Lana Payne joined labour leaders from across the private and public sectors to send a united message: Canada needs a worker-centred economic strategy that puts workers first, safeguards jobs, rebuilds homegrown industry, strengthens public services, and protects economic sovereignty.

TORONTO–Unifor is calling on all levels of government to take decisive action to protect Canada’s aerospace industry amid a new escalation in the Trump Administration’s trade war with Canada that threatens to levy tariffs on and decertify Bombardier Global series aircraft and all aircraft made in Canada.

“History is full of examples of the United States weakening and destabilizing Canadian aerospace manufacturing, from the Avro Arrow to the Bombardier C Series, and now Trump is threatening our world-class Global jet program. Canadian aerospace workers in Montreal, Toronto and beyond build cutting-edge aircraft that compete literally at the highest levels,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “Make no mistake, this latest threat is a continued attack on Canada’s industrial economy and good union jobs.”

Unifor is also concerned that this inflammatory escalation in the U.S.-initiated trade war against Canada will further undermine Canadian industrial capacity, good jobs, and national sovereignty, while dangerously politicizing airworthiness certification processes that exist to protect public safety.

“Politicizing aircraft certification is deeply troubling,” said Unifor Quebec Director Daniel Cloutier. “We are calling on the Canadian government to contact their U.S. counterparts immediately to defuse this situation and to take concrete action here at home to strengthen our resilience and protect our jobs.”

The union is urging the federal government to intervene and find a quick resolution that protects Canadian aerospace workers and the broader sector.

TORONTO/MONTREAL – Unifor members in the Bell Clerical bargaining units have ratified a new four-year collective agreement with Bell. The contract, effective December 1, 2025 to November 30, 2029, delivers wage increases, enhanced job protection, telework provisions, and a new oversight model to manage the impact of Artificial Intelligence in the workplace.

“This agreement is a testament to the strength and sophistication of our Bell Clerical members,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “I am so proud of the bargaining committee who, faced with a difficult landscape, successfully secured both immediate financial gains and critical workplace protections, including pioneering contract language to address AI.”

The new agreement, covering 3,000 members across Locals 6000, 6001, 6003, 8284, 6004, 6005, 6006, 6007, 6008, and 37 features a 2.7% wage increase in each year of the contract, retroactive to December 1, 2025 and the continuation of the Bell Workways Program for the duration of the contract, ensuring remote work remains protected. The agreement also established a Joint Committee on Artificial Intelligence, to review the introduction of AI in the workplace, alongside strengthened consultation requirements for any technological change.

“This agreement clearly demonstrates that, even in a context of rapid technological change, it is possible to protect jobs and improve working conditions through effective collective bargaining,” said Daniel Cloutier, Unifor Quebec Director. “Thanks to the steadfast determination of our Bell members, we were able to arrive at a result that provides stability, wage increases and an essential framework for the introduction of AI.”