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Unifor growing in hospitality sector

November 5, 2019 – 12:30 PM

 

Unifor continues to grow in the hospitality sector, with more than 150 workers at two hotels in the Toronto area voting to join the union in just two days.

“These workers have stood up and said they want a voice in their workplace, and that they believe Unifor is the best way to get that voice,” Unifor National President Jerry Dias said. “The momentum is clearly with Unifor in the hospitality sector.”

The 111 workers at the Broadview Hotel, a boutique hotel in east Toronto, voted to join Unifor on October 30. The new members include servers, bartenders, kitchen staff, front desk and housekeeping staff.

The next day, 40 workers at the Hilton Garden hotel in Mississauga, including kitchen, maintenance, laundry, banquet, server, bartender and housekeeping staff, also voted to join Unifor.

“Hospitality workers are joining Unifor because they know we have the depth in the industry to address their top concerns, including job security and compensation,” said a Unifor Organizing Director Kellie Scanlan.

Unifor represents more than 10,000 workers in hospitality and gaming across Canada.

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5,000 Unifor transit workers on strike in Metro Vancouver

November 5, 2019 – 3:00 PM

 

Members at Unifor Locals 111 and 2200 began job action on November 1 after the employer balked at improvements to working conditions, benefits, and wages.

“There has not been a serious offer from the company since we served strike notice,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “In other words, the company feels very comfortable with system-wide job action.”

Unifor represents 3,800 transit operators and nearly 1,000 skilled trades and maintenance staff at Coast Mountain Bus Company, the firm contracted by the regional transit authority, Translink. The first phase of job action included a uniform ban for operators and an overtime ban for maintenance workers.

Contract talks have been underway for months, but no attempt has been made by the employer to address the most core concerns of Unifor members. Unifor says that the system is under stress, and Unifor members are bearing the brunt of it with assaults on the rise and schedules planned too tight for bathroom breaks.

“Metro Vancouver is undergoing a historic transit expansion, but it can’t leave workers behind,” said Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor Western Regional Director. “It’s not a world-class transit system if operators are treated like second-class citizens.”

McGarrigle says that, without progress on core issues, nearly 5,000 members will escalate job action in the coming weeks.

There are no further talks scheduled

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Act Now: NS forestry members need your support

Jerry Dias

Dear members,

We need your help to save 230 Unifor members’ jobs and thousands more forestry jobs across Nova Scotia – and it will only take a few minutes.

Unifor Local 440 members at Northern Pulp are in a battle to get approval for a brand new, state-of-the-art effluent treatment facility to replace the current system in Boat Harbour, adjacent to Pictou Landing First Nation. But – the company needs the approval of Nova Scotia Environment before construction can begin.

That’s where you can help. If enough people submit supportive comments to Nova Scotia Environment, then we can push the government to save these members’ jobs.

Here are 5 tips to use in your comments:

  • Use your expertise as a forestry worker (if applicable)
  • Keep it simple, straight-forward and fact-based
  • Focus on the mandate of Nova Scotia Environment
  • Emphasize the third-party science contained in the Focus Report
  • Encourage others to do the same

 

Are you ready? Email ea@novascotia.ca or click here to submit your comment today. Choose “Replacement Effluent Treatment Facility Project” from the site’s drop-down.

A complicated history with previous owners of the mill has left the community divided and a vocal group is advocating to shut the mill down. Meanwhile Paper Excellence, the new owners since 2011, have invested millions of dollars to upgrade the mill and are ready and eager to spend $130 million more to install this new treatment plant.

A 2,600-page scientific report has been submitted for government review and clearly states this new facility would be well within Nova Scotian and Canadian guidelines.

Our union firmly believes this new facility is the right project to support thousands of good jobs across the province, protect the environment, and respect First Nations. This is what we’ve advocated for all along.

If you want more information before submitting a comment, refer to the NEW Member Guide to Submitting Comments. For some inspiration, I’ve attached a sample submission from a Unifor forestry member. You can read Unifor’s submission here.

There are 88 other pulp and paper mills across Canada that coexist and support their communities. We know Northern Pulp can, too.

Comments close on November 8. That’s just one week away!

Thank you for your solidarity,

Jerry Dias
Unifor National President

 

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Purchase your exclusive Unifor Toronto Rock tickets today!

Unifor is excited to partner with the Toronto Rock Lacrosse Club for its season opener and offer members, family and friends an exclusive fun-filled night on Saturday, December 7, 2019.

The game starts at 7 p.m, but doors will open early at the Scotia Bank arena for an exclusive Unifor tailgate party that includes many family-friendly activities.

Tickets for the game are $37 each.

Included with the tickets for each attendee:

  • $10 food and drink voucher
  • Early premium access to the Scotia Lounge
  • Dedicated seating for Unifor members and family.

Tickets can be purchased by clicking on this link.

Tickets are selling out as fast, please make sure to purchase your tickets early before they are all gone.

If you have any questions, please contact John Aman at 416-495-6650 or john.aman@unifor.org

In solidarity,

Naureen Rizvi
Ontario Regional Director