Unifor Media Director Randy Kitt and Friends of Canadian Media Executive Director Raj Shoan warned the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage on March 10, 2026, that the collapse of local news outlets is creating a growing democratic deficit, calling for stronger enforcement of media laws, expanded tax credits and protections for journalism in the age of AI.

WINNIPEG – Unifor has won a major arbitration ruling ordering CN to reinvest in the Transcona Wheel Shop, compensate affected workers and return rail work to in-house production in Canada after violating the collective agreement.

“This ruling is an important win for Unifor members and for the future of union rail work across the country,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “CN was found to have violated the collective agreement after work was pushed out of Transcona instead of being protected and maintained here in Canada. The ruling forces real reinvestment, restores core union work and sends a clear message that companies cannot erode Canadian industrial capacity without being held to account.”

The case stems from CN’s decision to close the Wheel Shop, Traction Motor Shop and Air Brake Shop, located in Winnipeg Manitoba, in May 2020 during the pandemic and then contract out work normally performed by union members. The arbitrator found CN violated the collective agreement by failing to properly notify Unifor, failing to consult the union before moving ahead, and undermining the union’s ability to protect its members’ work. He also found those violations were serious, not just technical, and left the question of remedy open until a later ruling. That ruling came on March 3, 2026.

“This decision matters to workers, families and the future of good jobs in Transcona,” said Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor Western Regional Director. “Transcona workers never stopped fighting for this work. The order to rebuild Wheel Shop production, add bargaining unit jobs and keep this work here at home is about protecting livelihoods, preserving skills and community pride.”

In the supplementary award issued on March 3, 2026, the arbitrator ordered CN to reinvest in and modernize the Transcona Wheel Shop, restore Wheel Shop production to levels that meet or exceed pre-shutdown levels, and hire at least 20 new bargaining unit employees as part of the startup. While the award does not require CN to reopen the Air Brake and Traction Motor Shops, it does require CN to bring 85 per cent of heavy bad order locomotive work back in-house in Canada, with the majority of that work remaining in Transcona.

“Unifor will now focus on ensuring CN fully implements this award. That means pressing the company to deliver its startup and operational plan within 30 days, follow through on modernization and hiring commitments, and restore in-house rail work as ordered. We will be watching closely to make sure CN follows through on its obligations and that this decision leads to real investment and lasting union jobs in Canada,” continued Payne.

HALIFAX – Unifor urges the Crown to uphold all charges levied against Irving Shipbuilding under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, following the company’s guilty plea to the lesser charge of failure to create a safe work procedure or plan for snow removal.

In February 2024, Unifor MWF Local 1 member, Jamie Knight, was tragically killed as a result of a workplace incident. As a result, Irving faced five charges under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The charges highlighted a failure to operationalize several comprehensive safety measures, including stricter adherence to manufacturer specifications for site machinery and a failure to designate a signaller.

“Every worker has the right to return home safe, healthy, and whole,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “This guilty plea is a reminder that we cannot wait for tragedy to take workplace hazards seriously. Prevention must be the foundation of workplace safety, not a lesson learned after a life is lost.”

In the wake of this tragedy, the Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee, Unifor MWF Local 1, and the employer worked together to implement critical safeguards including outsourcing snow removal to specialized third-party contractors and strictly enforced no traffic periods during peak pedestrian time, such as shift changes and pre-lunch windows.

Other changes that have been made to the site include clearly defined walkways, additional stop signs, and traffic mirrors to eliminate blind spots. All members have also been provided with mandatory high-visibility outerwear and a no earbud policy has been enacted.

“We know that in the wake of workplace tragedies, justice delayed is justice denied,” said Unifor Atlantic Regional Director Jennifer Murray. “Unifor pushed to bring this case before the courts quickly to make employer accountability an immediate priority. We remain focused on turning that accountability into action, securing the systemic changes needed to guarantee that every worker returns home safe at the end of their shift.”

In Canada, approximately 1,000 workers die on the job annually. Over 20 years since the passing of the Westray Law, the union continues to call for its rigorous application, asserting that workplace fatalities should trigger more than fines. Prevention is the key to safety, and it requires rigorous enforcement and criminal accountability to ensure employers eliminate hazards at the source, because one worker not returning home is one too many.