Bargaining

Watch Neil and Roland talk about the connection transit workers in the Sea to Sky region have with their ridership.

WHITBY– Unifor school bus drivers have voted overwhelmingly in support of a new collective agreement with First Student, with 91% in favour.

“Several of the drivers’ concerns were addressed in this new collective agreement, including wages, paid sick days and improvements to personal leave,” said Unifor Ontario Regional Director Naureen Rizvi. “School bus drivers bear tremendous responsibility and Unifor will continue to work to raise standards in this industry to reflect that.”

Dear Members,

Last week, the UACL team engaged in contract negotiations with Bell, covering a lot of ground. Unifor and the Company reached agreement on many housekeeping items.

Our primary focus remains securing a strong collective agreement that will protect jobs in our region for the next generation of telecom workers. In order to reach that goal, we will continue to mobilize in our workplaces and show a united front to the Company.

OAKVILLE—Wage increases and job security are the highlights of the new collective agreement ratified today by Unifor Local 1256 members, ending their two-week strike at Oakville Transit.

“My congratulations to Oakville transit workers for standing up to the employer to win gains that will improve working conditions and benefits,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National Secretary-Treasurer. 

Transit service in the region will resume on Friday, March 4, 2022. 

OAKVILLE—Unifor Local 1256 members working at Oakville Transit will vote March 3, 2022 on ratification of a new collective agreement.

“It was important to these transit workers to stand up for a better deal than was being offered,” said Alice Kelly, President of Unifor Local 1256. “Their solidarity and resolve has resulted in a fair tentative agreement.”

Should the agreement be ratified, transit service in the region will resume on Friday, March 4. 

Details of the agreement will be released following Thursday’s vote.

OAKVILLE—Negotiations between Unifor Local 1256 and Oakville Transit will resume Wednesday March 2, 2022, in the hope of ending ongoing strike action by transit operators and maintenance workers.

“Unifor welcomes a return to the bargaining table so that we can reach a fair deal for these frontline workers and get the buses back on the road for the riders,” said Alice Kelly, President of Unifor Local 1256.

Local 973 has ratified a new three-year contract with Coca-Cola in Brampton, Ont.

“The bargaining committee stayed focused on the members priority’s during these talks and were very pleased to bring back a tentative agreement that has increases across the board in wages, pension, health care improvements and many language improvements,” said Deb Tveit, Assistant to Unifor’s National President.

The three-year deal was ratified by members on Feb. 27 and 28, 2022 through Zoom meetings. The new agreement begins June 11, 2022 and expires June 13, 2025.

The newest unit to join Unifor, Local 673, is celebrating its first deal with group health and benefits insurance company, Benecaid, in Toronto, Ont.

“Congratulations to the members of Local 673 and the bargaining committee who was so determined to make reasonable gains and fought for an agreement that represented members’ values and priorities,” said Deb Tveit, the Assistant to Unifor’s National President. “

The three-year deal was ratified by 82% of members on Feb. 22, 2022. The new agreement expires on Feb. 28, 2025.

Unifor Western Regional Director Gavin McGarrigle explains why striking Sea to Sky transit workers went to Whistler Village to hold a community support rally during the height of ski season.