January 24, 2020 by 1996-O Executive

Unifor shuts down the Co-op Refinery

January 20, 2020 – 12:00 AM

REGINA− Unifor announced an escalation of job action and turned the tables on Federated Co-operatives Ltd. (FCL) by effectively shutting down the refinery as hundreds of union activists surrounded the 544 acre facility.

“Co-op executives locked our members out six weeks ago and today we are locking them out. No fuel will be leaving this refinery,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President at a rally in Regina. “This tremendous display of solidarity is sending a message to this greedy multi-billion dollar conglomerate to get back to the table and bargain a fair deal.”

Several hundred Unifor members from coast to coast to coast have come to Regina to support refinery workers locked out since December 5, 2019.

“We are so grateful to all the members who dropped everything to come and help us fight to protect our pensions,” said Kevin Bittman, Unifor Local 594 President. “This kind of solidarity is truly inspirational.”

“Until FCL returns to the bargaining table with a fair offer for our highly skilled refinery workers, we’re not going anywhere,” added Dias.

For the past 46 days, FCL has relied on the use of scabs and management to run the refinery.

Unifor will also continue to encourage the public to boycott Co-op gas, retail, and home supplies outlets across Western Canada. For more information about Unifor’s Boycott Co-op campaign visit BoycottCoop.ca.

Today’s announcement was streamed live on Unifor’s Facebook Page. Photos from the rally will also be available on Facebook. Facts about the dispute can be found at http://unifor594.com.

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.

January 24, 2020 by 1996-O Executive

Locals across the country unite in Solidarity to support locked out workers

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https://www.facebook.com/UniforCanada/videos/169668070960375/?__so__=permalink&__rv__=related_videos

https://business.facebook.com/UniforCanada/videos/598202717647169/

https://twitter.com/i/status/1217448498985099264

January 10, 2020 by 1996-O Executive

Bell Canada’s New CEO Says Race for Cheap Wireless Prices is a Bad Idea

Last summer, Bell Canada announced its CEO George Cope was set to retire in January 2020, to be replaced by its chief operating officer, Mirko Bibic. As of today, Bibic has started his role as Bell’s new president and CEO.

Today, Bibic has commented on Canada’s desire for cheap wireless rates, calling the move “really bad public policy.”

Bibic stated his views in an interview on Bell Media’s BNN Bloomberg with Amanda Lang today. According to the new CEO, he said, “If our objective is to have the cheapest communications services in the world, or the G20, or the G8, I think that would be really bad public policy.”

He went on to say, …..

Read the Article here….

January 10, 2020 by 1996-O Executive

Locked out workers to escalate fight for a fair deal at Co-op Refinery

January 7, 2020 – 12:00 AM

REGINA – Hundreds of members of Unifor Local 594 and their supporters rallied at noon today to show the Co-op Refinery that, on day 34 of the lockout, their resolve has never been stronger.

“Co-op will not bust our union by using profits only made possible by your hard work. We are going to hold them to their pension promises. Our union will intensify our campaign to achieve a fair collective agreement for our members,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National Secretary-Treasurer.

Payne told locked out Local 594 members that locals across Canada will mobilize and send members to Regina as the union ramps up the fight for a fair deal.

“While refinery workers walked picket lines 24-7 in the frigid cold, their greedy employer posted revenues of $9.2 billion last year,” said Scott Doherty, lead negotiator and Executive Assistant to the Unifor National President. “For Co-op to attack workers with lies and misinformation while claiming to respect workers is just shameful.”

During the rally, secondary pickets were also underway at Co-op retailers in Western Canada as the union announced an escalation of the boycott campaign against Co-op. The union’s Boycott TV commercial has been seen by millions of Canadians, including during Saturday’s Gold Medal World Juniors Hockey game.

“Co-op must return to the bargaining table with a deal that does not include gutting half the value of our pensions as was promised in the last round of bargaining,” said Kevin Bittman, President of Unifor Local 594. “We just want to get back to doing the jobs we love.”