December is Universal Human Rights month

human rights

https://nationaldaycalendar.com/universal-human-rights-month-december/

Universal Human Rights Month is an annual designation observed in December. This month and every month to follow, people all across the globe are encouraged to come together and stand up for equality, justice, and the dignity of all humans. December is a time to honor the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, an international document stating the basic rights and fundamental freedoms to which all human beings are entitled. These rights include freedom from discrimination, the right to equality, and the right to be considered innocent until proven guilty.

 

Use #UniversalHumanRights, #HumanRights, and #StandUp4HumanRights to post on social media.

Statement on the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women

Jerry Dias

On December 6 we mark the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women. This day is marked every year in Canada to remember the 14 women who were killed at École Polytechnique in Montreal on December 6, 1989, and to recognize the continuing struggle for societal equality between women and men.

This year, Unifor commemorates the 30th anniversary of the Montreal Massacre by taking time to reflect on the gender-based violence and harassment that unacceptably continues in our society and to commit to individual and collective actions to make change.

The 2019 Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Inquiry report set out 231 Calls for Justice. At our Constitutional Convention, we adopted a resolution to call upon federal, provincial, territorial and municipal governments to fully adopt the Report and implement the Calls for Justice. We also committed to using our education programs to further truth and reconciliation, including acknowledging the reality of violence against Indigenous women, girls and two-spirited people.

Unifor will be pressing for Canada’s ratification of the International Labour Organization Convention on Violence and Harassment in the World of Work (C.190). This Convention provides a clear framework for action. It is based on a future of work grounded in dignity and respect, free from violence and harassment. This marks the first time the universal right to a world of work free from violence and harassment has been clearly articulated in an international treaty. We join the international trade union movement in calling for swift ratification around the world.

Unifor is also calling for Canada to develop a National Action Plan on Gender-Based Violence. A National Action Plan would ensure a shared understanding of the root causes of gender-based violence as well as put in place coordinated and effective efforts across the federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal levels.

We know that in addition to taking on violence and harassment directly, we must also push for systemic gender equality initiatives that give women and girls the economic security to make their own choices in life; initiatives such as access to good jobs, pay equity and universal child care.

Strong equity laws, social programs and policies are key components of eliminating gender-based violence. As a union we commit to striving for them, not just on December 6, but every day.

BTS 2020 Vacation Selections Starts December 1 2019

The vacation portal will open on December 1 2019. Be sure to put your requests in before the deadline 5:00pm January 15 2020.

The posted vacation will be January 31 2020.

For more information refer to Article(s) 19 and LOA#3

Collective_agreement_BTS_2018-2022_Ontario.pdf

BTS Clerical

For more information refer to Article(s) 18 and LOA#5

Collective-Agreement-BTS-Clerical-Jan-7-2019-to-Jan-6-2023.pdf

 

Students and workers celebrate successful legal challenge of Ford’s Student Choice Initiative

November 22, 2019 – 12:00 AM

 

TORONTO—Unifor stood in solidarity with elected student leaders from the Canadian Federation of Students and the York Federation of Students at a media conference this morning to announce the successful legal challenge of the Doug Ford government’s Student Choice Initiative.

“From day one, we called on Doug Ford to scrap this unlawful attack on Ontario’s post-secondary students and institutions,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “We welcome the Ontario divisional court’s unanimous and decisive ruling that the governments’ attack violated the bedrock principles on which Ontario universities have been governed for more than 100 years.”

The Ford government sought to undermine student organizations across the province and the democratically allocated student funds for a wide range of services at post-secondary institutions across Ontario.

The funds went directly to benefit student unions, campus radio stations and newspapers, sexual assault survivors’ services, women’s and LGBTQIA-positive spaces, Public Interest Research Groups and many others.

“The Ford government has been dealt a serious blow in its attempt to silence students and de-fund groups that disagree with their conservative agenda,” said Naureen Rizvi, Unifor Ontario Director. “I am proud that workers and students stood shoulder to shoulder to fight for our fundamental rights to organize.”

The Ford government directly threatened students’ unions across the province by creating conditions to defund them, intervening in institution and student union independence.

Welcome 1996-O Newly Trained Stewards

The Local Executive is very pleased to welcome newly trained STEWARDS of the BTS craft and BTS Clerical units in 1996-O.

Please join us in welcoming these individuals who share the same focus and have made a commitment to proudly represent the Members of Local 1996-O.

The Executive would also like to extend a thank you to all the Stewards for the continuous work they do on behalf of the members they serve on a daily basis.

 

Local 1996-O wish to welcome newly trained stewards in the following locations

Ashley Saini – 416 Core

Sukhdeep Sidhu – 416 Core

Charnele Bryan – Argentia (Clerical)

Manroop Singh – 905C Brampton

Sumit Modi – 905C Brampton

 

In Solidarity,

Lee,  Sanjay,  Brian,  Chris