December 8, 2020

WINDSOR – Health care workers represented by Unifor Local 2458 will escalate actions by holding a rally outside of Fairfield Park long term care home to demand a fair and equitable collective.

“The employers’ approach of viewing our members as zeroes instead of heroes is insulting and disrespectful,” said Tullio DiPonti, President of Unifor Local 2458. “To think at a time where these health care heroes are risking their lives to care for others, their employer turns around and puts forward a laundry list of concessions and says this is what you’re worth. This employer should be ashamed. Let’s get back to the bargaining table and negotiate a fair collective agreement, free of concessions.

Last week a rally was held outside of Broulliette Manor, urging the employer to return to the bargaining table and withdraw its long list of concessions.

“I have negotiated many contracts in my day, but I have never seen an employer so blatantly disrespectful,” said Chris Taylor, Unifor National Staff Representative. “The pandemic has forced long term care workers across the country to do more with less and here we have an employer that’s asking these COVID heroes to take on all the new protocols and get nothing in return.  Our members will not be made to feel worthless and we will continue to ramp up our actions until they receive the respect and dignity that they deserve.”

Contract negotiations opened with Fairfield Park and Broulliette Manor on October 27, 2020. The union proposed modest changes to the collective agreement that were immediately rejected by the employer’s legal representatives. The employer’s representatives presented the union with more than six pages of concessions that include cuts in wages, health care benefits, time off, forcing of more hours of work.

The union is steadfast in its resolve to bargain an agreement that fits the needs of the members working at both Fairfield Park and Broulliette Manor.

Unifor is Canada’s largest union in the private sector, representing 315,000 workers in every major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad, and strives to create progressive change for a better future.

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With the support of Bell, Rogers, TELUS and Vidéotron, the STM has improved the commuter experience and created the largest digital indoor network in Canada

Montréal, December 3, 2020 – The Société de Transport de Montréal (STM) and its partners—TELUS (as project integrator), Bell, Rogers and Vidéotron—are proud to announce that the deployment of the 4G LTE mobile network is now complete in all 68 stations and 71 km of tunnels that make up Montréal’s metro system. With the Jolicoeur, Monk and Angrignon stations connected today, this complex project, launched in 2013, has now been completed within its stated schedule, scope and budget, despite the challenges posed by the pandemic.

The project involved an investment of nearly $50 million—funded in equal parts by telecommunications providers Bell, Rogers, TELUS and Vidéotron—and it has provided the STM with Canada’s largest indoor digital network and the longest underground wireless network in the country. This special collaboration among the country’s largest telecom companies has brought uninterrupted connectivity and stable, 100% LTE coverage throughout the STM stations and trains. STM passengers can now enjoy a download speed of up to 275 Mbps, which is comparable to what they might get at home.

The upgrades required the deployment of radiant cable and antennas in tunnels, the installation of technical cabinets in stations, and the addition of five utility rooms containing specialized equipment and located at key points in the network to ensure optimal coverage.

Through close coordination and meticulous planning, the teams involved managed to complete the project in compliance with all of the key parameters defined for the project. Another fact worth mentioning is that this work was completed with minimal impact on STM commuters and did not require full or partial closures of any stations or entry points, nor did it cause any disruptions to passenger travel. All of this was achieved despite the inherent challenges of such a complex project and completed in an environment that tens of thousands of people walk through every day, with multiple work sites in progress at any given time.

Full Article here

Unifor is calling for Canada to develop a National Action Plan on Gender-Based Violence that is harmonized with the parallel national action plan(s) on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG). A National Action Plan would ensure a shared understanding of the root causes of gender-based violence as well as put in place coordinated and effective efforts across the federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal levels.

Minister Monsef’s mandate letter clearly calls for a National Action Plan on Gender-Based Violence, with a focus on ensuring that anyone facing gender-based violence has reliable and timely access to protection and services.

The isolation of the pandemic is leading to an increase in violence and is straining the budgets of community services. On average, every 2.5 days, one woman or girl is killed in this country – a consistent trend for four decades. Where an accused has been identified, 91% are male, consistent with national and international patterns.

Indigenous women and girls were overrepresented as victims. Although they make up about five percent of the population in Canada, they represented 36% of those women and girls who were killed by violence.

This is not an issue for another day; this action plan is needed now. Will you add your voice today to the growing call for action?

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As COVID-19 increases the need for aid, the Unifor Ontario Regional Council is contributing $80,000 to 14 food banks and women’s shelters across the province, with each organization receiving more than $5,000.

“The pandemic has resulted in a dramatic rise in intimate partner violence, as stay-at-home measures isolate women with their abuser while simultaneously cutting off access to outside support networks,” said Ontario Regional Director Naureen Rizvi.

COVID-19 has put additional stress on women’s shelters, many of which were already operating at full capacity pre-pandemic.

Pandemic related job loss has also resulted in a significant increase in the use of food banks, already under pressure due to underemployment, stagnant wages and the rising cost of living.

“Food insecurity is not just a COVID-19 issue but the economic fallout of the pandemic has exacerbated income inequality and increased the number of our neighbours who are going hungry,” said Ontario Regional Council Chairperson Scott McIlmoyle. “That is why we continue to push for a living wage for all workers to aid the economic recovery following the pandemic.”

As food insecurity grows, reports consistently show that poverty disproportionately hurts children in families that are lone female-led, racialized, newcomers, Indigenous or affected by disabilities.

“Unifor members are an integral part of their communities,” said Rizvi. “We are pleased to help these organizations provide urgently needed services to families who are experiencing violence or food insecurity this holiday season and beyond into 2021.”

Organizations receiving donations from ORC:

BEENDIGEN INC              

THUNDER BAY

DOMESTIC ABUSE SERVICES OXFORD

WOODSTOCK

HOSHIZAKI HOUSE

DRYDEN

KINGSTON INTERVAL HOUSE

KINGSTON

LENNOX & ADDINGTON INTERVAL HOUSE

NAPANEE

RAINY RIVER DISTRICT WOMEN’S SHELTER OF HOPE

THUNDER BAY

ST.MATTHEW`S HARMONY HOUSE

OTTAWA

THREE OAKS FOUNDATION

BELLEVILLE

WOMEN’S CRISIS CENTRE WATERLOO REGION

KITCHENER

YOUNG WOMEN’S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION

KITCHENER

WOMEN’S HOUSE OF BRUCE COUNTY

OWEN SOUND

LONDON FOOD BANK

LONDON

WOMEN’S COMMUNITY HOUSE

LONDON

MY SISTER’S PLACE

ALLISTON