The deadline is fast approaching to get your application submitted.

We in Local 1996-O are concerned about the lives of our members’ families and their education.  Due to high tuition fees we recognize that post-secondary education is out of reach for many working-class. To assist, we’ve established 2 scholarships worth $1,000.00 each. One in memory of the late Brother, Milos Petrasinovic and Brother, Alwa Marcelle.

The scholarships are awarded to sons/daughters of Unifor 1996-O members in good standing.  Students must be entering their first year of full-time post-secondary education (university, community college, technological institute, trade school, etc.) in a public Canadian institution. 

These are entrance Scholarships only and are not renewable for students entering subsequent years of study.

Deadline for submitting an application is May 31 2019

The selection of candidates will be chosen no later than June 28, 2019 and will be final.

Click here to download the 2019 application.

Members,

On May 17, 2019, International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (IDAHOT), Unifor encourages members to build community with queer and trans members, and to support Pride activism globally.

At home and around the world, members of the LGBTQ community are increasingly scapegoated and targeted by oppressive and corrupt governments and political candidates.

While the arc of history continues to advance sexual orientation and gender diversity rights, the work is far from done.

As of March 2019, 70 UN member states, or 35 per cent of all members still have laws that criminalize consensual lesbian, gay, or bisexual relationships. Members of the queer and trans community around the globe face state-sponsored homophobia and transphobia.

Where state-sponsored homophobia and transphobia is present, social and political violence follows.

In a world failing to address a growing refugee crisis, LGBTQ refugees face increased violence and discrimination when attempting to find safety or safe haven.

Rainbow refugees are at risk when making claims in counties with state-sponsored homophobia, and often have difficulty ‘proving’ gender identity or sexual orientation as the basis for discrimination, if they were forced to be closeted in the past.

Unifor stands against all oppression and discrimination that seeks to divide working people and reinforce power structures that limit the ability of workers to unite — across the country and around the globe.

The growing backlash against LGBTQ people is deeply troubling, and requires all members to speak out in support of the global queer and trans community.

Make your workplace a safer space for LGBTQ comrades.  Put up the IDAHOT poster all year-round.

To take action to assist the growing crisis facing LGBTQ refugees, connect with organizations such as Rainbow Railroad.

In solidarity,

Jerry Dias
National President

B.C.’s gold rush fueled the first big wave of Chinese immigrants more than one hundred and fifty years ago and others from across the Asian continent followed. Since then, Asian Canadians have played a significant role in shaping our country by enriching its diversity, economy and culture.

During May, Unifor celebrates their contributions, as we feature members from these communities and highlight their activism.

Asian and South Asian Heritage Month aims to combat racism and discrimination. Unfortunately, the Canadian government’s treatment of early immigrants is a shameful part of our history.

Responding to anti-immigration sentiment in 1885, the federal parliament passed the Chinese Immigration Act, otherwise known as a head tax. All Chinese entering Canada had to pay a $50 fee. By 1903, the fee rose to $500.

On the eve of the Second World War, in May 1914, the Komagatu Maru sailed into Vancouver, with passengers from India. It was denied docking under the continuous journey regulation of Canada’s Immigration Act, a law used to deter immigrants from Asia. After two months living onboard in squalid conditions, most of the passengers were forced to return to India, where 19 died in a clash with police.

Shortly after Japan’s entry into the Second World War, Canadians of Japanese origin were forcibly removed from their homes on the west coast. They were placed in camps, despite very little evidence to show that they were a security threat.

Today, Canadians with Asian ancestry comprise the largest and fastest growing visible minority group in Canada, with 17.7% of the population. Many have overcome great adversity to live here and generations of hard work have transformed communities and helped make Canada prosperous.

As the union for everyone, Unifor is committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion and to breaking down barriers and stereotypes.  To combat racism, Unifor recently held nation-wide roundtables where participants learned strategies to fight discrimination in workplaces and communities.

In solidarity,

Jerry Dias
National President

Bell’s business plan is to cut good jobs to increase profit.

Over the past 10 years, Bell has slashed the number of unionized employees in nearly every unit. This is not a well kept secret, with Bell employees witnessing the job erosion through various tactics. Erosion continues despite all bargaining committees trying to address this at the bargaining table.

Where did the jobs go? Bell has automated some, and sent others overseas or to domestic contractors. But that’s a Real Talk for a different day.

The only job growth in the last 10 years has been in the Bell Technical Solutions (BTS) group. A company that was founded to contract out technical work for lower pay.

Unifor has fought to defend members in BTS and raise standards for them. Now, even this prosperous unit has been passed over for the next major project Bell is in the process of launching.

Read more here