Bargaining

LONDON— Unifor has been notified that Autoneum will gradually wind down and close its London, Ontario facility over the course of 2026. The decision is a devastating blow for Unifor members, their families, and the wider London and regional economies that depend on good union jobs in the auto parts supply chain.

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. 

Workers at Northeast Nutrition—a federally regulated feed mill in Truro, N.S., which produces fish food—has ratified a new three-year agreement at 82% with their employer.

“Congratulations to the bargaining committee for getting our fishery food production members in the East Coast a fair deal,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. 

“It was the first time at the table for several members of the bargaining committee, and they all did a tremendous job.”

The biggest gain of this contract is a wage increase over the life of the contract.

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.

Members of Unifor Local 4600 have ratified a new collective agreement with significant increases to shift and weekend premiums, overtime provisions, wages, as well as the option to join a defined benefit pension plan.

Front-end loaded wage increases are a key highlight of a new collective agreement ratified recently by Unifor members at the Sobeys Retail Support Centre in Whitby-Ajax.

“Unifor members are the backbone of Sobey’s warehousing in this region,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “Congratulations to this team for securing a fair contract.”

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.

Unifor Local 100 commenced collective bargaining with Hudson Bay Railway (HBR) on October 17, 2025, and continued discussions with the employer during the week of December 8, 2025, focusing on non-monetary proposals.

Unifor represents approximately 20 members at HBR in The Pas, Manitoba, who provide mechanical services for both freight cars and locomotives.

HALIFAX – Unifor’s Atlantic Communications Locals, 401, 410, 506, and 2289, have ratified a new collective agreement with Bell. The new contract, secured as a result of the “Stronger Together” bargaining campaign, achieves improvements for members in Atlantic Canada, including wage increases and job security provisions.

Toronto/Montréal – On January 25, 2026, Bell Expertech will cease operations, a development that underscores the ongoing difficulties faced by workers in Canada’s telecommunications sector. December 5 marked the final working day for most affected employees who received severance packages.

Expertech employed 510 technicians and auxiliary workers and 28 clerical employees in Ontario and Quebec. According to the employer, the closure is the result of a decrease in fibre-optic network construction projects.