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VIAction 2030: The Hidden Cost of Privatizing Canada’s Rail

Take action let your member of parliament know…Take Action

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Unifor
|May 29, 2024

Last week, VIA Rail Canada presented its vision for the future of the national passenger rail network, entitled VIAction 2030.

While VIA’s strategic goal to “champion passenger rail” in Canada is admirable, VIAction 2030 offers lofty platitudes but no real plan. Troubling is the document’s silence on the Federal Government’s plans on privatizing the busy corridor operation in Ontario and Quebec as part of the High-Frequency Rail (HFR) project.

This project will see a private operator assume control of HFR services and local services, including scheduling, timetables, crew and staff management, dispatching, onboard products, customer service and marketing within the corridor. In return, a private operator is expected to be given a sweetheart deal with a guarantee of profit.

History shows us that in countries such as Germany, the UK, Spain, South Korea, and France, privatization schemes have led to higher fares, service reductions, job losses, and cuts to maintenance and safety.

These examples should serve as a stark warning to Canadians.

The Federal Government’s plan to privatize VIA Rail’s corridor operations risks similar outcomes, undermining the reliability, affordability, and safety of our national passenger rail service.

Given that VIA Rail’s important public service has never made a profit, even in the busy corridor and even before the nationalization of passenger services in 1978, we can expect that taxpayers and passengers will foot the additional cost of profit guarantees made to a private, multinational operator by the Federal Government.

VIA Rail must remain a public service that benefits passengers—not shareholders.

Unifor’scampaign believes it is time for the Federal Government to change track—to strengthen a public VIA Rail to provide even safer, more reliable, and more frequent transportation. This is the right course to support the creation of good, green, public, and long-term jobs.

Take Action and let your member of parliament know its time to Get Canada Back on Track!

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Wage increases, health benefits improvements in Nestle deal

May 29, 2024

 

TORONTO—Workers at Nestle have ratified a new three-year contract today with the chocolate maker that has significant bumps in wages, pensions, and health benefits, ending a strike that began on May 5.

“Congratulations to the bargaining committee for their tenacious work in securing this deal, which protects members from precarious work and provides them and their families some cushion from the affordability crisis we’re in,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.

“We thank them for their hard work and dedication on the job day in and out and for their resolve on the picket line.”

Members ratified the contract on May 29, 2024.

There are 461 Local 252 members at the Toronto Nestle plant, which produces Kit Kat, Aero, and Coffee Crisp chocolate bars, as well as Smarties. They work as machine operators, bar packers, shippers and receivers, general labourers and in Skilled Trades.

The gains include a 3.25% wage increase in the first year, 3% in the second year and 2.25% in the last year. This contract has a $1 increase each year in the Defined Benefit Pension Plan for non-Skilled Trades, and $2 in each year for Skilled Trades.

The health benefits improvements include tool allowance, vision, and dental care. Working members over the age of 65 at Nestle will now be able to access health benefits.

Fourteen contract workers (P0 classification) with the highest seniority level at ratification will be immediately moved to the P1 wage rate as full-time with full benefits.

Also, shift workers will receive 75 cents per hour on afternoon shift and 90 cents per hour on night shift.

“We’re pleased with this contract,” said Unifor Local 252 President Eamonn Clarke.

“It is a robust agreement that addresses the needs of members, from monetary to health. In past contracts, we have fought for more job security and improved pensions, and this continues to build on what we’ve done. Our members are ready to get back to work.”

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National AccessAbility Week Statement Main Image Image Four worker profiles and text reads, Unifor celebrates National AccessAbility Week

Four worker profiles and text reads, Unifor celebrates National AccessAbility Week

May 21, 2024

 

National AccessAbility Week, from May 26 to June 1, 2024, Unifor recognizes the valuable contributions, achievements and leadership of persons with disabilities. On this week, our union wishes to highlight the important work being done in concert with allies, organizations, and communities to remove barriers and create a more accessible and inclusive society.

