TORONTO – Unifor’s Social Justice Fund is making a $75,000 donation to the Humanitarian Coalition for the Türkiye and Syria Earthquake Relief Fund.

“The scale of the damage and suffering caused by these earthquakes is overwhelming, and the response must match the scale of the crisis,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “The Humanitarian Coalition is bringing together international partners to support search and rescue and family reunification, as well as deliver vital aid including physical and mental health supports.”

A series of catastrophic earthquakes on Feb. 6, 2023 struck areas in Türkiye and Syria, causing widespread damage and building collapse. The estimated death toll of this crisis surpassed 11,000 people on Feb. 8, 2023 with recovery efforts continuing.

“The members of the Humanitarian Coalition deeply appreciate this generous contribution by the members of Unifor in solidarity with the people of Türkiye and Syria. Our life-saving work cannot happen without the essential support of compassionate Canadians” said Humanitarian Coalition Executive Director Richard Morgan.

“Unifor’s Social Justice Fund allows members in Canada to show international solidarity during times of unthinkable crisis, like this one. We wish for survivors to have the support they need to rebuild the safest, healthiest communities possible following this disaster,” said Unifor National Secretary-Treasurer Len Poirier.

The Humanitarian Coalition members including, Action Against Hunger, Canadian Lutheran World Relief, CARE Canada, Doctors of the World, Islamic Relief Canada, Oxfam Canada, Oxfam-Québec, Plan International Canada, Save the Children, and World Vision Canada. All partners are currently operating in Syria and 11 of 12 members are active in Turkey.

Unifor encourages members and local unions to make donations to The Humanitarian Coalition at the union’s dedicated donation link.

Members are also encouraged to make donations to the Canadian Red Cross Earthquake in Türkiye & Syria Appeal. Every donation made by individuals will be matched by the federal government between February 6 and 22, 2023, up to a maximum of $10 million.

The Unifor Social Justice Fund is a registered charity which promotes and supports the role of trade unions and workers groups in their efforts to strengthen democracy, promote equitable development, and contribute to poverty reduction, social justice and education reform.

Workers rallied on Parliament Hill while Premiers and Prime Minister Trudeau negotiated a new health care funding deal for provinces and territories.

Ahead of the February 7th action, Unifor launched a petition to send a message to provincial and federal decision-makers to protect the future of public health care in the deal.

The event brought together union workers and health care advocates from across the country to demand that people are put ahead of profits.

Unifor members from health care and many other sectors united in support of the call for better, public health care.

“We represent workers from every major sector in Canada, all here for one reason today. We’re here to support health care workers and public health care,” Len Poirier, Unifor National Secretary-Treasurer, highlighted Unifor’s vast, multi-sector health care activism before thanking participants for attending.

Jenn Murray, Unifor Atlantic Regional Director, asked attendees to think about the effects of the crisis on health care workers, who struggle to provide care while governments underfund hospitals. Murray cited examples of paramedic services forced to wait hours before transferring care and patients passing away before receiving care. “Imagine going to work every single day, not knowing what new crisis you’re going to face?”

Ontario Regional Director Naureen Rizvi reflected on the tragic failures of Ontario’s long-term care system and called out the province’s already privatized  mental health and addictions care. “This is what they’re moving towards for all health care, are we going to let them do it? No! Workers are the solution to this crisis, with the opposition we form in every province across this country.”

Other provinces are following Ontario’s model of health care cuts, underspending and privatization. Olivier Carrière, Assistant to the Quebec Director, said that  $2 billion in private profits in health care has already been made in Quebec alone. “That money needs to stay in the system, not to go into private pockets!”

“It sickens me to know that in the West we have one Premier who’s fighting for public health care, and three other Premiers who are doing everything that can to dismantle it!,” said Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor Western Regional Director as he pledged to fight for health care at the ballot box in Alberta and Manitoba this year.

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This event was organized by the Canadian Health Coalition and endorsed by Unifor, The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (CFNU), Council of Canadians, BC Health Coalition, Friends of Medicare, Inter Pares, Ottawa Health Coalition, Manitoba Health Coalition, Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), and Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

The demands shared at the rally, and through the multi-union petition include calls for the federal government to:

• Implement a comprehensive strategy to retain and recruit healthcare workers and end the staffing crisis.
• Ensure funding is appropriately allocated and committed to fulfill the promises of creating national Pharmacare and dental programs.
• Phase out for-profit long-term care homes and transition toward community-based, publicly owned or non-profit homes.

Sign the petition to have your voice heard during these critical negotiations and get updates on the campaign.

As Unifor recognizes Black History Month, in 2023, our focus is empowering the next generation of Black youth.

As we reflect on Black history, Black accomplishments and the contributions of the many Black communities here in Canada and globally, we also reaffirm the collective work and collective responsibility we all have to continue to advocate to end Anti-Black racism in all institutions and society. We owe it to future generations.

This year, our message is “Black History, Black Futures.” Our focus will be featuring Black youth and all they offer in our workplaces and to broader society through skills, talents, intelligence, innovation, creativity, determination and leadership.

Black youth have made it clear – we need to listen. Young people are leading the way into the future, making demands to address climate change, exposing environmental racism, calling for reform within governments, advocating for health care, lobbying for job security, highlighting the inequalities within workplaces, combating Anti-Black racism, and offering real solutions to world issues. They are the future of activism, informed by history and ready to voice their demands for equity and justice for themselves and other workers, for all people and for the planet.

The Canadian government first recognized Black History Month in December 1995 in the House of Commons, following a motion introduced by the Hon. Dr. Jean Augustine.

As a progressive union Unifor is committed to more than statements and a month of solidarity. We must ensure physical and emotional health for all Black Canadians and continue to celebrate, appreciate and acknowledge Black communities across the country.

Unifor membership, leadership and communities will celebrate Black History meaningfully.

Below are tips to help celebrate Black History Month in a meaningful way

1. Celebrate and acknowledge Black history throughout the year
2. Celebrate Black history with everyone
3. Center Black History celebrations around diversity, inclusion and equity commitments and practices
4. If you don’t have diversity, inclusion and equity commitments and practices, create them
5. Eliminating anti-Black ideology and methods in organizations
6. Provide resources for Black businesses, culture centers, and community groups for everyone
7. Celebrate the present, not just the past
8. Do your learning at your own pace

We also ask them to recognize Black Unifor members, not only in February, but each day of the year, support Black members in roles in all levels of the union, respect and value the contributions and views of Black members in order to combat anti-Black racism and to continue to remove barriers in institutions that prevent Black members from fully participating.

We need to ensure physical and emotional health for all Black Canadians and continue to celebrate, appreciate and acknowledge Black communities across the country.