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Stop the violence against Indigenous women and girls

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Unifor stands united with the families of murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls and calls on all levels of government to take immediate action on the recommendations issued in the final report of the National Inquiry.

June 3, 2020 marks one year since the publication of the final report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. The report contains 231 calls for justice that form the road map for ending violence and move forward meaningfully towards justice, truth, and reconciliation.

Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Carolyn Bennett has admitted not only was no plan going to be in place by June 2020, but there is no timeline for the plan’s completion.

Tell Minister Bennett there’s no time to waste—work with Indigenous organizations and get to work on a National Action Plan!

 

WILL YOU HELP STOP THE VIOLENCE?

CLICK THE LINK BELOW HAVE YOUR VOICE HEARD!!

https://www.unifor.org/en/take-action/campaigns/stop-violence-against-indigenous-women-and-girls?fbclid=IwAR2EscwI5Nj53Ud92qvZpUlO2Hr43blrHz3IKW_jVn5wFonXWwVMu8-lNRQ

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Co-op Refinery spill highlights dangers of relying on scab workers

COOP REFINERY

REGINA—Unifor Local 594 is extremely disappointed, but not surprised, to learn of the major loss of containment from the Co-op Refinery Complex that occurred on May 22, 2020, that resulted in the contamination of the City of Regina’s sewer system.

“With the Co-op Refinery using inexperienced scab labour to operate an intricate and complex refinery, it’s these types of major incidents that we were afraid of when we were locked out back on December 5, 2019,” said Kevin Bittman, Local 594 President. “I’ve worked at the refinery for 23 years, and windy conditions are not abnormal in Saskatchewan, so Mr. DeLorey’s explanation doesn’t have merit. There is more to this than just weather.”

It was reported in the Leader-Post on May 29, 2020, that the Co-op Refinery is guilty of discharging an “unknown amount” of oil into the City of Regina sewer system. The alarming fact that it was the City of Regina that discovered the spill, and was not reported by the Co-op Refinery, should concern almost everyone.

“Our hardworking members are highly skilled and highly trained for these exact scenarios and it’s clear we are the key to safety at the refinery. Bringing in replacement workers from out-of-province with little to no training and throwing them in to operating the refinery is a recipe for disaster,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.

This latest spill is not an isolated incident. Since the lockout began there have been numerous spills and releases that have the potential for significant impact on the environment. Picture and videos have circulated the internet of catalyst excursions to the atmosphere, abnormal sulphur releases, and transporting tank cars with the lids open or covered in product from spills during the loading process. These are just a few examples of incidents we have become aware of. Much like the latest spill, it’s impossible to say what else has gone unreported.

“At this point, it’s not clear what else needs to happen before Premier Scott Moe shows leadership and legislates an end to the lockout. Our lives have been threatened on the picket lines and at our homes, and now the environment has been impacted. It shouldn’t take a catastrophic event to occur before the government ends this,” said Dias.

Local 594 will be calling on the Ministry of Environment, and all other appropriate agencies, to conduct a full and thorough investigation into the release from the Co-op Refinery. There are real concerns that once oil enters the city wastewater system that it can easily migrate into the Qu’Appelle Valley water way that many farmers use for irrigation and drinking water. This incident is drawing similarities to the 2016 Husky spill into the North Saskatchewan River.

The collective agreement between Local 594 members and the Co-op Refinery Complex expired on February 1, 2019. Local 594 represents nearly 730 members. The union has accepted the recommendations of Special Mediators Vince Ready and Amanda Rogers, but the Co-op Refinery has rejected the mediators’ report and this unnecessary lockout continues.

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Unifor applauds investigation of Ontario’s oversight of long-term care during pandemic

June 3, 2020

TORONTO – Unifor applauds the decision of the Ontario Ombudsman to investigate the provincial government’s oversight of long-term care homes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“One thing that we know for certain is that this pandemic publicly exposed the precariousness of the long-term care system that we have been raising red flags about for years now,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “We know for a fact that if nursing homes were properly staffed, especially with personal support workers, we would have been in a much better position to weather a pandemic.”

Six months ago, the Ontario Health Coalition report commissioned by Unifor “Caring in Crisis; Ontario’s Personal Support Worker Crisis” was released at Queens Park. The report, compiled from a series of cross-province roundtable meetings with all stakeholders, raised the alarm over chronic short-staffing and mass exodus of PSWs leaving the industry.

As that report was released, Dias issued a challenge to Premier Doug Ford to spend one shift with him in a nursing home to see first-hand the everyday realities faced by workers and residents.

“While we appreciate any effort that puts the spotlight on what is happening in long-term care, it is disappointing that the voices of so many women on the frontlines have been ignored for so long,” said Naureen Rizvi, Ontario Regional Director. “We can only hope that the Ombudsman will focus on listening to those women now.”

The union believes the pandemic has lit fire to a tinder box of problems, where PSW’s are first on the front lines. “No-one should be surprised that eight out of the 11 health care workers who have died from COVID-19 in Ontario are PSWs, who provide the most personal of care, with the least access to personal protective equipment,” said Dias.

Information about the union’s response to the pandemic, as well as resources for members can be found at unifor.org/COVID19.

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Unifor actively advising on federal COVID-19 policies

Unifor has continued to engage and advise on federal COVID-19 policies during isolation with National President Jerry Dias providing virtual testimony to both House and Senate Committees.

