January 29, 2025

 

Premier Doug Ford has called an early election. Ontarians are heading to the polls on Thursday, February 27.

“This election is an opportunity to tell candidates what workers expect from their next government, said Unifor Ontario Regional Director Samia Hashi. “In this election, Unifor calls on all parties to protect workers, secure the economy, and save public services.”

View Samia’s video message: 

“This election is about unprecedented challenges. The looming threat of tariffs has sent shockwaves through Ontario’s economy. Voters must seriously consider who we want negotiating on our behalf and who we choose to manage public services and support for workers through the coming crisis,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.

Sign up to get involved. Unifor will share ways for members to connect with candidates and have conversations around what workers need from their next government.

Unifor calls on all members in Ontario to vote to defend our union jobs, our government services, and our province.

Protecting workers and securing the economy:

• When we defend our jobs, we ensure that our economy remains resilient and robust.
• Strengthening worker protections with anti-scab legislation and emergency income support helps ensure workers weather the storm ahead.
• By voting, we can elect leaders who will show a united front against the tariff threat and support workers who are harmed in this fight.

Saving public services

• As Ontario’s government takes on President Trump, we must stop making life harder here at home. A shortage of family doctors and funding and staffing crises across the board make good health care hard to access.
• Child care is one of the few expenses that has decreased for many families, and those investments need to be maintained.

Sign up for more information about connecting with candidates about the issues that matter, advanced polling, mail-in ballots, and important Election Day information.

Bell Local Presidents

In 2025, telecom greed is out, and connecting Canadians is in.

I’m excited to announce that Unifor is bringing our vision for better telecom services to communities across the country.

Billboards are set to launch on Monday in the following communities near you!

• Manitoba: Donald St & River Ave, Winnipeg
• Ontario: Leslie St & Eglinton Ave, North York
• Ontario: Fanshawe Park Rd E and N Centre Rd, London
• Ontario: Carling Ave & Kirkwood Ave, Ottawa
• Quebec: Rue De La Montagne & Boul De Maisonneuve, Montréal
• Quebec: Autoroute 40 Est & Boul Bourget, Montréal
• New Brunswick: 168 Rothesay Ave, Saint John
• New Brunswick: 777 Elmwood Drive, Moncton
• Nova Scotia: Windmill Road west of Akerley Blvd, Dartmouth
• Newfoundland: Kenmount Rd & Ladysmith Dr, St. John’s
• Newfoundland: Topsail Rd & Burgeo St, St. John’s (starting January 27)

Over the next month, keep an eye out for these billboards on your drives!

We’ll be continuing to spark conversation online as well, by sharing ads featuring the same messages with Unifor members and the public.

This stage in the campaign is an exciting way to kick-off what will be a significant year for telecom workers. We’ll also be working hard to bring forward a new national vision for telecommunications in Canada, and diving into our common and unique bargaining priorities.

Stay tuned for more updates and share photos of the billboards if you spot them out in the wild!

In solidarity,

Lana Payne
National President

January 30, 2025

 

This February, Unifor proudly celebrates Black History Month by honoring the remarkable achievements and contributions of our members who strengthen our union, communities, and country every single day. We recognize the important work of Unifor members, BIWOC committee activists, and Racial Justice Advocates who champion equity and inclusion year round.

The 2025 Canadian theme for the month, Black Legacy and Leadership: Celebrating Canadian History and Uplifting Future Generations, reminds us of the deep, enduring impact of Black workers in building a fairer, more equitable society. From the fight for civil rights to organizing for safer workplaces and better pay, Black workers have profoundly shaped the labour movement and set a strong foundation for solidarity and progress.

The brilliance, resilience, and leadership of Unifor members inspire us all. Their work fosters fairness and unites us in times of division. These stories of triumph and perseverance resonate across the union and our society, reminding us that progress is never guaranteed—it must be defended, especially in times of adversity.

As the rights that generations of workers fought tirelessly to embed in our workplaces and communities are increasingly called into question, Unifor reaffirms its commitment to building worker power to combat hate, discrimination, and division. We reject attempts to divide working people and remain steadfast in ensuring that every worker is treated with dignity, respect, and fairness.

