It is with great sadness that we confirm that Unifor Local 892 member Tyrone McLeod was killed on Monday in the Mosaic K3 potash mine near Esterhazy, Saskatchewan where he worked as miner operator.

Tyrone was a valued and active member of the local union and is survived by two daughters, Bailey and Hunter.
Our union is deeply saddened by this tragic news. We sincerely grieve this preventable loss and we extend our deepest sympathies and solidarity with his loved ones and Local 892 members.

The “fall of ground” incident is currently under investigation by the provincial Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety and the Chief Mines Inspector. The local and the Unifor Health and Safety Department are seeking to be a part of the process and are actively collecting facts on the job site.

Call for donations

We ask that you consider donating to Tyrone’s family to help them recover from this tragedy. Please use the link below to direct donations via the Unifor National Office. We have also created a poster to hang in the workplace with a QR code to assist members who want to make their own donations.

Donate Now

Rest assured Unifor will fight for justice for Tyrone and under no circumstances will we allow his death to be brushed aside. We stand ready to participate in the investigation into what transpired and to share our findings with the ministry to determine the extent of the employer’s culpability and what remedies are needed at the mine.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.

In solidarity,

Lana Payne
National President

HALIFAX—Unifor members at the now-shuttered Northern Pulp mill in Pictou, Nova Scotia, will see their pension fund made whole and fully wound up as the company’s woodland assets secures a buyer at auction for $235 million.

This amount is enough to repay the $37 million owed to Unifor Local 440 members’ defined benefit pension plan.

“This is a small but important victory for all workers as the bankruptcy process typically places workers and their pensions at the bottom of the list of creditors or off the list entirely,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “Current Northern Pulp pensioners can rest easier knowing their retirement is secure, and those who will retire in the future can now count on the pension they earned being there for them.”

Unifor represented 220 members at Northern Pulp prior to its closure in 2020 and has continued to advocate for them through the closure, creditor protection and sale processes.

“The fact that it feels like a long-fought victory to protect workers’ pensions — deferred wages that were earned and saved — shows how awful the outcome usually is for workers as companies file for bankruptcy or close entirely,” said Unifor Atlantic Regional Director Jennifer Murray. “I’m happy we achieved this outcome for Northern Pulp members and their families.”

The union provided consistent support to members of Local 440 through the many years of uncertainty leading up to the closure and contested every move by the company and government that did not favour workers in the years since the mill closed.

Unifor advocated for legislative changes to protect workers’ pensions, supporting a private members’ bill that gives pension plan members super-priority during plan windups and bankruptcy proceedings.

The bill received royal assent in 2023 but will not take effect until 2027.

“Being a member of a union and supporting unions is more important than ever as we continue to see new ways corporations will dodge their responsibilities and ignore their promises to workers,” said Murray. “Workers stand with each other, particularly in a strong union like Unifor, to fight back against unfair treatment and this long fight proves that after everyone else leaves the building, the union will be there fighting for you, with you.”

Learn more about the Fight for Forestry jobs at unifor.org/forestry.

The 27 locked-out members of Titan Tool & Die won’t let grinches, the owners of the company who have abandoned their workers, intending to move production south to Michigan, U.S., dampen their solidarity and holiday cheer.

Operation Christmas Cheer, led by founder Cassandra Robinson, visited the Windsor, Ont. picket line from Ottawa on Dec. 11 to deliver gifts for the children of the Titan Tool members, along with a generous collection of goods for the locked-out members.

“Our members have been locked out since Aug. 11 for refusing to accept less than they’re worth, and having Operation Christmas Cheer helps them during the holiday season, showing them that Unifor and the community has their backs,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.

Unifor Local 444 and the Windsor and District Labour Council also stepped up with contributions of food and donations.

Last week, Ontario Regional Council, along with the national union, locals and personal donations, raised over $229,000 for Titan Tool & Die members.

Unifor Local 195 President Emile Nabbout noted this strike is the longest labour dispute in Windsor’s auto history.

“The Christmas spirit for Titan Tool members in Windsor will not be ignored,” said Nabbout.

“The workers of Titan Tool & Die refuse to give up on Canadian manufacturing, Canadian jobs, and Canadian dignity. Our local community and Titan Tool members are truly thankful for this outpouring of generosity and support.”

On International Migrants Day, Unifor recognizes and celebrates the invaluable contributions of migrants across Canada and around the world.

This year’s theme, “One City, Many Journeys – Honouring Migrants and Shaping a Shared Future”, is a reminder that migrant workers are integral to our workplaces, our communities, and our collective future.

From international students to temporary foreign workers, Unifor is proud to represent migrant members in sectors such as agriculture and food processing, health care, manufacturing, transportation, retail, hospitality and more.

Every day, migrant workers support our economy and strengthen the social fabric of this country—caring for our loved ones, growing and harvesting our food, and helping build the infrastructure that sustains our communities.

Yet despite their essential role, migrant workers continue to face precarious conditions and systemic barriers that increase the risk of abuse, exploitation and unsafe working environments. The lack of permanent status leaves too many living in uncertainty and fear.

With the federal government moving to restrict temporary migrant residency, an estimated three million temporary migrants may lose their immigration status in Canada—including many of our members.

As a union, we know that workplace divides only benefit employers and weaken worker power. Unifor is committed to protecting the rights of all workers, regardless of status.

Equal rights and fair treatment are not privileges—they are fundamental to dignity at work and a stronger, more inclusive labour movement. To support this work, Unifor has developed a practical toolkit to help Locals better assist migrant members in their workplaces, communities and union spaces.

This work is part of a broader global struggle. Today, the movement of people across borders continues to grow, with UN estimates showing 304 million migrants worldwide—nearly double the number in 1990. People migrate for many reasons: to pursue decent work, education, family reunification, or to escape conflict, climate disaster and life-threatening conditions.

Yet, despite international legal protections, we are witnessing an alarming increase in anti-migrant policies and rhetoric. Arbitrary detentions and deportations in the United States, tightening of asylum rules across Europe, and the rise of right-wing anti-migrant political forces all demonstrate the significant threats migrant communities face.

In Canada, we are also seeing troubling policy directions. Measures such as Bill C-12 raise red flags for advocates, who warn that it could weaken human rights protections for refugees and migrant communities. When governments restrict rights for one group, history shows that others are not far behind. It is crucial that we confront these shifts with solidarity and organized resistance. Defending migrant rights is defending worker rights.

At the same time, many countries are moving to curb migration while cutting back on international aid and development funding—policies that risk deepening global inequality and driving even more displacement. Instead of building barriers, governments must commit to solutions that centre human dignity, fairness, and lasting security.

Through the Unifor Social Justice Fund, we continue to support initiatives that defend migrant rights and provide direct assistance—from British Columbia to Nova Scotia, across the U.S.–Mexico border, and on the shores of Greece. Solidarity is not confined by borders, and neither is our commitment to justice.

On International Migrants Day, we honour migrant workers, celebrate their contributions and recommit to the fight for equal rights, permanent status and safe, decent work for all. A fair future is only possible when no worker is left behind.

Unifor stands with migrant workers—today and every day.