International Metalworkers' Federation

Unifor and Aleafia Health enter exclusive agreement to support medical cannabis coverage for members

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, January 21, 2021
Trade unions, Trade unions in Canada, Health sciences, International Federation of Journalists, International Metalworkers' Federation, International Transport Workers' Federation, Unifor, Medical cannabis, Cannabis and religion, Pharmaceutical sciences

TORONTO, Jan. 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Unifor and Aleafia Health Inc. (TSX: AH, OTC: ALEAF), have entered into an exclusive 10-year agreement to support union members, retirees and their eligible dependents who receive medical cannabis insurance coverage through Unifors collective bargaining agreements.

Key Points: 
  • TORONTO, Jan. 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Unifor and Aleafia Health Inc. (TSX: AH, OTC: ALEAF), have entered into an exclusive 10-year agreement to support union members, retirees and their eligible dependents who receive medical cannabis insurance coverage through Unifors collective bargaining agreements.
  • "Unifor members across the country deserve access to the benefits of medical cannabis coverage through their benefits.
  • As a union we will support our local bargaining committees to add this coverage where possible," said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.
  • Aleafia brings unique national scale, organization and expertise to provide union members, retirees and their eligible dependents with access to medical cannabis product insurance reimbursement and physician-led cannabinoid therapy.

USW Welcomes Biden Administration

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, January 20, 2021
Trade unions, Presidency of Joe Biden, Biden family, Executive branch of the United States government, Canadian Labour Congress, International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions, International Metalworkers' Federation, United Steelworkers, Joe Biden, Articles

PITTSBURGH, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --The United Steelworkers (USW) International President Tom Conway issued the following statement today in response to Joe Biden's inauguration:

Key Points: 
  • PITTSBURGH, Jan. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --The United Steelworkers (USW) International President Tom Conway issued the following statement today in response to Joe Biden's inauguration:
    "The USW congratulates Joe Biden on today becoming the 46th president of the United States and welcomes his vision and experience as our country faces unparalleled challenges.
  • "The new administration is extremely qualified to address these crises.
  • "President Biden has long been a friend of our union and of all working people.
  • The USW is excited to work with his administration as together we put our country back on the path toward health and widespread economic opportunity."

Unifor members at CAMI ratify agreement with General Motors

Retrieved on: 
Monday, January 18, 2021
Mergers and acquisitions, Companies, Fiat, Trade unions, International Metalworkers' Federation, International Transport Workers' Federation, Chrysler, Unifor, Ingersoll, Ontario, Ratification, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

INGERSOLL, ON, Jan. 18, 2021 /CNW/ - Members of Unifor Local 88 who work at the CAMI Assembly Plant in Ingersoll, Ontario have voted by 91% to ratify a new agreement with General Motors that brings $1 billion in investments to begin large scale production of electric commercial delivery vans.

Key Points: 
  • INGERSOLL, ON, Jan. 18, 2021 /CNW/ - Members of Unifor Local 88 who work at the CAMI Assembly Plant in Ingersoll, Ontario have voted by 91% to ratify a new agreement with General Motors that brings $1 billion in investments to begin large scale production of electric commercial delivery vans.
  • "This is the result of collaboration with the Ontario and federal governments, and General Motors.
  • I want to thank them and the Local 88 Master Bargaining Committee for working so hard to secure jobs for our members and create new ones for this community," said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.
  • This agreement brings the total investment negotiated by Unifor to nearly $6 billion after agreements were ratified with General Motors, Ford and Fiat Chrysler in 2020 that also included support from the federal and Ontario governments.

Electric commercial van production coming to CAMI Assembly if GM deal ratified

Retrieved on: 
Saturday, January 16, 2021
Trade unions, International Metalworkers' Federation, International Transport Workers' Federation, International Federation of Journalists, Unifor, Companies, General Motors

"This tentative deal delivers significant investment, new products, new jobs, and job security, achieving our union's key bargaining priorities during these challenging times," said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.

Key Points: 
  • "This tentative deal delivers significant investment, new products, new jobs, and job security, achieving our union's key bargaining priorities during these challenging times," said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.
  • General Motors has agreed to invest $1 billion dollars to begin large-scale commercial production of EV600, an all electric van, starting next year.
  • More details of the tentative agreement will be presented to Local 88 members at an online ratification meeting scheduled for Sunday, January 17.
  • Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, representing 315,000 workers in every major area of the economy.

