LMI April 2025-EN

Toronto City Council is meeting today to consider bylaw changes that would restrict our Charter-protected rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. Our union has already voiced strong opposition to these changes.

If passed, this bylaw could severely limit our ability to picket, protest, and take collective action—key tools we rely on to advocate for workers’ rights.

We stand with Progress Toronto in defending these fundamental freedoms. Please sign and share this urgent petition now:

https://www.progresstoronto.ca/petition-protect-our-freedom-to-picket-and-protest

Let’s act quickly to protect our rights.

In solidarity,

Tickets for Unifor’s membership appreciation day are now available online and can be purchased at www.canadaswonderland.com/unifor2025day.

Discounted tickets are as follows:

• $51.64 Ages 3 and up. Includes parking, admission, rides, and lunch at the Courtyard Buffet.
• $17.69 for Courtyard Buffet only (park admission required to gain entry).
• Free for kids under age 2.

A poster is attached below so it can be posted and circulated to members in the workplace.

Members are encouraged to wear their Unifor colours/swag. Please make sure to secure your tickets early.

Wonderland 2025 july

TORONTO – Unifor expects engagement from Bell Canada about the impact that the introduction of new cloud and workforce automation brand, Ateko, will have on workers.

The announcement of the new tech services brand is an indication of a digital shift in the company that leaves many questions unanswered for workers who have faced continual rounds of layoffs.

“While Bell picks up new tech companies, longtime employees face continued job insecurity and are left in the dark about the future direction of the company they helped to build,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “Unifor expects Bell to not only engage with our union around significant changes like the new Ateko brand but include unionized workers in these forward-looking expansions.”

For decades, Bell has hollowed out its workforce, including an October 2024 announcement to cut 120 jobs at Expertech, a June 2024 50-person job cut at Bell Media, a February 2024 4,800 person job-cut, and a 1,300-person cut in June 2023.

“Bell workers expect to be involved in conversation about the company’s rapid and expensive shift into the tech industry. But with the announcement of Ateko, and its stated goal of helping others streamline and modernize their operations,’ Bell seems not only set on continuing to cut their own workforce, but lead more Canadian companies to do the same,” said Daniel Cloutier, Unifor Quebec Director.

“We can forge a new relationship. By working together, Bell workers and the company can find long term solutions that protect workers and telco jobs while growing innovation in Bell’s stated tech goals,” added Payne.

In early 2024, Unifor launched the Shame on Bell campaign to call on the company to stop its contracting out and offshoring of telecom jobs, stop slashing Canadian newsrooms and reduce dividend payouts to reinvest in employee wellbeing, infrastructure, and job security.

Canada’s air transportation workers were stunned by U.S. President Donald Trump’s unprovoked and illegal trade war and his inflammatory comments threatening Canada’s sovereignty.

From the potential for a recession to the reorganization of travel away from the U.S., the actions of this U.S. administration have the potential to seriously impact our industry and the global economy.

Solidarity with Workers on the Front lines of the Trade War

We stand in solidarity with our fellow workers in the forestry, auto, steel and aluminum sectors who are on the front lines of this trade war. Many have been in this war since Trump’s first term as president when initial tariffs were imposed. Their livelihoods have already been severely impacted. We will fight with them side-by-side to build a resilient Canadian economy and protect our sovereignty.

Preparing to Welcome the World’s Travellers: Improve Jobs to Improve the Travel Experience

Actions at the border to search travellers’ phones and detain Canadian citizens, coupled with angry backlash towards global citizens who are in the U.S. for work or pleasure are just two reasons why travellers are choosing to reorient their plans away from the U.S. and towards other destinations, including Canada.

Reports from across the country have shown Canadians are severely reducing their air travel to the United States and increasing air travel both domestically and to other international destinations. The data bears this out. Statistics Canada data show that return trips to and from the United States by Canadian residents dropped nearly 20% in April 2025 compared to last year while return trips to other international destinations grew by 9.9%. Clearly, the preferences of Canadian air travellers are shifting. As the world reorients away from the United States towards travel and trade with other countries, we expect more international travellers will choose to visit Canada.

As aviation workers, we are ready to welcome the world’s travellers and be the gateway to our beautiful country.

Preparing for the increase in air travel, foreign and domestic, requires the industry do more to deal with the chaos many travellers continue to experience while transiting across Canada. Unifor’s Air Transportation Workers’ Charter of Rights and Freedoms lays out nine recommendations to strengthen the industry’s ability to meet customer needs through exceptional service provided by respected and well-resourced aviation workers.

Invest in Public Transportation Infrastructure to Overcome the Biggest Internal Trade Barrier – Geography

The biggest barrier to internal trade is geography. Canada is a vast and beautiful country with workers producing goods and services that Canadians need. Getting Canadian made products delivered to consumers from coast to coast to coast requires Canada overcome that distance through robust investments in transportation infrastructure that allows us to move goods and people across our own country in a smoother, safer and faster way.

Unifor calls on the federal government to strengthen the transportation sector and invest in public infrastructure.

Years of privatization and under-investment have left passengers and workers vulnerable, highlighting the urgent need for public investment in air and rail travel, as well as transit, to ensure reliable services and good jobs.

Privatization of public infrastructure cannot be a part of any response to the current climate. All levels of government must work together to invest in expanding public infrastructure in our communities and across the country.

Bold and Decisive Action Required

Now more than ever, the Canadian economy needs bold and decisive action.

We will continue to work with government and employers to build a resilient industry that supports good jobs and high-quality travel.

We will stand in solidarity with workers across the country who are directly in Trump’s line of fire.

And above all, we will work to end this economic threat that imperils the broader economy. We will coordinate with like-minded allies, and those willing to stand up for a brighter, more prosperous future.