Unifor is calling for swift action following General Motors’ announcement that it plans to reduce its Oshawa Assembly Plant from a three shift to a two shift operation this fall, citing Trump imposed tariffs.

“We will not allow GM to barter Canadian jobs to gain Donald Trump’s favour. Cutting the third shift at Oshawa Assembly is a reckless decision that deals a direct blow to our members and threatens to ripple through the entire auto parts supplier network,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “GM needs to reverse this short-sighted move before more damage is done.”

The announced shift cut comes on the heels of U.S. President Trump’s imposition of a 25% tariff on Canadian-built vehicles in March—a move that has chilled the Canadian auto sector.

“GM’s move is premature and disrespectful — jumping the gun before Prime Minister Carney and President Trump even begin their talks on a new economic deal,” added Payne.

The Trump tariffs are clearly aimed at Canadian assembly plants, like Oshawa. The new guidance issued by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol on auto parts changes nothing for the Canadian auto industry. It is solely designed to keep U.S. factories running, because they rely heavily on Canadian made auto parts, while continuing to harm Canada’s auto assembly plants.

The Oshawa Plant assembles light and heavy-duty Chevrolet Silverado pick-up trucks for the North American market, vehicles also assembled at factories in the United States and Mexico.

“GM Oshawa was reopened thanks to the hard work of our members and significant investments by the federal and provincial governments based on a promise to maintain good jobs and production,” said Chris Waugh, Unifor GM Oshawa Assembly Plant Chairperson. “We will not sit idly by as that promise is eroded one shift at a time.”

As part of its plans, GM says it intends to reduce Oshawa truck exports to the U.S. and recalibrate the plant for Canadian sales, starting in the fall. In 2024, GM produced 151,000 vehicles in Canada but sold nearly 300,000 – vehicles mostly imported from factories in the United States.

“Trump’s tariffs are designed to crush Canadian production — but GM doesn’t get a free pass to abandon its commitments, and the U.S. doesn’t get to free ride in Canada,” Payne warned. “GM has had strong support from workers, the community, and governments. Canadians invested millions to revive this plant. Cutting jobs now has consequences. The company has six months to fix this.”

GM was the #1 automaker by sales and market share in Canada in 2024 and this has continued into Q1 of this year. Despite record support from Canadian customers for GM products, over the past 3 weeks GM has announced actions that will result in the permanent layoff of nearly 30% of its Canadian hourly workforce.

The union expects the federal government to immediately review and reconsider General Motors tariff-exempt status under Canada’s remission framework. If GM wants to sell in Canada, they need to build in Canada. That message must be loud and clear.

Unifor is also urging Prime Minister Carney to meet with the heads of major automakers to publicly reaffirm their commitments to Canadian investment and production, including automakers that sell significant volumes of vehicles in Canada but build no vehicles here.

Under the Unifor-GM Collective Agreement, GM is required to meet with Unifor in the near future to review all options to prevent or mitigate job loss at Oshawa Assembly. The union will also seek clarification on any potential impact to the St. Catharines Powertrain Plant, which supplies engines to Oshawa.

From May 12 to 18, we mark National Nursing Week by recognizing the essential role nurses play in delivering and defending public health care across Canada.

This year’s theme, ‘The Power of Nurses to Transform Health’, is a reminder of the deep impact nurses make every single day.

Unifor represents thousands of nurses—Registered Practical Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, and Registered Nurses—working in hospitals, long-term care homes, community health centres, and clinics.

These workers are often the first point of contact in health care, providing critical support, advocacy, and care to patients and their families.

Nurses show leadership every day—on the front lines, in crisis situations, and through their relentless advocacy for better care and stronger public health systems. Their work has been key in navigating public health emergencies and pushing for meaningful improvements in patient care.

But the strength of our nursing workforce is under attack—stretched thin by contracting out, chronic understaffing, burnout, and disrespect from governments that refuse to invest in public care.

Nurses are too often overlooked or shut out of decisions that directly affect their work, despite being the backbone of the health care system.

Unifor continues to advocate for safe staffing levels, fair compensation, and supportive work environments to ensure that nurses can continue to thrive and deliver exceptional care.

