Tanika Chaisson is a member of Unifor local 707-A in Fort McMurray, Alberta and a member of the Prairie's Young Workers Committee member. She spoke to us about the importance of increasing the number of young workers who are unionized.
What do you think is an important issue for young workers today?
Young workers are facing many challenges, not just one. They are all a piece of a much larger puzzle. If I were to choose one, I would say unionization rates in Canada and across the globe.
Japna Sidhu-Brar is a member of local 4005 and works at the Discovery Centre in Halifax. She is Unifor's Atlantic Racial Justice Liaison, and she spoke to us about why she thinks climate change is one of the most important issues facing young workers today.
After 69 days on the picket line at the Kitimat/Kemano aluminum smelter, members of Unifor Local 2301 have ratified a new collective agreement with the international mining giant Rio Tinto.
“When you take on a company with deep pockets like Rio Tinto, you’ve got to have outstanding solidarity and a determination to get what you deserve,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “I congratulate Local 2301 on a successful and hard-fought victory.”
Members at Brink’s Canada Ltd. in Ontario and British Columbia ratified a new collective agreement that improves wages, incentives and premiums, and includes new advocacy measures.
“This new contract contains significant wage gains for these essential workers while also incorporating social activism with the creation of a Women’s Advocate position, and the additions of a moment of silence on the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women and the Day for Truth and Reconciliation as a holiday,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias.
Unifor member Charanjit Parhar was killed on the job on Sept. 28, 2021 at Coast Mountain Bus Company in downtown Vancouver where he was a transit operator for more than 20 years.
The loss of Parhar was felt intensely by his fellow Unifor members, who knew him as a friendly and humble co-worker who always had a smile on his face.
“Everyone at Local 111 is grieving this terrible loss. Charanjit was loved in the workplace and we extend our most sincere condolences to his family,” said Balbir Mann, Unifor Local 111 president.
In a lead up to the World Day for Decent Work on October 7, 2021, we are speaking to five Unifor young workers to learn more about them and the issues they want to see addressed to ensure a bright and equitable future for all.
As the Ontario Legislature opened on October 4, long-term care activists came together to send a clear message to MPPs: No more broken promises. No more substandard care. We demand real action now!
In the Premier’s Economic Recovery Team Report (better known as the PERT Report or Greene Report), Dame Moya Green recommends corporate concentration in the fisheries as a necessary measure for our economic recovery, but the fishery is already thriving. The industry continues to fuel a prosperous inshore sector with lucrative species, essential employment, and economic benefits that flow to communities throughout the province. Changing that will remove value from Newfoundland and Labrador.
On October 1st we celebrate the International Day of Older Persons.
First observed in 1991, the General Assembly of the United Nations designated this day to draw attention to the important contribution of seniors and to changing demographics: the greying of the population, or the "age of aging."
TORONTO — Unifor is calling on the Ontario government to enact legislation to ban anti-vaccine protests near hospitals, schools, daycares and COVID-19 immunization and testing clinics.
“Anti-vaccine protests not only put the health and safety of our members but the entire community at risk,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. “These COVID heroes have sacrificed so much for the betterment of society and to have a group of people intimidating them while working is unacceptable. Our COVID heroes deserve better.”
TORONTO–Unifor has negotiated a tentative collective agreement with Brink's Canada Ltd. on behalf of more than 900 workers in British Columbia and Ontario.
"These armoured car drivers and messengers continued to provide services to banks, stores and ATM’s to keep our economy running throughout the pandemic,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. "I congratulate representatives from 12 Unifor locals on uniting to negotiate improved conditions for workers across both provinces.
TORONTO–Unifor Local 414 and Food Basics have reached a tentative collective agreement, covering approximately 1,400 workers at 20 southern Ontario Food Basics stores.
“The pandemic proved how much we rely on these essential workers,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “This contract delivers concrete gains to build on as Unifor continues its work to improve standards and provide the respect that grocery workers deserve.”
INGERSOLL–Unifor welcomes today's announcement from General Motors BrightDrop that its newest electric light commercial vehicle will be built at the CAMI assembly plant in Ingersoll, Ontario.
