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December 19, 2025 by 1996-O Executive

Titan Tool & Die members upping Christmas cheer despite being locked out for over 120 days

Operation Christmas Cheer

December 12, 2025

The 27 locked-out members of Titan Tool & Die won’t let grinches, the owners of the company who have abandoned their workers, intending to move production south to Michigan, U.S., dampen their solidarity and holiday cheer.

Operation Christmas Cheer, led by founder Cassandra Robinson, visited the Windsor, Ont. picket line from Ottawa on Dec. 11 to deliver gifts for the children of the Titan Tool members, along with a generous collection of goods for the locked-out members.

“Our members have been locked out since Aug. 11 for refusing to accept less than they’re worth, and having Operation Christmas Cheer helps them during the holiday season, showing them that Unifor and the community has their backs,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne.

Unifor Local 444 and the Windsor and District Labour Council also stepped up with contributions of food and donations.

Last week, Ontario Regional Council, along with the national union, locals and personal donations, raised over $229,000 for Titan Tool & Die members.

Unifor Local 195 President Emile Nabbout noted this strike is the longest labour dispute in Windsor’s auto history.

“The Christmas spirit for Titan Tool members in Windsor will not be ignored,” said Nabbout.

“The workers of Titan Tool & Die refuse to give up on Canadian manufacturing, Canadian jobs, and Canadian dignity. Our local community and Titan Tool members are truly thankful for this outpouring of generosity and support.”

Filed Under: Uncategorised

December 19, 2025 by 1996-O Executive

Honouring the contributions of migrants and respecting their rights

December 12, 2025

On International Migrants Day, Unifor recognizes and celebrates the invaluable contributions of migrants across Canada and around the world.

This year’s theme, “One City, Many Journeys – Honouring Migrants and Shaping a Shared Future”, is a reminder that migrant workers are integral to our workplaces, our communities, and our collective future.

From international students to temporary foreign workers, Unifor is proud to represent migrant members in sectors such as agriculture and food processing, health care, manufacturing, transportation, retail, hospitality and more.

Every day, migrant workers support our economy and strengthen the social fabric of this country—caring for our loved ones, growing and harvesting our food, and helping build the infrastructure that sustains our communities.

Yet despite their essential role, migrant workers continue to face precarious conditions and systemic barriers that increase the risk of abuse, exploitation and unsafe working environments. The lack of permanent status leaves too many living in uncertainty and fear.

With the federal government moving to restrict temporary migrant residency, an estimated three million temporary migrants may lose their immigration status in Canada—including many of our members.

As a union, we know that workplace divides only benefit employers and weaken worker power. Unifor is committed to protecting the rights of all workers, regardless of status.

Equal rights and fair treatment are not privileges—they are fundamental to dignity at work and a stronger, more inclusive labour movement. To support this work, Unifor has developed a practical toolkit to help Locals better assist migrant members in their workplaces, communities and union spaces.

This work is part of a broader global struggle. Today, the movement of people across borders continues to grow, with UN estimates showing 304 million migrants worldwide—nearly double the number in 1990. People migrate for many reasons: to pursue decent work, education, family reunification, or to escape conflict, climate disaster and life-threatening conditions.

Yet, despite international legal protections, we are witnessing an alarming increase in anti-migrant policies and rhetoric. Arbitrary detentions and deportations in the United States, tightening of asylum rules across Europe, and the rise of right-wing anti-migrant political forces all demonstrate the significant threats migrant communities face.

In Canada, we are also seeing troubling policy directions. Measures such as Bill C-12 raise red flags for advocates, who warn that it could weaken human rights protections for refugees and migrant communities. When governments restrict rights for one group, history shows that others are not far behind. It is crucial that we confront these shifts with solidarity and organized resistance. Defending migrant rights is defending worker rights.

At the same time, many countries are moving to curb migration while cutting back on international aid and development funding—policies that risk deepening global inequality and driving even more displacement. Instead of building barriers, governments must commit to solutions that centre human dignity, fairness, and lasting security.

