Bargaining

March for locked-out Ash Grove cement workers

More than 300 members of Unifor and QFL-affiliated unions answered the call by locked-out Unifor Local 177 members at the Ash Grove CRH cement plant to join them in a march at the Port of Trois-Rivières, Quebec on April 1.

Metro warehouse distribution workers on strike

TORONTO––More than 900 full-time workers at Metro’s Etobicoke warehouse distribution centre began strike action today after voting to reject a tentative agreement with the company.  

“The members have final say on the tentative agreement and have opted to turn down this offer,” said Chris MacDonald, Unifor Assistant to the National President. “The bargaining committee is ready to resume negotiations in the hope of bringing this strike to a speedy end.”  

Tentative agreement reached at Belleville Transit

BELLEVILLE—The bargaining committee for Unifor Local 1839 signed a tentative agreement with Belleville Transit before the midnight deadline avoiding strike action.

“Front line transit workers in Belleville have reached a fair settlement that respects the hard work and vital services they provide to the community,” said Chris Macdonald, Assistant to the Unifor National President. “My congratulations to the bargaining committee for their hard work.”

Bell Atlantic Bargaining Bulletin Update #3

Dear Members,

This week, your UACL team made modest progress at the bargaining table.  

Many items were discussed and some were agreed upon between the parties.

Additional dates are planned in the coming weeks, with the next round of talks scheduled virtually on April 12-14.

Thank you for your support and solidarity. Your bargaining committee will continue to communicate updates throughout the negotiations, including mobilization and solidarity actions in the coming weeks.

In solidarity,

Bell Atlantic Bargaining Committee

Unifor and Metro reach tentative agreement for warehouse workers

TORONTO–– Unifor Local 414 and Metro have reached a tentative collective agreement covering more than 900 full-time workers at the Etobicoke warehouse distribution centre, avoiding strike action. 

“I congratulate the bargaining committee for their work in raising the standard for these workers, who are vital part of the supply chain,” said Unifor Ontario Regional Director Naureen Rizvi. “Grocery giants have done very well during the pandemic and it’s only fair that the frontline workers should share in that success.”

Solidarity with Transit Workers

Unifor Western Regional Director Gavin McGarrigle discusses the numerous ways that transit workers in the Sea to Sky region are being supported during their strike.

PW Transit’s binding arbitration offer is a step backwards

WHISTLER—By removing its latest offer from the bargaining table and suggesting binding arbitration, the employer in the seven-week long Sea to Sky transit dispute has ensured that the parties are farther from reaching a conclusion, not closer.

“PW Transit squandered weeks of progress with their stunt today,” said Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor Western Regional Director. “The employer’s stubbornness on fair wages has set negotiations back weeks, if not months.”

Unifor begins bargaining for first contract with Saputo Inc.

Unifor began bargaining with Saputo Inc. this week – March 21, 2022 – in Toronto on Local 4003’s first collective agreement with the dairy company.

“The first collective agreement sets the standard for new members,” said Deb Tveit, Assistant to Unifor’s National President. “The bargaining team represents workers’ values and priorities and will negotiate the best collective agreement for the membership.”

Belleville mayor misleads public on transit bargaining

BELLEVILLE—Mayor Mitch Panciuk used his YouTube channel to deliver deceptive comments about the city’s bargaining with transit workers represented by Local 1839, says Unifor.

“Either the mayor is out of the loop or he is misleading his constituents about the state of play in transit bargaining,” said Chris Macdonald, Unifor Assistant to the National President. “His comments are inaccurate and will only damage the already tense negotiations created by his human resources team.”