Unifor Local 1996-O

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Workers’ Comp is a Right!

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Injured Workers’ Day Rally & March

Thursday June 1st, 11:30am

Queen’s Park

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1044072909025603/

 

When workers are injured or made ill on the job, they have a right to full compensation. They have a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with the support they need to get back on their feet.

But the cutting edge of austerity in Ontario means those rights are being violated. The WSIB is singularly focused on reducing its own costs on the backs of injured workers, without care or compassion for the thousands who are driven into poverty and desperation when their benefits are slashed.

Across the board, the austerity agenda is making workers more disposable and is eroding fairness in the workplace. We are seeing an epidemic of precarious, insecure, and low-waged jobs. Precarious work means unsafe work.

We are seeing the government and WSIB turn a blind eye to workplace violence, harassment, and chronic mental stress – even though the WSIB has been found to be violating the Charter of Rights & Freedoms on this front.

We have also seen the Liberal government increase the risk of workplace accidents, injuries, and deaths, by passing legislation that allows employers to bar proactive health and safety inspections. This trades off worker safety for employer profit.

With so many workers in vulnerable and precarious positions, we cannot be silent in the face of a workers’ compensation system that is more concerned with its own bottom line than with protecting the well-being of injured workers. We need to come together and demand our right to compensation.

So join us on Injured Workers’ Day as we take to the streets and raise our collective voices to say:

 

Workers’ comp is a right!

Decent work is a right!

Safe work is a right!

We will not give up the fight!

 

 

Accessibility options will be available so that those with mobility difficulties will be able to join the march.

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National President’s Message “putting workers and communities first.”

 

Pres MesssageDear sisters and brothers,

I am writing to you today with important news that reflects the stature and strength of our union. The voice of Unifor is well-respected and it is an important one that continues to help shape both political dialogue and government action in Canada and on an international scale. I know this, because today I held a private meeting with the U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross in Washington.

On behalf of Unifor members I relayed concerns about the current state of affairs with bilateral trade relations between Canada and the United States. This meeting was timely as trade tensions continue to escalate.

I delivered a message of urgency to Mr. Ross. With the recent re-introduction of duties on Canadian softwood lumber exports that will endanger upwards of 25,000 good jobs in nearly every region of the country, action is needed right now. I urged Mr. Ross to help play a role to ensure a fair trade pact is settled On NAFTA renegotiation, I made clear that any resulting deterioration of jobs and work standards – for all workers across the continent – will not be tolerated. I also spoke to Mr. Ross about the challenges facing the highly-integrated auto industry, and the need for greater balance within North American, and with the rest of the world.

Despite some of the current challenges before us, there is an opportunity to fix the imbalances in trade relations with the renegotiation of NAFTA, and today I sent an important message to an arm of the U.S. government to do just that.

In the days and weeks ahead our union will continue to push for a fair trade future. I will continue to take the voices and needs of Unifor members and all Canadian workers to decision-makers in both Canada and the U.S with one message – better trade deals must begin with putting workers and communities first.

There is much work to do, but I am confident that together our union can continue to lead the way and make a difference for workers.

In solidarity,

Jerry Dias

National President

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