Through the Unifor Social Justice Fund, we continue to support initiatives that defend migrant rights and provide direct assistance—from British Columbia to Nova Scotia, across the U.S.–Mexico border, and on the shores of Greece. Solidarity is not confined by borders, and neither is our commitment to justice.

On International Migrants Day, we honour migrant workers, celebrate their contributions and recommit to the fight for equal rights, permanent status and safe, decent work for all. A fair future is only possible when no worker is left behind.

Unifor stands with migrant workers—today and every day.

Filed Under: Uncategorised

December 8, 2025 by 1996-O Executive

Bell Canada ‘unreasonable’ with vaccine mandates for remote workers:

Source: https://www.hrreporter.com

In a decision affecting more than 400 Bell Canada employees, an arbitrator has ruled that while the telecom giant’s mandatory vaccination policy was “generally reasonable” during the pandemic, placing exclusively remote workers on unpaid leave crossed the line.

The Nov. 24, 2025 award, involving Unifor locals and multiple Bell entities, establishes June 30, 2022 as the date when continuing vaccine mandates became unreasonable as scientific evidence shifted.

The case consolidates over 300 grievances filed by employees who were either placed on unpaid administrative leave for refusing vaccination or claim they were coerced into compliance. No employee was terminated.

Remote work changes the equation

Arbitrator Francine Lamy found that Bell acted unreasonably when it placed employees working exclusively from home on unpaid leave starting Feb. 1, 2022, despite having no requirement to return to the office. Three employees won their grievances on this basis alone.

click the source link for more…

Filed Under: Uncategorised

December 8, 2025 by 1996-O Executive

Arbitral decision – Grievances challenging the mandatory vaccination policy

Mise à jour – Dossier vaccination 10-02-23-e lv 1

2025-11-24 Arbitration Award Bell vs Unifor ND-23-2003 EN 1

Filed Under: Uncategorised

December 8, 2025 by 1996-O Executive

Bell’s non-compliance with the Wireless Code – CRTC

Source: https://crtc.gc.ca/eng

Dear Philippe Gauvin,

Thank you for the letter from Bell Canada and its flanker brand Virgin Plus (collectively, Bell) dated 22 April 2025 informing the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (the Commission) of Bell’s intention to start selling locked cellphones. According to Bell, this practice is in response to an increase in crime at its points of sale.

The Commission acknowledges the importance of ensuring the safety and security of customers and employees at retail outlets. The Commission, however, considers that Bell has not demonstrated that the practice of locking cellphones for up to 60 days after purchase is a necessary and proportionate response in this case. Specifically, Bell has not demonstrated that this practice is effective, nor that it has exhausted alternative solutions that comply with the Wireless Code (the Code). The Commission is concerned that Bell has opted to disregard a key consumer protection outlined in the Code, which is not in the best interest of consumers.

To address these concerns and help protect consumers, this letter sets out the Commission’s determinations on Bell’s practice of locking cellphones for up to 60 days after purchase.

Background

As you know, the Code’s rules on device unlocking require service providers to provide cellphones to customers unlocked at or before the time of sale. This rule was created to contribute to a more dynamic marketplace to the benefit of Canadians, by making it easier for consumers to take advantage of competitive offers.

After the Commission was informed of Bell’s practice, Commission staff asked Bell, in a letter dated 9 May 2025, to provide additional information and to explain how Bell would ensure that it remained in compliance with the Code.

In response, Bell stated that the practice of providing locked cellphones complies with the Code, because the Code does not indicate a specific moment at which they must be unlocked. Bell indicated that locking cellphones is in the best interest of consumers and is necessary to address an increase in crime and financial loss experienced by the wireless industry. Should the Commission disagree with that position, Bell requested that the Commission issue a decision to temporarily allow Bell and other providers to maintain this practice and launch a proceeding on an expedited basis to consider changes to the Code.

Commission’s decision…..

Click the source link for full article

Filed Under: Uncategorised

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