestry sector following Paper Excellence’s announcement to curtail operations at its Crofton pulp mill indefinitely.

“An indefinite curtailment is an immeasurable loss for too many workers and their families who deserve so much better from Paper Excellence,” said National President Lana Payne. “These companies must be held to account and Canada and B.C. must support a value-added forestry industry that creates good, union jobs for generations to come.”

VANCOUVER—Coast Mountain Bus Company’s (CMBC) refusal to find a solution in the ongoing negotiations with transit supervisors resulted in two days of lost wages for transit operators and maintenance staff.

“I have been very clear with our members: they are not going to pay the price for CMBC’s inability to get their house in order,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “We encourage CMBC to get back to the bargaining table and find a solution before further disruptions occur.”

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REGINA—Unifor Local 1-S and Local 2-S will make reversing the trend of contracting out unionized work a key priority as they begin bargaining this week with SaskTel.

CAMPBELL RIVER, B.C.—Unifor Local 3019 members are considering next steps after learning the company has filed for creditor protection under the Companies Creditor Arrangement Act (CCAA).

“We are going to fight for our members to ensure they get the severance and support they deserve,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. 

Mine operations will enter a “care and maintenance” phase. Most Unifor members will be immediately laid off and paid for two weeks. 

TORONTO – Unifor says yesterday’s announcement by the federal government to forge a path forward with Google by implementing the Online News Act and keeping local and national news content accessible for Canadians is encouraging, and the union eagerly awaits to see the finalized regulations.

CROFTON—The fourth consecutive curtailment at the Paper Excellence paper mill in Crofton will keep more than 100 workers laid off and the community left wondering why they have nothing to show for $19 million in public funding from two levels of government.

The new curtailment will reportedly extend to the end of February 2024.

By Lana Payne 

Originally published in the Windsor Star November 25, 2023

Never let the truth get in the way of a good story.

The famous quote from American author and funny-man Mark Twain helps summarize the firestorm surrounding Windsor’s NextStar battery plant.  

What started as an innocuous social media post from, of all groups, the Windsor Police Service has become a fire-and-brimstone level debate in this country.