Economic challenges and social uncertainty demand that we come together, drawing strength from the profound progress our union has made for working people and our collective resolve to create a fairer and more just society.

This February, Unifor will celebrate Black excellence by sharing the stories of Black members and their important contributions to workplaces and communities from coast to coast to coast. These voices are vital in shining a light on the transformative power of unity and in driving the fight for justice, equity, and inclusion forward.

Unifor encourages all members to take this month to learn, reflect, and act—because the work of advancing equity and combating oppression is a shared responsibility that shapes the better world, we all need and deserve.

January 23, 2025

 

On this solemn occasion of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Unifor stands in solidarity to honor the memory of the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust, alongside the millions of others who suffered and perished under Nazi persecution. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest and most infamous Nazi concentration and extermination camp during World War II. The anniversary is a powerful reminder of the atrocities born from hatred and bigotry and our collective role to combat antisemitism and hate.

We must confront the alarming resurgence of antisemitism across the globe. This rising tide of hatred and discrimination demands vigilance and action from all of us, especially from unions and working people who play a critical role in building inclusive and equitable societies.

The Holocaust serves as a stark warning of the devastating consequences of unchecked prejudice and the necessity of combating hatred in all its forms. Labour unions like Unifor have a unique responsibility to champion diversity, equity, and inclusion in our workplaces and communities. Together, we can build solidarity across differences, fostering a society where every individual is respected and valued.

Unifor reaffirms our commitment to combatting antisemitism, racism, and all forms of discrimination. Through education and awareness, we aim to equip our members and communities with the tools to challenge hatred, promote understanding, and create spaces of tolerance, respect, and belonging.

This day also honors the resilience of Holocaust survivors, whose stories teach us about the strength of the human spirit and the necessity of standing united against oppression. Their testimonies must continue to guide our actions and inspire our resolve to fight for justice and equality.

As we commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day, we call on our members, partners, and allies to join us in this important work. Together we honor the victims and survivors by remaining steadfast in our commitment to fight hatred, build bridges, and ensure that the lessons of the Holocaust are never forgotten.

Together, we remember, we learn, and we organize for a world free from hate, where solidarity and justice prevail.

January 21, 2025

WASHINGTON— Unifor warns that Canada must act to protect workers and Canadian jobs amid the continued threat of U.S. tariffs in the Trump era.
“The looming tariff threat serves as a real wake up call on the need to mitigate the risk to Canadian workers,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
President Trump indicated that he may move ahead with a 25 per cent across-the-board tariff on Canadian goods as soon as February 1, 2025.
“The reality is that Trump could impose punishing tariffs at any time while continuing to make demands for concessions from Canada. This intentional strategy of constant chaos and the mere threat of tariffs is damaging to jobs, investment and our economy,” said Payne. “Canada has to do a number of things to make sure that it’s prepared to respond to that threat on February 1 or at any time during Trump’s presidency. We must initiate policies to shore up worker protections and industries.”
Payne, appointed to the Prime Minister’s Council on Canada-U.S. Relations and a member of the industry-led Canada U.S. Trade Council, joined Canadian stakeholders at the Canadian Embassy in Washington D.C. on inauguration day to advocate for Canadian workers.
Unifor outlined pre-emptive actions in a letter to Prime Minister Trudeau, including enhanced income supports for workers to prepare for a potential rise in unemployment with improved access to Employment Insurance benefits and other special income assistance programs. Better management of strategic national resources through industrial policy and the establishment of reciprocal procurement policies for U.S. suppliers with leveraging of public purchasing for industrial development.
In the event of U.S. tariffs, the union recommends targeted and strategic tariff retaliation and emergency relief programs to mitigate risk of layoff and sustain companies in their operations.
“Unifor has been clear that a 25% tariff would be devastating to both Canadian and American workers,” added Payne. “We cannot afford to let down our guard and taking proactive measures to protect Canadian jobs just makes sense.”