Unifor Local 1996-O

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New EI Special Measures for Benefits and Work-Sharing

 

The federal government has recently introduced a series of special Measures affecting Employment Insurance (EI). The changes are meant to both prevent unemployment and to improve EI access and benefit duration for some workers.

Please review the attached fact sheets on both of these special measures. To see additional details for any current special measures, please visit the Employment and Social Development Canada webpage ‘Special measures‘.

Work Sharing Special Measures

In response to U.S. tariffs, and the threat they pose to Canadian jobs, the Federal Government announced temporary special measures to the Work-Sharing Program that will be in place from March 7, 2025, to March 6, 2026.

These special measures expand employer and employee eligibility, allowing more workplaces and workers classifications to us the program.

Work-Sharing is a federal program funded by Employment Insurance (EI) that assists employers and workers to avoid temporary layoffs when there is an unusual slowdown in production or service.

Pilot Project 24 Special Measures

Pilot Project 24 implements changes to the EI eligibility to temporarily improve access and benefits.

The one-week waiting period and separation rules are suspended for a period of 6 months starting on March 30, 2025.

Additional changes to the regional unemployment rates will also improve access and benefit duration for some workers for a period of 3 months starting on April 6, 2025.

These special measures will make a big difference for some workers, but more is needed to keep Unifor members working and to fix Canada’s EI system.

In the current federal election, Unifor has called for additional EI fixes now to mitigate the effects of tariffs, but also permanent, long-term improvements to both EI and labour adjustment supports for workers in these times of transition.

EI is the most important economic stabilizer for workers in times of job loss, training, or transition. Unifor will keep pushing for improvements to EI both during and beyond the federal election.

In solidarity,

Lana Payne
Unifor National President

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Unifor Fights for Forestry Jobs

 

🍁 Our jobs. Our mills. Our communities. Our country.

Unifor National President Lana Payne and Quebec Director Daniel Cloutier tell us how Unifor is fighting for forestry jobs.

Canada is a country of forests and Unifor is proud to support 22,000 workers in sawmills, pulp and paper plants, and wood products manufacturing. Let’s stand together to fight tariffs and keep good forestry jobs here in Canada.

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Unifor calls for Prime Minister Carney to unite team Canada

TORONTO- On Prime Minister Carney’s first day in office, Unifor calls on him to heed the calls of workers to protect Canadian jobs in the face of unprecedented U.S. trade attacks.

“Prime Minister Carney, as you take on this role know that Unifor members, indeed all workers, have high expectations of you. You’re stepping into a new job while many, many others are at risk. We need leadership that is thoughtful, strategic and bold,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.

Unifor recommends a strong response to Trump’s tariff threats, and progressive actions to protect jobs, industry and public services. The union calls on Prime Minister Carney and his new team to:

–    Protect Canadian Jobs with bold trade and industrial policies, to build economic resilience, strengthen our nation, and limit U.S. dependence;
–    Continue to consult the Prime Minister’s Council on Canada-U.S. relations;
–    Strong workplace supports to mitigate job loss, keep workers on payrolls and expand Employment Insurance  for those who need it;
–    Stand up for the belief in equality that makes us Canadian, keep health care public, expand $10-a-Day child care, and take real steps to end intimate partner violence, and
–    Tackle the high costs of living and housing that are holding families and young people back, and are causing a widespread homelessness crisis in our country.

“It’s not enough to go tit for tat with Trump. We need to make big moves, today, that will decrease Canada’s reliance on the United States and protect our industries and public services for years to come. We may be days away from an election, but the world will keep spinning, and progress must continue to protect Canadian jobs,” continued Payne.

Unifor’s Protect Canadian Jobs campaign outlines the union’s fight against tariffs and encourages the public to take a “Buy Unifor” pledge.

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Canada’s top telecom warns trade war will add to wireless-unit challenges

Source: https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca

By Bloomberg News

Published: 

Canada’s largest telecom company by revenue warned that a prolonged trade war will drag on economic growth, which was already hampered by a drop in domestic immigration targets.

“Everyone is going to have to get comfortable with lower volumes of sales,” BCE Inc. Chief Executive Officer Mirko Bibic said in an interview with Bloomberg.

“And then, if customers get concerned around the economic impacts of tariffs, and there’s less demand for second lines, third lines — there will still be a demand as penetration goes up, but penetration may not go up as fast.”

Canada plans to admit nearly 20% fewer permanent residents this year than in 2024, as well as fewer foreign students. This smaller pool led to a 56% year-over-year drop in net postpaid wireless subscriber additions during BCE’s fourth quarter

Read more click the above source link…

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Bell CEO Sounds Alarm: Trade War, Immigration Cuts May Hurt Growth

Source: https://www.iphoneincanada.ca

John Quintet

Bell Canada CEO Mirko Bibic says economic uncertainty, a trade war, and lower immigration targets are slowing telecom growth.

 “Everyone is going to have to get comfortable with lower volumes of sales,” he told Bloomberg, adding that while wireless demand will continue, growth may not be as fast.

While tariffs do not directly affect Bell, Bibic said the company is monitoring their “secondary impacts” on consumer confidence and corporate spending. “If it suppresses both of those in a dramatic fashion, then the impact will be potentially significant,” he said.

 

Read the full article click on source link above

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