Jobs and the Economy

THUNDER BAY, ON, July 4, 2023 – Front-line hospital workers from Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre delivered a petition to hospital management today, calling on the hospital president to take a stand against the provincial government’s plan to privatize hospital services.

REGINA—Unifor has uncovered more contracting out of permanent, unionized jobs on the site simplyhired.ca, the fourth such discovery this year by the union.

“Scott Moe needs to answer to SaskTel customers and the people of Saskatchewan: why the rush to replace good jobs with low-bid contractors and out-of-province firms?” said Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor Western Regional Director.

REGINA—For the third time this year Unifor has uncovered a privatization scheme at SaskTel that sends work out of province or to a low-bid non-union firm.

“The Sask Party government seems intent on bleeding all of the good jobs out of SaskTel,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “SaskTel was once a local, good job creator. Then Scott Moe and Brad Wall got their hands on it.”

More than 80 Skilled Trades members from across the country gathered at the Unifor Skilled Trades Council to discuss key issues and strategize to secure and grow good paying trades jobs.

“Our Skilled Trades members convene three times a year in order to stay on top of common issues and to bring forward workplace concerns that can benefit from the shared experience and wisdom of Council delegates,” said Dave Cassidy, Unifor National Skilled Chair.

TORONTO – Unifor is deeply concerned and outraged about today’s announcement from Bell Canada Enterprises Inc. (BCE Inc.) to cut 1,300 positions and to close six and sell three radio stations in response to not being able to outwait Bill C-11.

HAMILTON, ON – Hundreds of hospital staff including nurses, personal support workers and lab technologists rallied today at St. Joseph’s Healthcare in Hamilton against the Ford government’s plan to contract out hospital services to private, for-profit clinics.

TORONTO-Health care workers, activists, and community organizers rallied at Queen's Park today to deliver the Ontario Health Coalition (OHC) Citizens Referendum results, which revealed an overwhelmingly strong opposition to the privatization of healthcare in Ontario. The referendum saw an impressive turnout of more than 400,000 Ontarians, with an astounding 98.4% of voters expressing their disapproval of privatization.

WINGHAM, ON—Wescast Industries’ decision to close its foundry operations will devastate workers, families and the community of Wingham, where the facility has operated for more than a century, Unifor says.

“Wescast and its overseas owners are turning their backs on the foundry’s dedicated workforce and the community that has supported them for generations,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “The Wingham foundry closure announcement must serve as a wake-up call to every level of government that Wingham auto parts workers urgently need support.”

WINDSOR—Urgent action is required by the federal government so that construction can resume on the five billion Stellantis EV battery plant in Windsor, Ontario.

“It’s outrageous that tens of thousands of jobs are in jeopardy due to a failure to come to terms on government investment,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “The situation is as serious as it gets. This needs to be resolved immediately to preserve workers’ livelihoods and construction of the EV plant can resume.”