full article Global News Watch here
According to Unifor president Jerry Dias, Air Canada is willing to give refunds to thousands of its customers, as long as it gets a bailout from the federal government. David Akin reports on the ongoing negotiations between the airline and Ottawa
Twenty-eight Unifor members were rescued in high-wind conditions on March 2 after their vessel, the Atlantic Destiny, caught fire off the coast of Nova Scotia.
“There was no panic. The guys did their jobs and worked together. They performed perfectly,” said Garfield Forward, deck hand aboard the Atlantic Destiny and Local 1944 member.
Garfield was off-shift and asleep when the fire alarm sounded. All hands immediately met on deck and went to work with fire extinguishers, but they proved ineffective and a fire suppression grenade had to be deployed to extinguish the fire.
After the fire was out it was discovered that the vessel was slowly taking on water in the engine room and the control panel that operated water pumps was inaccessible. At that stage the distress call was issued.
The nearby fishing vessel Cape Lahave where Forward’s brother works was first on the scene. Approximately an hour later the Canadian Coast Guard plane from CFB Greenwood arrived and parachuted a rescuer onto the Atlantic Destiny.
The fishing vessel Maude Adams staffed by fellow Local 1944 members arrived two hours later to assist with the rescue efforts.
With the help of the U.S. Coast Guard, it took almost eight hours to evacuate the entire crew of the Atlantic Destiny, in part because of a malfunction in the Canadian Coast Guard rescue helicopter’s winch cable. The crew were all taken to Yarmouth for food, shelter and medical attention.
In his 36 years at sea, Forward had never had to abandon ship, and is glad it went as smoothly as it did. His only moment of fear was being lifted to safety on the helicopter.
“I’m afraid of heights. I’m sure that my brother was watching from the Cape Lahave as nervous as I was,” he said.
Local 1944 President Trevor Banfield credits the successful fire fighting and evacuation to the skill and training of the crew.
“I am so glad all members are safe. We have to give credit to the fact that they train for this before every shift on that vessel going out during every shift change,” said Linda MacNeil, Atlantic Regional Director.
Despite salvage efforts the Atlantic Destiny could not be saved.
The Atlantic Destiny employed 60 Unifor members in all, as two 30-person crews rotate on three-week shifts. Banfield says he will be meeting with representatives of the employer, Ocean Choice International, to determine next steps.
“We’re going to do everything in our power to help these skilled fish harvesters get safely back to work,” said MacNeil
March 8, 2021
International Women’s Day is a global day to celebrate women and women’s achievements and to continue the push for gender justice. It was started by working women to call attention to poor pay and working conditions. It grew to include a call for women’s rightful place in leadership and safety from violence. Today, it is a day to celebrate equality gains and recommit to action and persistence towards full equality for all equity-seeking groups.
When we work collectively, across our diversities, we are a force that makes change.
This year marks nearly one full year under the pandemic. This crisis has shone a light on pre-existing inequality and, in many cases, has widened it: racism, gender-based violence, unpaid care work, inadequate elder support and more. We need to address these inequalities and come out from the pandemic with a new society.
We did not let the pandemic stop us from organizing for a better world, getting elected to bargaining committees and local executives. We continue to fight for racial justice advocates, paid sick days, fair pay, pharmacare, better long term care and child care, against gender-based violence and much more.
This year we will celebrate the women of our union and the work they do every day to push back and make a difference.
View statement on our website here.
In solidarity,
Jerry Dias
National President National Secretary-Treasurer
Black History Month is observed across Canada every February. Black History Month in Canada provides an opportunity to share and learn about the experiences, contributions and achievements of peoples of African ancestry (see Black Canadians). It was initiated in Canada by the Ontario Black History Society and introduced to Parliament in December 1995 by Jean Augustine, the first Black woman elected as a member of Parliament. Black History Month was officially observed across Canada for the first time in February 1996 (see also Black History in Canada).
Unifor 1996-O Recognize:
Barbara Howard
As vaccines begin to roll out across the country, Unifor is also examining the legal and ethical issues surrounding the roll out – including your rights and making sure vaccines go first to those who need them most.
The virus has hit Canadians disproportionately, exposing inequities across our society. We cannot stand by and allow the vaccine rollout to follow this dangerous precedent.
Unifor will continue to post new materials as they are developed and to act on your behalf to ensure a smooth and equitable rollout. For now, please see these documents:
The federal government and each of the provinces and territories have developed vaccine roll out plans: