Drag the Red boat launches today on National Indigenous Peoples Day

Unifor's Drag the red boat

Unifor is a key supporter and sponsor of the Winnipeg community-driven campaign to ‘Drag the Red’ river in Manitoba for the remains of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirited people (MMIWG2S).

Drag the Red was co-founded by Winnipeg NDP MLA Bernadette Smith following the death of 15-year-old Tina Fontaine in August 2014. Outrage over Tina’s death galvanized the community and helped to spur a National Inquiry into MMIWG2S.

When the community organizers were in need of a new vessel to continue their work, Unifor made a generous donation from the union’s Canadian Community Fund to supply a new purpose-built aluminum boat, that is launching today.

“When we heard that the families had no choice but to drag the Red River themselves, we were moved by their determination. So when their boat kept breaking down, we knew what we had to do,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.

With the launch of the new boat, volunteers can proceed with the sixth season on the waters of the Red River in hopes of finding closure for devastated families.

“Families are leading this important campaign and we’re happy to support them, either with the financial donation or with the volunteer hours that Unifor members and staff have put in during the last two years,” said Western Regional Director Gavin McGarrigle.

Unifor vows to continue to work with the co-founder of the Coalition of Families of Missing and Murdered Women in Manitoba and the Drag the Red Initiative with NDP MLA Bernadette Smith.

All Canadians have the answers for ending this violence against Indigenous women, girls and two-spirited people.

The 231 calls for justice were issued two years ago by the National Inquiry into MMIWG2S. The federal government’s recent response to the report was inadequate and more work is needed to make urgent, systemic changes to protect Indigenous women, girls and two-spirited people.

It’s our job – across Canada to listen and to act – to tell your Member of Parliament that there is no time to waste implementing all of the calls for Justice from the Final Report of the Inquiry into MMIWG2S.

CFRB staff ratify first contract

Producers and technicians at Toronto radio station CFRB-AM Newstalk 1010 have ratified their first collective agreement, achieving significant wage increases for the lowest-paid staff.

“These first contract talks were about addressing inequities in the workplace, and we have begun to do that,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias.

“I am proud to welcome these media workers to the Unifor family.”

The bargaining team was able to defeat company efforts to cut the compensation of higher-paid employees. The 12 members of Unifor Local 723-M ratified the collective agreement online last week.

The deal includes gains for several lower-paid producers and board operators of $1 per hour right away and $2 over the life of the deal. The lowest-paid employee will see an increase of $5 per hour over the three-year collective agreement.

Several casual employees working regular hours were recognized as regular full or regular part time employees, meaning annual bonuses, benefits, and pension.

“This deal was made possible due to the determination of the bargaining team, the support of the membership and incredible solidarity from other CTV locals who delivered the message to the employer at their own bargaining tables they weren’t settling without a fair deal for CFRB,” said Unifor Media Director Howard Law.

Don’t Sell NL campaign launched to oppose Furey austerity measures

Unifor has launched a new ‘Don’t Sell NL’ campaign in opposition to austerity measures proposed in The Big Reset report by Premier Andrew Furey’s Economic Recovery Team.

“The Big Reset recommendations focus on cutting jobs, slashing health care and other services, selling off and privatizing public assets, and other punishing austerity measures,” said Unifor Atlantic Regional Director Linda MacNeil.

“If allowed to happen, these measures will stifle economic growth, put control of public assets and services in the hands of corporations, and force young people and working families to relocate out of province.”

The new campaign calls on members to stop the Furey government from implementing recommendations that would sell away valuable assets owned by the citizens, sell off vital public services to be run at a profit by private corporations, and sell out the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Read Unifor’s release on The Big Reset report here.

Unifor has joined a coalition of unions that represent members in Newfoundland and Labrador to unite workers across the province in the fight to prevent the proposed austerity measures from becoming policy. Political lobbying and additional actions are currently in the planning process with information forthcoming.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a devastating toll on the economy, workers and families.

Newfoundland and Labrador needs increased investment in programs and growth sectors to stimulate recovery, not cuts that will move us backwards,” said MacNeil.

Build Better Employment Insurance

Will you sign the petition to support building better EI?

Click here to sign

The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a devastating toll on the Canadian economy, workers and families.

Governments shut down businesses in order to curb the spread of the virus and save lives, leaving millions of laid off workers without income.

In March and April of last year alone, Canada lost nearly three (3) million jobs. Naturally, these workers turned to the one government program that was meant to help them during times of economic hardship—Employment Insurance (EI).

However, it soon became evident that Canada’s EI system, characterized by its restrictive eligibility criteria, low benefit rates and significant gaps in coverage, would not provide the safety net that unemployed workers needed.

EI only works when unemployed people can access it, but before COVID, only 40% of unemployed people were eligible.

This fact comes to no surprise for labour and community advocates – those championing fixes to restore EI benefits to protect workers, while modernizing it to reflect the realities of today’s increasingly precarious labour market.

Rebuilding Canada’s social safety net is a key component of building back better.