We’ve long called on health care institutions and policymakers to not just listen to nurses—but to follow their lead.

This week, we extend our deepest gratitude to all nurses for their unwavering commitment to health and healing. Your work not only changes lives—it holds the system together.

Let us recognize and celebrate the power of nurses—not just this week, but every day.

Toronto/Montreal – Unifor members at Bell (BCE.TO) and its subsidiaries are organizing to protest multi-million executive bonuses at the company’s upcoming AGM.

“Bell can expect our union to be vocal when the executives continue to cut good jobs while rewarding themselves with fat bonuses,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “We are asking shareholders to examine the facts: more layoffs, a stunning drop in profits, and lucrative executive bonuses and we are asking they push back and demand better from the company’s C-suite and board of directors.”

The union wrote to 19,000 telecommunications workers at BCE and its subsidiaries as well as 2,100 members at Bell Media to encourage them to fully participate in the May 8, 2025, virtual annual general shareholder meeting.

The meeting agenda includes the election of board members, three shareholder proposals, and an advisory vote on executive compensation.

“We’re asking members to vote no on the Board’s approach to executive compensation. Doling out multi-million-dollar bonuses while you cut thousands of jobs is simply not something that Unifor members, as workers and as shareholders, can abide by. It’s reckless, disrespectful, and poor management by the Board,” said Unifor Quebec Director Daniel Cloutier.

In early 2024, Unifor launched the Shame on Bell campaign to call on the company to stop its contracting out and offshoring of telecom jobs, stop slashing Canadian newsrooms and reduce dividend payouts to reinvest in employee wellbeing, infrastructure, and job security.

Unifor extends its deepest condolences to the families and friends of those killed, and expresses concern for those injured, in the vehicle ramming at the Lapu-Lapu Day festival hosted by the Filipino community in Vancouver.

Our union is deeply saddened to mourn the tragic loss of a beloved member of Unifor Local 114, whose life was taken in this devastating incident. Their passing leaves a profound void in the hearts of their family, friends, and union sisters and brothers. We know that many in the broad Unifor family continue to be directly or indirectly affected by this tragedy. We stand together in grief and solidarity during this incredibly difficult time.

As a sponsor of the event, Unifor joins with the Filipino community and all Canadians in condemning this shocking and tragic act that has taken the lives of at least eleven people and injured many more.

Lapu-Lapu Day, celebrated annually on April 27, honours the memory of Lapu-Lapu, an inspirational Indigenous national hero who stood against Spanish colonization. This day is a powerful reminder of resilience, courage, and the enduring spirit of independence.

Unifor recognizes and deeply values the countless contributions of the Filipino-Canadian community, both within our union and across the fabric of Canadian society.

We are heartbroken that this vibrant celebration of culture and heritage was marred by such senseless violence.

Our union stands firmly alongside the community during this time of mourning and remains committed to offering support and assistance in any way possible.

Resources

For members or their family members who might need assistance, consider the following resources:

• Your local union’s Employee and Family Assistance Program
• A 24-hour assistance centre that has been established at Douglas Park Community Centre (801 West 22nd). Vancouver Policy officers are Victim Professional services have been deployed to help anyone who has not been able to contact a loved one who was at the Lapu Lapu Day event. If you are not able to attend in person, phone 604-717-3321.
• 310 Mental Health Line – Provides a toll-free number connecting callers to a BC crisis line. Offers emotional support, information on appropriate referral options, and a wide range of support relating to mental health concerns. Phone: 310-6789
• VictimLinkBC – VictimLinkBC is a toll-free, confidential, multilingual service available across B.C. and the Yukon 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and can be accessed by calling or texting 1-800-563-0808 or sending an email to 211-VictimLinkBC@uwbc.ca. It provides information and referral services to all victims of crime and immediate crisis support to victims of family and sexual violence, including victims of human trafficking exploited for labour or sexual services.
• Online chat service for youth (Noon to 1 a.m.)
• Online chat service for adults (Noon to 1 a.m.)
• BC211.ca – Dial or text 2-1-1 to be connected with a Resource Navigator who will provide information and referral to available social, government, and community supports and services.

If you require any additional support or are not sure where to turn, reach out to your job steward or union representative.