“Our highly skilled members at CAMI are the best fit to deliver large scale production of both models of GM's zero-emission electric delivery vehicles and meet increasing global demand,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.
More than 500 Unifor local union leadership came together on September 27 to get an update on Unifor’s statement on Comprehensive Workplace Immunization Programs and Mandatory Vaccinations and advice on what tools and resources locals can use to stop the spread of COVID-19.
“To be clear, vaccine mandates are but one tool that must be implemented to keep everyone safe and finally end this pandemic,” explained Unifor’s Secretary-Treasurer Lana Payne during the session.
Fiscal conservatives always claim that the necessity of balancing the government’s budget is a matter of ‘hard mathematics’. A government only takes in so much revenue. Basic arithmetic implies that’s all it can spend – at least in the long run. Cue the requisite analogy to household finances, and the image of prudent pilgrims sitting at their kitchen tables, trying to balance their own budgets. “Ma and Pa know they can only spend as much as they take in; it’s time governments learned the same thing.”
We shouldn’t have to fundraise but we do. Every year my son and I partner with Halton Women’s Place for a fundraising event that raises huge amounts of money they would be devastated without.
Over the years, our efforts in the Hope in High Heels walk – in which we literally walk a mile in women’s shoes, bright pink high-heeled shoes, including this past weekend – has raised $1-million for Halton Women’s Place.
I also sit on the board of Halton Women’s Place, and am incredibly proud of the work done at the shelter and others like it.
TORONTO–Today, Halton Women’s Place recognized Unifor National President Jerry Dias as he reached the milestone of $1 million in lifetime donations at the union’s ‘Hope in High Heels’ event in Toronto.
“When Jerry and the Unifor team walk every year, year after year, they’re showing women that they are not alone, they’re showing women that we are standing behind you,” said Laurie Hepburn, Executive Director of Halton Women’s Place.
TORONTO —Food Basics workers at grocery stores across Ontario are warning customers of a pre-Thanksgiving September 29 strike deadline.
“More than 85% of our Food Basics members are in part-time positions, making barely above the minimum wage with no paid sick days,” said Gord Currie, President of Unifor Local 414. “Despite the fact that these workers remained on the frontline throughout the pandemic, now Food Basics wants to eliminate the highest paid full-time jobs in these stores and offer the rest substandard wages.”
Speaking at Unifor Media Council Wednesday, National President Jerry Dias committed the union to picking up the fight for a stable media sector in the wake of this week’s federal election.
“I have already been on the phone with the PMO,” Dias told the online gathering. “We are going to continue to fight for the future of your industry.”
TORONTO–Unifor National President Jerry Dias will surpass $1 million in total donations raised for the Halton Women’s Place, at the union’s ‘Hope in High Heels’ fundraiser event Saturday, September 25, 2021.
When Canadians were surprised with a summer election call, Unifor members sprung into action to ensure that workers were informed, engaged, and ready to vote on September 20.
It’s clear voters weren’t buying the empty promises Erin O'Toole was selling in this election. So we have scrapped the failed "2021 O’Toole" truck, and sent it to the junk yard where it belongs, along with its' namesake’s outdated conservative ideology.
OTTAWA- Unifor is calling on the Liberal and NDP leaders to work together to implement progressive change to benefit workers.
“In this election Canadians didn’t endorse any one party, instead opting for MPs to continue to work together in a minority parliament.” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. “I’m asking Justin Trudeau and Jagmeet Singh to cut through the politics and agree on mutual priorities so government can act quickly to strengthen our economy and the services that Canadians depend upon.”
The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, P.C., M.P.
Prime Minister of Canada
Prime Minister Trudeau,
Let me begin by offering my sincere congratulations on your reelection as Prime Minster of Canada. I look forward to continuing to work with your government to improve the lives of working people throughout this great nation.
With the election campaign in the rear view mirror, it is time to focus on the road towards a fair and equitable recovery from the pandemic.
In order to make change with racial justice, you need not only one voice – but many, from all walks of life.
Unifor, committed to uniting, learning and supporting each other to build a truly anti-racist labour movement and world, has been actively finding solutions on how to make that a reality.
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