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OTTAWA – A leading member of Canada’s independent internet industry says it’s time to reform a regulatory system that is delaying the introduction of more competitive pricing.

The comments were directed at the CRTC and federal government at an annual event organized by the Competitive Network Operators of Canada.

CNOC’s members are currently locked in a protracted battle over the wholesale prices that are charged by Canada’s regional phone and cable companies.

Bell, Rogers, and other incumbent carriers are using multiple appeals to protest a CRTC decision that would slash many of the wholesale rates charged to independent ISPs.

But CNOC chairman Matt Stein said such delays lock in higher rates that prevent independent ISPs from lowering their retail prices for consumers and small business.

Stein suggested that an extreme solution would be to prevent the wholesale sellers from having retail divisions that compete with the independent ISPs.

But he said Canadian consumers could also get better prices and more choice if the CRTC was able to set and enforce fair wholesale prices without years of delays

“The incumbents have every incentive to drag out regulatory proceedings and make things take as long as possible,” he said. “They have the resources and, yes, the rules even allow it.”

Later in the ISP Summit, Industry Minister Navdeep Bains said that the cabinet is worried that the CRTC rates announced last year could have a negative effect on some investments.

But Bains stressed that cabinet decided to allow the CRTC to complete its rate-setting process, which includes review of its own pricing decisions that’s currently underway..

— By David Paddon in Toronto.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 4, 2020

November 5, 2020

TORONTO—Unifor’s Master Bargaining Committee has reached a tentative agreement with General Motors that includes a $1.3 billion investment that brings truck assembly back to the Oshawa plant, plus new investments to the St. Catharines Powertrain Plant and Woodstock Parts Distribution Centre.

“We have never given up on Oshawa and I am so pleased to announce that up to 1,700 members will be building both Silverados and Sierras on a two-shift operation in Oshawa and we were able to negotiate investments that will stabilize operations in both St. Catharines and Woodstock,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.

“Oshawa is incredibly personal to me. We launched one major campaign in an attempt to get General Motors to reverse its decision back in 2018, and they pressed pause and we preserved the footprint and now we will be the only GM plant globally building both heavy and light duty trucks.”

GM has committed to a new body shop, continuing the after market parts production and will begin hiring in August.

“We knew that our members in St. Catherine’s were nervous, dreading the end of two products and now thanks to higher volumes and $109 million in new investments, jobs are stable for the life of this agreement and beyond,” said Dias.

In total, the Ford, FCA and GM agreements bring more than $4.7 billion dollars in investment to the auto sector in Canada.

Dias has a message for members in Oshawa.

“I know many of our members who were let-go, while some moved on, many have not found other jobs, so I’m asking you to take a breath while we collectively find ways to get you all back to work. Today is a recommitment to the community of Oshawa.”

This three-year agreement follows an historic pattern-setting deal reached with Ford Motor Company last month that includes five per cent increases to hourly rates, bonuses, improved benefits, among other major improvements.

“This bargaining team worked very hard and I am grateful for the support and solidarity from members as we bargained during ever changing and difficult conditions during a pandemic. I urge members to support this settlement,” said Tim McKinnon, Unifor’s GM Master Bargaining Committee Chair.

More details of the tentative agreement will be presented to Unifor members during a series of virtual ratification meetings over the weekend, and members will vote on whether to accept the agreement over a 24-hour period, starting at 11 am on Sunday.

A digital media kit including background on Canada’s auto industry and details on plant locations, products produced and number of workers represented by Unifor can be found on this website

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.

November 3, 2020

TORONTO – Unifor welcomes the announcement today that the CRTC will be given the power to compel foreign internet giants to create, stream and broadcast more Canadian content, something that is long overdue.

“This is about cultural sovereignty, something we swore to protect in the last trade deal. Telling Canadian stories to Canadians is not only vital to our culture, it is a source of good jobs and helps to define us as a nation in an inclusive way,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias.

“The fact is, American internet giants that have been devouring Canadian market share for years without paying a dime towards the production of Canadian news, sports and entertainment programming, something that our regulated Canadian media companies do.”

