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FCA shift cut will eliminate 1,500 jobs at Windsor Assembly Plant

February 27, 2020 – 12:00 AM

February 27, 2020

WINDSOR– The decision by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) to cut the third shift at the Windsor Assembly Plant will eliminate approximately 1,500 direct jobs, lead to significant job loss in the parts supply chain, and inflict damage to both the local and national economy.

“Unifor is very disappointed that FCA was unable to find a solution that would have avoided job losses,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. “There is no question that the economic ramifications will be felt across the region and throughout the country.”

In March 2019, FCA announced its intention to eliminate the shift effective September 2019. At that time, Unifor entered discussions with Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Federal Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Navdeep Bains and representatives from the Prime Minister’s office on the future of the plant. FCA then extended production with a plan to conduct a monthly evaluation before today’s announcement to eliminate the shift as of June 29, 2020.

“We worked to prevent this shift loss with the full understanding of the devastating affect that this would have on our membership,” said Unifor Local 444 President Dave Cassidy. “Now we will ensure that these workers receive the support that they need in this process as we continue to fight for new product for Windsor Assembly with the goal of preserving and increasing these good paying auto manufacturing jobs.”

Unifor will enter into collective bargaining with FCA, General Motors and Ford in the summer of 2020.

“There is no doubt that investment in Canadian production will be a priority during negotiations with the Detroit Three but we will also be continuing the conversation with all levels of government about the need for a national auto strategy to stabilize and grow this key sector,” said Dias.

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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Bell workers bring outsourcing fight to CEO’s introductory tour

Bell Rally

At meetings in Ontario and Quebec, Bell employees greeted the new CEO’s welcome tour with a clear demand to stop outsourcing at the Canadian telecommunications giant.

In 2019, Bell announced plans to outsource completely the rural high-speed internet service installations covered under Wireless to the Home, work that should be done by unionized technicians, all while taking federal dollars to fund rural internet expansion.

This recent, massive contracting out follows decades of job erosion at Bell and its subsidiaries, but members are mobilizing to demand that Bell stop this practice, and bring back the work.

“Mirko Bibic launched a cross-country tour to hear from workers, and every step of the way the message from employees is clear. Bell, it’s time to change your tactics and respect your workers,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “As a new CEO, Bibic has an opportunity to enact the culture change that Bell so desperately needs. It’s time to stop contracting out good union jobs.”

The calls to bring back work on Wireless to the Home are echoed with demands to stop unnecessary contracting out.

Unifor Local 7 members at Bell MTS in Manitoba recently opened bargaining with a similar demand, fighting back as clerical jobs are outsourced to low-waged workers in Ontario and even off-shored to workers making poverty wages in the Philippines.

“Whether you work at a call centre or on telephone poles, Bell workers are worried about having a good job tomorrow, next week, or next year,” said Renaud Gagné, Unifor Quebec Director. “Generations of Canadians have built careers at this company, I hope Bibic heeds the call to make Bell Canada a good, union employer, not one that seeks to outsource to only pay the lowest possible wages.”

Members at Bell Canada and Bell subsidiaries are encouraged to attend leafletting events outside upcoming Bell Canada National Team Meetings, listed below.

Winnipeg – March 2

2 – 3:30 p.m.  RBC Convention Centre, 375 York Ave, Winnipeg, MB R3C 3J3

Calgary – March 3

9 – 10:30 a.m. Studio Bell, 850 4 St SE, Calgary, AB T2G 0L8

Vancouver – March 3

2 – 3:30 p.m. Vancouver Convention Centre, 1055 Canada Pl, Vancouver, BC V6C 0C3

St. John’s – March 24

9 – 10:30 a.m. Delta St. John’s Hotel and Convention Centre, 120 New Gower  St, St. John’s, NL A1C 6K4

Halifax – March 24

2:30 to 4 p.m. Halifax Convention Centre, 1650 Argyle St, Halifax, NS B3J 0E6

Saint John – March 25

9:30 to 11 a.m. Saint John Trade & Convention Centre, 1 Market Square, Saint John, NB E2L 4Z6

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IWD March and Rally Toronto this SUNDAY Mar. 8, 2020

IWD Toronto Sunday Mar. 8th rally and march

What:                                INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY TORONTO

When:                               SUNDAY March 8th

IWD Rally in OISE Auditorium starts at 11 am;  March starts outside at 1 pm

Where:                             OISE Auditorium at 252 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON M5S 1V6

 

Dear members,

International Women’s Day (IWD) on March 8 is a day dedicated to honouring and celebrating women’s achievements throughout history and to the ongoing efforts toward achieving equality for women in all equity-seeking groups.

IWD was started by working women to call attention to poor pay and working conditions. It grew, and today it is a day to recognize the gains we have made and recommit to action to eliminate the barriers that still exist.

Unifor is encouraging members to use this IWD to call for ratification of International Labour Organization Convention 190 for the elimination of harassment and violence in the world of work. An IWD statement with more information will be emailed in the coming days, along with links to social media shareables for IWD.  

Leading up to and on IWD, activists around the world will be marching, dancing, attending meals, and sharing on social media. I encourage you all to find a march or event in your community. You can find a partial list of events Unifor locals and activists will be part of here.

Please also ensure to bring high-visibility Unifor materials including flags and clothing and tag us on Twitter @UnifortheUnion, and on Facebook and Instagram at @UniforCanada so we can share your pictures.

In solidarity,

Naureen Rizvi
Ontario Regional Director

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Canada’s Big Three telecom companies have two years to reduce rates by 25 percent

The three biggest cellphone companies in Canada are being forced to reduce their prices by 25 percent. Bell, Rogers and Telus have two years to make the change, which will be enforced by the Trudeau government according to Global News.

On Thursday, Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains announced that the government will begin tracking wireless pricing on a quarterly basis instead of yearly. The goal is to better track the prices so that the required price drops are met by plans that offer two-to-six GB of data.

He added that the government will “take action with other regulatory tools to further increase competition and help reduce prices” if the Big Three do not reduce their prices.

On Thursday, Bains said, “If they fail to do so, we will look at additional regulatory measures, like how we deploy future spectrum or mobile virtual network operators as a means to drive more competition, which will help lower prices.”

Read more here….

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Unifor proudly recognizes Black Mental Health Day and the importance of confronting the effects of anti-black racism

BMH

March 2, 2020 marks the first Black Mental Health Day, set to occur annually on the first Monday in March.

The City Of Toronto recently recognized the day in partnership with TAIBU Community Health Centre to increase awareness, dismantle barriers preventing Black Torontonians from accessing quality supports and services, and to prompt long-term systemic change.

Toronto is rich in diversity; however, Anti-Black racism still pervades through media, interactions with police officers, wage gaps, and in schools with inadequate culturally appropriate supports for Black students.

Black communities are resilient, in part due to the extraordinary and additional efforts needed in order to ensure their own safety and persevere through anti-Black racism. New research correlates the significant impacts of anti-Black racism and the toll is takes on the mental health of Black Torontonians. Despite growing research in this field, Black Torontonians cannot accessibly utilize culturally appropriate mental health services.

Members are encouraged to participate in community-led events that center impacted voices in discussions on addressing mental health in Black communities. Members are also encouraged to:

Unifor is prioritizing mental health awareness and action in all levels of the union’s work, including at the bargaining table, through education, and by tackling issues head-on with policy and decision makers. Unifor advocates for Black Mental Health Days to be recognized across the country.

Unifor strives to end all forms of racism. By acknowledging anti-Black racism and its impact on mental health, we can begin to break the silence, confront the stigma, and increase access to quality and culturally responsive health care.