The theme for this year is “AccessAbility is Within Reach”, highlighting the inclusive practices within communities and workplaces across Canada ensuring that every individual, regardless of their abilities, can participate fully and equally in all aspects of life.

As a union, we prioritize creating an inclusive environment where every member is able to participate meaningfully within their union and their workplace. We firmly uphold the belief that all individuals, regardless of their abilities, should have equal opportunities to contribute and participate in the decision-making processes of our union. By championing accessibility, inclusion, and belonging, we strive to foster a union that embraces the diverse strengths and contributions of its members, ensuring a workplace environment where everyone can thrive with dignity.

Within our workplaces and within our union, members take these steps towards inclusion:

  1. Encourage the use of the Inclusive Practices Tool Kit in your local union and workplace.
  2. Challenge your perceptions about disability and consider how your workplace can be made more inclusive.
  3. At your next General Membership Meeting play Unifor’s Workers with Disabilities video.
  4. This week, use Unifor’s social media shareable to highlight the abilities of people with disabilities.
  5. Table bargaining proposals that support and protects the physical and mental wellbeing of members.

National AccessAbility Week serves as a timely reminder that creating a truly inclusive society requires collective effort and continuous commitment.

Let us work together to remove barriers, challenge misconceptions, and build a future where everyone, regardless of ability, can thrive and succeed.

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Hear Bell Workers’ Stories

Source: https://www.shameonbell.ca/testimonials

Hear Bell Workers’ Stories:

“For a company that talks about mental health, the mental health of their employees is the last thing on their minds,” says 30-year Bell employee Nicole. As Chief Steward of Unifor Local 6006 representing Bell clerical workers, Nicole says the firing of the women in her unit was cold and callous.

After 18 years of service, Sonny Malhotra lost his job when Bell eliminated his entire unit. Now, the remaining Bell workers that he represents as President of Unifor Local 607 face the threat of being placed on so-called ‘performance plans’ to monitor their productivity. Sonny believes if anyone should be on a performance plan, it should be Bell CEO Mirko Bibic.

President of Unifor Local 42 and a 27-year veteran Bell technician Drew Kerrigan says that while the scope of technicians’ work has expanded the time frame given to complete jobs has compressed, with every moment monitored and micromanaged.

“Bell wants to be the corporate champions of mental health but they don’t care about the mental health of their employees,” says long-time Bell worker and Chair of Unifor’s Unifor National Telecommunications Industry Council Jeff Brohman.

Bell Canada penalizes technicians for ‘inefficiencies’ beyond their control to pit workers against each other with the threat of the ‘Coaching for Success’ supervision program. Bell technician and Unifor Local 34-0 President Jim Fling shares his story.

Marc-Andre has taken pride in keeping Canadians connected during his almost quarter century working at Bell. Now he warns of the deterioration of customer service due to constant job cuts.

Bell workers took a pay cut to secure their position in the future but despite making billions BCE still eliminated jobs, says Justin Connolly, President of Unifor Local 25.

Unifor logo

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No evidence Big Three carriers acting as fibre wholesalers would hurt smaller providers, CRTC says

Source: https://www.theglobeandmail.com

Sammy Hudes
The Canadian Press

Click the above link for full article

The CRTC has denied a request by Bell Canada and some independent internet providers for an expedited decision that would prevent large carriers from using rivals’ fibre networks to offer their services to customers.

The regulator said the request, filed in March, “failed to provide sufficient evidence of irreparable harm.”

CRTC secretary-general Marc Morin delivered the response in a Friday letter to the coalition, which also includes TekSavvy, Eastlink, Cogeco Communications Inc. and the Competitive Network Operators of Canada.

The companies had argued that granting Canada’s Big Three internet carriers, including Bell itself, access to one another’s fibre networks would threaten the viability of independent internet service providers.

…read moire click the above source link