“The Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), picked up the slack for our Employment Insurance (EI) system, which is evidently broken, and in desperate need of repair,” Dias told the Commons Standing Committee on Finance during his May 21 testimony. “However, the CERB has flaws that need fixing. At the top of that list…to allow employer-paid, and Service Canada registered supplemental unemployment benefits (or SUB) alongside CERB.”

Addressing the same committee, Keith Sullivan, President of the Fish, Food and Allied Workers union in Newfoundland and Labrador, called for changes to aid 3,000 members employed in fish processing plants.

“These workers will need support from the federal government, either by an extension to the CERB or through changes to seasonal EI, similar to the recent changes to fishing EI that will ensure they can qualify based on last year’s insurable hours,” said Sullivan.

On May 27, before the Senate Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology, Dias stressed that the COVID-19 crisis has brought many of Canada’s structural weaknesses to surface. His testimony emphasized that despite having paid into EI for their entire working lives millions of workers are unable to qualify for EI benefits under normal conditions and went on to warn of an impending flood of new EI claims as initial CERB claims expire in July.

Dias also told the Senators that COVID-19 has shone a spotlight on the low pay and harsh working conditions many workers face, including those deemed essential like Personal Support Workers in nursing homes and workers in supermarkets.

“It has brought into clear view the gender pay divisions of care and service work – and how deeply undervalued this work is,” said Dias as he called for labour standards reform, including a new federal minimum wage of at least $15 among other needed changes.

This week Unifor took its call for reform to the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (HUMA).  During Dias’ virtual testimony he told MPs that additional incentive is needed to persuade employers to utilize the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS), which would provide greater financial support to workers laid off due to COVID-19.

Unifor’s presentations highlighted the need to strengthen Canadian manufacturing with the pandemic proving how a lack of government investments and dependency on global markets for essential goods and services can only backfire during a time of crisis.

“Whether it is sorely needed PPE or other goods, we need to better develop our domestic supply chains, strategically, to sustain our economy and stabilize jobs,” Dias testified.

The union also recognized that income security has as much to do with employment as it does other affordability issues, such as housing and rent, transit and mobility, drug coverage and child care.

During the Q & A session following his presentation to the HUMA Committee Dias engaged in a pointed exchange with Conservative MP Kevin Waugh on assistance measures needed to save Canadian media. Dias said Parliament had to “stop the carnage of the industry” while calling Waugh out on lack of action by the previous Conservative government.

Dias concluded his presentation by announcing that Unifor will unveil a comprehensive framework for Canada’s economic recovery pronouncing, “This is not a time for Canada to think small. This is the time bring our biggest ideas to the table.”

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Unifor condemns the most recent blatant acts of racism and racially-motivated police violence

 

George Floyd

 

 

Unifor emphatically condemns the most recent blatant acts of racism and racially-motivated police violence in the United States of America.

But we also know racism is not just a problem in the United States. It is also the daily reality faced by Black, Indigenous and other racialized communities here in Canada as well.

Racism continues to govern the lives of Black, Indigenous and racialized peoples, and as we have seen in the case of George Floyd, racism is taking lives.

We must call the killing of George Floyd exactly what it is: anti-Black racism.

As trade unionists, we must not merely name the problem, but work every day towards equality.

We must reflect on the inherent structures of power that advantage some over others. We must understand the connections between capitalism and racism. We must use the power of love and solidarity to build the better world we know is possible. And we must listen. Listen to our friends, our sisters and brothers, who face anti-Black racism every single day.

We must recognize that our union must be one of many catalysts in society engaged in the undoing of discriminatory frameworks and systemic racism and in achieving an equitable society for all.

Today in Canada, the issue of anti-Black racism is also dominating our consciousness as citizens march seeking answers to the questions surrounding the death this week of Regis Korchinski-Paquet in Toronto.

We must also challenge in Canada the systemic racism ingrained in institutions, policies and practices.

It’s why Unifor recently demanded the collection of race-based and Indigenous data around COVID19 because we know this pandemic impacts Canadians differently and is felt disproportionately by racialized communities.

On behalf of Unifor’s more than 315,000 members, we send our condolences and solidarity to all Black communities affected by systemic racism and who have been traumatized by this week’s acts of violence and we join them in demanding accountability and justice.

As a trade union, we can’t ignore the deadly threat racism poses to our Black, Indigenous and racialized sisters and brothers and friends. We must speak up against it.

The trade union movement was built by working people determined to bring justice and equity in our workplaces and in our society. Our greatest progress has come when we have understood the importance of combating discrimination and uniting all workers.

We will not let racism, sexism, ableism, homophobia, xenophobia, religious discrimination and oppression divide us because an injury to one is an injury to all. Let us not be silent.

It is not only honourable to unite in solidarity against hate, it is necessary to build a more equitable world. Being an ally matters.

Unifor asks all members, retirees and allies to challenge oppression and inequality through activism and political action, demanding redress for past wrongs.

Our union is proud to work with trade unions across the continent through the North American Solidarity Project to combat racism. Unifor will continue to fight racism at work and in our communities. We will continue to equip members with the necessary tools to combat racism safely through a robust system of education and training.  Only through education can people unlearn bias and end the cycle of racism. And only through solidarity will the better world we all seek be built.

In solidarity,