New legislation introduced today giving the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission the power to require foreign streaming services to play by Canadian rules could lead to as much as $830 million a year in new production work by 2023.

“This is a long way from the days when Stephen Harper dismissed any such move as a “Netflix tax.” The fact is, this would be a huge boost for Canadian media, and media workers and their families.” Dias said.

Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault said today that once the CRTC is told by cabinet to proceed under this new bill, he’d like to see a roadmap for contributions by foreign streamers completed within nine months.

“The need is immediate. Getting this done cannot take one day longer than nine months. Our content creators and producers cannot afford any further delays,” Unifor Media Director Howard Law said.

“There have been plenty of consultations. The government and the CRTC know what to do, and the time has come to act.”

The review of the definition of Canadian content is also welcome if it encourages authentic Canadian shows, Law said.

Unifor is Canada’s largest union in the private sector and represents 315,000 workers in every major area of the economy, including 13,000 in the media sector. 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.

November 2, 2020

TORONTO – The Ontario government announced today to finally do what Unifor members and long-term care workers have demanded for years, to establish an average of four hours of direct care for long-term care residents by 2024-2025.

“Today’s victory is the result of years hard work, and pure grit from health care workers, unions and families wanting a strong long term care system in Ontario,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Ontario’s long-term care system has been in crisis far too long. This pandemic has spotlighted the crisis in long-term care and the urgency to make change. This announcement gives workers and residents hope for brighter days ahead, but we must aim for a faster timeline for implementation and create a plan to attract the thousands of front-line workers who have left the industry.”

The government plans to announce details in the provincial budget later this week and layout a long-term care staffing plan next month. In addition to the minimum of four hours of care announcement, the government plans to hire more personal support workers, registered practical nurses and registered nurses in the coming years ahead.

“It has taken an immense amount of hard work to achieve today’s victory,” said Naureen Rizvi, Ontario Regional Director. “It’s a tragedy that it took thousands of deaths and the pandemic for governments to recognize that workers are overworked and undervalued in long-term care. Moving forward, I hope that the government moves quickly to enshrine the four hours of direct care in legislation. We must stop putting monetary values on our elderly and those who care for them.”

In 2017 Unifor launched the Six Minute Challenge campaign to highlight the on-going struggles of many personal support workers in long-term care facilities who have only six minutes in the morning to prepare residents for breakfast. This year before the pandemic, Unifor National President Jerry Dias issued a challenge to Doug Ford to spend one shift with him in a long-term care home and see the obstacles facing workers and work together to find solutions to strengthen the sector.

“Though Premier Ford did not spend one shift in a long-term care home with me and witness the dangerous conditions for workers and residents, I am relieved that he listened to our demands and is committed to fixing our long-term care sector,” said Dias.

For more information, please visit, www.caretakestime.ca

Unifor is Canada’s largest union in the private sector and represents 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.

Information about the union’s response to the pandemic, as well as resources for members can be found at unifor.org/covid19.

November 04, 2020

MOUNT PEARL–Unifor has resumed a secondary picket line at the Weston’s bakery in Mount Pearl, Newfoundland, as part of escalating action by the province’s 1,400 Dominion store workers, in week 11 of an ongoing strike against Loblaw Companies Limited (Loblaw Co.).

“Our members will not be intimidated from exercising their right to hold a secondary picket, not by Loblaw Co. and not by the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias.

During a prior secondary picket at Weston’s bakery on October 27, 2020, the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary (RNC) deployed riot and tactical units to threaten peaceful picketers with arrest under the Highway Traffic Act and the Criminal Code of Canada.

Today, Unifor will file notice of civil claim against the RNC in the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador for breach of Charter Rights, negligence, negligent or willful misrepresentation and intimidation.

“We’ve returned to the location where RNC unjustly shut down our picket line,” said Unifor Local 597 President Carolyn Wrice. “It is Unifor’s position that this is a legal secondary picket in our action to bring Loblaw Co. back to the bargaining table with a legitimate offer to end this strike. ”

Weston’s bakery is owned by George Weston Ltd., which also operates Dominion’s parent company Loblaw Companies Limited.

Unifor is Canada’s largest union in the private sector and represents 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.