Unifor Local 1996-O

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VIA Rail’s Pivot to Privatization: The call to fight for public passenger rail – sign petition

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Unifor
|March 08, 2024

The impending privatization of VIA Rail brings with it a cloud of uncertainty for its unionized employees.

The government’s plan, shrouded in ambiguity, leaves us facing an unprecedented challenge to our livelihoods and the quality of service we’ve proudly delivered to Canadians for decades.

The transition to a private operator marks uncharted territory, with the potential to fundamentally alter the fabric of our work lives. The implications for Unifor members—and all unionized employees—are profound.

The end of our current collective agreements is set to coincide with the privatization schedule, placing our working conditions in a precarious balance. We’re not just facing changes; we’re facing a potential overhaul of the employment landscape as we know it.

It is during times like these that the solidarity of our union is most crucial. We must be vigilant, prepared to stand together to advocate not only for the preservation of our current terms but for the advancement of our working conditions in whatever new landscape we may face.

In the face of uncertainty, action becomes our strongest asset. Though the tracks ahead may be uncertain, our resolve is not.

Join Unifor’s Get Canada Back On Track campaign to keep VIA Rail publicly owned and operated. Share this message, sign the petition, write your MP and get involved. Your voice is the union’s strength. Together, we’ll ensure that our collective future remains on the right track.

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Shame on Bell…Take Action…sign the petition

Sign the petition click here: https://www.shameonbell.ca/

Shame on Bell.

Established 144 years ago, Bell has evolved into Bell Canada Enterprises Inc. (BCE Inc.), commanding the helm as Canada’s leading communications conglomerate. Now the company has been tarnished by the irresponsible and callous decisions by the Bell Board of Directors.

BCE’s systematic reduction of telecommunication jobs, outsourcing practices, offshoring endeavors, and the relentless downsizing of TV and radio newsrooms across the nation have cast a shadow over its legacy. Meanwhile, payouts to shareholders and executive board members have soared, exacerbating the growing chasm between corporate wealth and worker stability.

In a stunning blow to its workforce, February 2024 saw Bell axing an additional 4,800 jobs – a staggering 9% of its employees. More than 800 Unifor members, comprising 700 in telecommunications and more than 100 in media, found themselves abruptly terminated, casualties of a corporate ethos that prioritizes shareholder dividends over employee livelihoods.

Bell is a communications company with no moral fibre. While BCE points fingers at governmental policies, it cannot escape accountability for its actions.

Bell, Canadians demand that you:

  • Cease contracting and offshoring work, prioritize local employment and support Canadian workers.Bell must halt the practice of outsourcing jobs to foreign countries and prioritize employing Canadians. Offshoring work not only diminishes local job opportunities but also undermines the quality of service provided to Canadian customers. By investing in local jobs, Bell can contribute to the growth and prosperity of communities across the nation.
  • Stop slashing newsrooms and invest in local journalism to ensure accessible and diverse coverage for communities.The continuous reduction of TV and radio newsrooms across Canada limits the diversity and depth of news coverage available to citizens. Bell must cease the downsizing of newsrooms and instead commit to bolstering local journalism. Investing in newsrooms ensures that communities receive comprehensive and unbiased reporting, vital for informed civic engagement and democracy.
  • Reduce dividend payouts to prioritize reinvestment in employee well-being, job security, and infrastructure development.Excessive dividend payouts to shareholders and executive board members come at the expense of workers’ well-being and job security. Bell should reconsider its dividend policies and allocate a larger portion of profits towards employee benefits, training programs, and infrastructure improvements. Prioritizing reinvestment in its workforce and infrastructure ensures the long-term sustainability and success of the company.

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Unifor launches ‘Shame on Bell’ campaign

Shame on Bell graphic

Dear Unifor Bell members:

Last month, when Bell made the callous decision to cut 4,800 jobs – 9% of its workforce – affecting 800 of you, our members, we called them out.

The recent terminations are the latest move by Bell to eliminate our work, as the company continues to contract out, offshore work and erode jobs across Bell units.

As one of the country’s oldest companies, Bell played a historic role in connecting Canadians with a trusted place in homes across Canada. They have broken that trust with the betrayal of their dedicated workers.

We warned them we were going to fight back. And we’re ready to bring it to them in full force.

Today, we launched our new campaign, appropriately called, Shame on Bell.

View the campaign website here.

Sign the petition on the campaign website and tell the Bell Board executives how disgusted you are with them and spread the word on social media with these shareables.

We will have worker testimonials coming soon on the site.

On March 19 in Ottawa, Bell execs will be called before the House of Commons’ heritage committee to answer for the job cuts.

Unifor will be there.

We will be holding a media conference and then we will take our voices to the streets of our nation’s capital to show Bell, their execs, politicians and the public that the company cannot hide, duck and run for cover.

We invite Bell locals in Ontario and Quebec who are within driving distance to join us. More details will be provided in the coming days.

In solidarity,

Lana Payne
National President

Len Poirier
National Secretary-Treasurer

Daniel Cloutier
Quebec Director

 Bell graphic shame on Bell a montage of people's profiles

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Unifor celebrates advancement towards universal pharmacare

A group of people stand in front of Parliament Hill holding signs calling for pharmacare

February 29, 2024

 

OTTAWA – Unifor welcomes the federal government’s tabling of new pharmacare legislation that lays the groundwork towards the realization of a universal pharmacare program in Canada.

“Today’s historic victory is important for many reasons and especially during these challenging

economic times. Too many Canadians fall through the cracks and are not getting the medicine they need,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “We expect governments to step up and work actively to improve the lives of people, and this deal does just that – by expanding Canada’s universal public health care system.”

The Liberal/NDP pharmacare plan will cover specific contraception and diabetes prescription drugs and related medical equipment.

Unifor calls on federal and provincial governments to put politics aside and for the provinces of Alberta and Quebec to commit to dedicating any federal funds received towards pharmacare.

“This first step towards universal pharmacare will make a real difference in the lives of working people and their families,” said Payne. “We can’t forget that an expanded public health care will also contribute to Canada’s economic competitive advantage. We see the benefits of that routinely at the bargaining table.”

Since the Liberal Party’s 2019 campaign promise to establish pharmacare, there has been a significant journey toward its realization.

“This win was carved out through the tireless work of activists, coalition partners, labour unions and working people across the country. By championing a universal pharmacare plan, we are not just closing the gap in care but also ensuring that access to health care is a right for all Canadians,” said Payne.

Unifor has been advocating for a universal pharmacare plan through its Pharmacare Now campaign where thousands of Unifor members signed petitions demanding universal pharmacare . The union has also continuously met with members of parliament and sent a letter to the Prime Minister demanding he keep his promise to universal pharmacare. The union worked closely with the Canadian Health Coalition and its partners to pressure the federal government to deliver on its promise.

Unifor members have been actively engaged in the union’s Reproductive Justice Now campaign to protect and expand access to sexual and reproductive health care.

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