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Revitalize Passenger Rail in Canada

Click the link below to Help get passenger rail service in Canada back on track.

https://backontrack.unifor.org/take_action

Our national public passenger rail system, VIA Rail, continues to suffer due to a lack in long-term government funding and investments, no legislative mandate and outdated equipment and infrastructure.

The elimination of routes and reduced frequency of service means that Canadians have fewer accessible transportation options, particularly in remote communities.

Further, the need to share tracks and give priority right of way access to freight is resulting in delays that can often stretch into days.
While countries, such as the U.S. and U.K., are making significant, historic investments in improving and enhancing their national passenger rail networks, Canada continues to slip further behind.

Canadians need a modern, affordable, reliable and safe passenger rail service. These investments can generate significant social, economic and environmental benefits.

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Union Meeting

Sunday, April 24, 2022

7:30pm – 9:00pm

Royal Canadian Legion, 9 Dawes Rd. Toronto.

 

****Masks are mandatory as per the venue rules****

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Bell expands pure fibre Internet access to Pickering

Source: https://www.bce.ca/news-and-media/releases?page=1&month=&year=&perpage=25

  • High-speed Internet services will reach approximately 21,000 additional homes and businesses in Pickering

PICKERING, ON, March 29, 2022 – Bell today announced the expansion of pure fibre Internet service to homes and businesses in urban and rural areas of Pickering. Part of Bell’s capital expenditure acceleration program for investment in national next-generation network infrastructure, the expansion program will bring all-fibre broadband access to approximately 21,000 additional locations in Pickering by 2025.

Fully funded by Bell, this broadband expansion program will provide fast and high-capacity 100% fibre connections with Internet download speeds of up to 1.5 Gbps and access to leading Bell services such as Fibe TV. Last year, Bell announced an investment of $1.7 billion in capital expenditures over two years to accelerate the rollout of its broadband fibre, 5G and rural networks and help drive Canada’s recovery from the COVID crisis.

This capital acceleration is in addition to the approximately $4 billion in capital expenditures Bell typically invests in broadband network infrastructure and expansion each year, and will significantly increase the connections in localities across Canada while creating additional employment as network construction activity speeds up.

“While the City of Pickering is experiencing significant residential and economic growth, there has been a long-standing digital divide with respect to our hamlets and rural areas. Now, more than ever, the need for fast, reliable, and affordable Internet access is an enormous priority for both our residents and businesses, and I thank Bell for making this very significant investment in our community.”

Click the above link for more….

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Child care deal marks a generational turning point for Canadian families

 

TORONTO-The Ontario government’s announcement that it has finally joined every other province and territory across Canada in signing the federal child care plan marks a long-overdue turning point for Canadian families.

“Every parent across Canada having access to affordable, accessible, quality child care will be the result of decades of advocacy, of sacrifice, of struggle,” said Naureen Rizvi, Ontario Regional Director. “This child care plan will be a turning point for Canadian families and serve to strengthen our communities, nurture our children, and transform the lives of child care workers.”

Unifor is an active champion for access to affordable child care and has worked in coalition with advocacy groups to advocate for families and child care workers. Unifor works to improve communities and workplaces through other equity-building policies and programs.

“Providing access to child care is providing access to employment, to independence, to security, to self-fulfillment, and to equity in our workplaces and everywhere decisions are made,” said Tracey Ramsey, Unifor Women’s Department Director. “We will be watching closely to ensure the agreement serves the needs of Ontario families and workers, and not just the needs of the Ford government.”

Savings for Ontario parents are to start as of April 1, 2022, whereas provinces that signed earlier, like Nova Scotia, are making the rebate to parents retroactive to January 1, 2022.

“Ontario families should not have had to wait for today’s photo op with the Premier, and will actually pay for this delay by not seeing discounted fees until April – but now it’s time to get to work to provide them the same access to child care as every other family across Canada,” said Ramsey. “This victory belongs to all the parents, grandparents, caregivers, Early Childhood Educators who all provide care that for too long has been undervalued, under-appreciated and under-paid.”

Parent fees for child care in Ontario are some of the highest in the country and, until today, Ontario had been the only jurisdiction in Canada not to sign the federal child care program that will deliver $10-a-day child care by 2026.

Unifor is Canada’s largest union in the private sector and represents 315,000 workers in every major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad, and strives to create progressive change for a better future.

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Trans Day of Visibility 2022

Unifor recognizes and invites all members to celebrate the International Transgender Day of Visibility on March 31, 2022. This annual day celebrates the value and resilience of transgender people both within the union and around the world.

Trans people are those who identify with a gender other than the one assigned at birth and exist within all countries, communities and religious groups around the world. This identity is separate from an individual’s sexual orientation.

Transphobia and anti-trans discrimination remains prevalent in Canada and is closely associated with growing far-right movements and political parties. This makes workers’ commitments to equity and justice more urgent and demands that we celebrate and build off tangible wins.

On December 8, 2021, Canada’s conversion therapy law, passed unanimously by the House of Commons, received Royal Assent.

Activists and survivors from across the country campaigned for decades to discredit and ban this dangerous practice.

The fight for trans rights, dignity, and equality is not yet won. The continued need for solidarity and allyship with the trans community is a must for workers. As workers, we understand the importance of allyship. As an ally you inform those around you that you are supportive and attentive to the needs of the trans community. We must never forget that our allyship is predicated on actively listening and making change with, and for, trans communities.

A slew of anti-trans laws adopted across the United States reverberated in LGBTQ2 communities and families in recent months. These laws should serve as a reminder to all workers of the fragility of legal protections, and the importance of continued, devoted solidarity for trans, non-binary and two-spirit people.

Unifor wishes to honour trans, non-binary and two-spirit members, who continue to help build our union and strengthen our movement. Our union and society are made better, more educated, and compassionate through their contributions and labour.

Unifor asks members to share a message of support and solidarity on the Trans Day of Visibility.

Click here to download poster

Click here to download shareable

Unifor celebrates the lives of trans and non-binary members