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Unifor Statement on International Women’s Day 2020

International Women’s Day (IWD) on March 8 is a global day of celebration of women and women’s achievements. It was started by working women to call attention to poor pay and working conditions. It grew to include a call for women’s right to vote and stand for office. It is now a day to celebrate equality gains and recommit to action and persistence toward full equality for all equity-seeking groups.

Eliminating harassment and violence in the world of work has been a longstanding priority for Unifor. Violence and harassment is unacceptable and incompatible with decent work, and a violation of human rights. On this IWD, we are joining the international movement for ratification of International Labour Organization Convention 190 and Recommendation 206.

This first-ever global treaty on harassment and violence is a huge victory for workers and the trade union movement. Until now, there was no law at the international level that set a baseline for taking action to address these issues.

The new Convention acknowledges the impact of violence and harassment in the world of work, and the right of everyone to a world of work free of violence, including gender-based violence.

This Convention covers the world of work, which applies not only to the workplace but also in spaces and situations linked to work such as work-related travel, training, events and commuting to and from work. It also deals with the risks brought on by new information and communication technologies.

We recognize the increased harassment and violence particular groups of women face including Indigenous women, women with disabilities, racialized and trans women.

The job now is to get Canada to ratify and implement this Convention. The federal government has set this a priority but needs the cooperation of the provinces. You can contact federal Minister of Labour Filomena Tassi and your provincial labour minister and tell them you are in favour of ratification of Convention 190!

Take action on IWD and please tag us in your posts on Twitter @UnifortheUnion, and on Facebook and Instagram at @UniforCanada so we can share your pictures.

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Unifor members protest Co-op AGM in Saskatoon

Union members were speaking to people as they entered the building for the AGM

CBC News ·

A Unifor member carries flags during a demonstration at TCU Place in Saskatoon’s Central Business District on Feb. 29, 2020. There, members are trying to relay information to board members who are in Saskatoon for the FCL’s annual general meeting. (Albert Couillard/CBC )

Red and white Unifor flags were flying high in Saskatoon’s downtown on Saturday as members of the union protested outside Federated Co-op Limited’s Annual General Meeting at TCU Place.

Unifor and FCL have been locked in an ugly labour dispute that has seen people arrested, worker camps established and bad blood formed between the two parties. Unifor Local 594 members, who work at the Co-op Refinery Complex in Regina, have been locked out since Dec. 5, 2019.

“All the Co-op Canada boards across Western Canada are here, they’re the ones that are funding this lockout and we’re here to try and wake them up a little bit,” said Kevin Bittman, president of Unifor Local 594.

The dispute between the two parties is mainly focused on the issue of pensions. A previous contract included a defined benefit pension for workers.

Now the refinery is moving toward a defined contribution plan. The union says the change would amount to taking away workers’ pensions. The refinery says it is trying to remain competitive.

Kevin Bittman, president of Unifor Local 594, was in Saskatoon with roughly 100 other Unifor members who were protesting outside of TCU Place during the Federated Co-op Limited AGM. (Albert Couillard/CBC)

There were roughly 100 members of Unifor Local 594 from Regina in the city for the protest.

Bittman hopes the protest sends a clear message to board members: “It’s time to start bargaining in good faith instead of moving the goalposts away from the deal — let’s get a deal done.”

He said Unifor members have been speaking with people attending the AGM as they enter the building.

A statement from Federated Co-op Limited indicated the company didn’t take issue with the gathering.

“They have a right to share information and we have a mandate to operate our business for our local co-ops,” FCL said in the statement. “That’s what’s happening here today.”

In the statement, Federated Co-op Limited said it does take issue with blockades that were set up in Yorkton earlier this week, with the company calling the blockade illegal.

Read the full article fron CBC

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Alberta budget a disappointment for workers

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February 27, 2020 – 12:00 AM

EDMONTON—The Kenney government’s continued pursuit of a balanced budget at any cost will continue to harm workers and their families, says Unifor, Canada’s largest private sector union.

“The speed at which Jason Kenney wants to balance the budget is purely ideological and will do significant harm to Alberta’s most vulnerable,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “There is simply no economic reason whatsoever to cut funding to schools and hospitals as Premier Kenney insists.”

“Alberta’s families depend on public services, but Jason Kenney’s biggest donors depend on corporate tax cuts,” said Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor Western Regional Director. “Premier Kenney has delivered another ideological budget that will exacerbate Alberta’s social and economic challenges.”

The United Conservative Party government’s second budget maintains the social program cuts announced in October 2019 and also holds the line on huge corporate tax cuts despite ongoing job losses. Alberta has lost nearly 50,000 full-time jobs under Kenney, and Unifor believes public sector cuts in today’s budget will grow that figure.

“Tax cuts haven’t worked. Education cuts make matters worse. When will this government realize that Albertans are not lab rats for experiments in austerity?” said McGarrigle.

McGarrigle says the provincial government’s revenue projections are so optimistic that they likely mask future budget cuts. “The Kenney government is betting the future of Alberta on fantastical revenue projections that are unlikely to materialize—and Kenney will make Albertans pay,” said McGarrigle.