Lack of federal government aviation plan contributes to new Air Canada layoffs

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, January 13, 2021
Airlines, Aviation, Trade unions, International Metalworkers' Federation, International Transport Workers' Federation, Low-cost carriers, International Federation of Journalists, Unifor, WestJet, Air Canada

TORONTO, Jan. 13, 2021 /CNW/ - Unifor believes the recently announced workforce reductions at Air Canada could have been lessened if the federal government had developed a plan to support Canada's aviation industry.

Key Points: 
  • TORONTO, Jan. 13, 2021 /CNW/ - Unifor believes the recently announced workforce reductions at Air Canada could have been lessened if the federal government had developed a plan to support Canada's aviation industry.
  • "Today's announcement leaves airline workers with continued disappointment in the federal government's lack of action to support the industry," said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.
  • "For months, we have been demanding that the federal government develop a long-lasting plan and provide financial support to save the industry from total collapse."
  • "It baffles me that our federal government continues to remain silent when in the past week we have seen layoffs at WestJet and now Air Canada.

Airline industry needs additional financial support given new COVID-19 tests requirement

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, December 31, 2020
Trade unions, International Federation of Journalists, International Metalworkers' Federation, International Transport Workers' Federation, Unifor, Airline

TORONTO, Dec. 31, 2020 /CNW/ -Unifor renews demands on the federal government to provide financial support for the airline industry as the industry prepares for all international travellers to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test on arrival.

Key Points: 
  • TORONTO, Dec. 31, 2020 /CNW/ -Unifor renews demands on the federal government to provide financial support for the airline industry as the industry prepares for all international travellers to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test on arrival.
  • "Yesterday's announcement is important to protect the public safety of all Canadians, but at the same time, the federal government's continued refusal to provide adequate financial support for the 300,000 airline workers puts the very future of Canada's airline industry in jeopardy," said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.
  • "Countries around the world have provided support to its airline industries because they recognize that maintaining a strong aviation sector is the key to a post-COVID-19 economic recovery.
  • The union continues to lobby the federal government to develop a national aviation plan to provide financial support for workers and address the systemic issues contributing to the problem of too much precarious work in the aviation industry.

USW Commends Independent Mexico Labor Expert Board, Echoes Call to Strengthen Mexican Labor Rights

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, December 15, 2020
Trade unions, International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions, International Metalworkers' Federation, International trade, AFL–CIO, Canadian Labour Congress, United Steelworkers, United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement, Labor rights

PITTSBURGH, Dec. 15, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --The United Steelworkers union (USW) today commended the Independent Mexico Labor Expert Board for its thoughtful and thorough investigation into the progress of Mexican labor reform and concurred with its recommendations on appropriate steps to further protect Mexican workers.

Key Points: 
  • PITTSBURGH, Dec. 15, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --The United Steelworkers union (USW) today commended the Independent Mexico Labor Expert Board for its thoughtful and thorough investigation into the progress of Mexican labor reform and concurred with its recommendations on appropriate steps to further protect Mexican workers.
  • The board, an advisory group established by Congress to monitor labor rights in Mexico under the U. S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (USMCA), released an interim report on Dec. 15 assessing the current state of Mexican labor reform and endorsing further U.S. support.
  • The U.S. government should accelerate the delivery of aid to strengthen Mexican workers' ability to exercise their rights to organize and bargain under the new law, the board also found.
  • Advancing workers' rights in Mexico will promote a rising standard of living for its people and reduce downward pressure on wages for U.S. workers.

Climate plan is ambitious but leaves many questions about transition

Retrieved on: 
Friday, December 11, 2020
Physical sciences, Trade unions, Articles, Climate change policy, International Federation of Journalists, International Metalworkers' Federation, International Transport Workers' Federation, Unifor, Just Transition, Climate change mitigation, Individual and political action on climate change, Climate change

"We welcome this next phase of the federal government's climate action planning," said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.

Key Points: 
  • "We welcome this next phase of the federal government's climate action planning," said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President.
  • The plan is a sober assessment of actions required to meet 2030 Paris Agreement targets, says Unifor.
  • This concept of including workers in planning industrial transition and new green job creation has been broadly referred to as a "just transition."
  • "Workers support bold action on climate change, but the transition for workers must be a higher priority."

Aviation Unions Call for Policy Change Over Border Measures

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, December 8, 2020
Trade unions, International Federation of Journalists, International Metalworkers' Federation, International Transport Workers' Federation, Unifor, Quarantine

OTTAWA, ON, Dec. 8, 2020 /CNW/ -With no end in sight to the current COVID-19 border measures that mandate international travellers quarantine for a 14 day period, two unions representing approximately 1,500 airline workers are joining with the Conservative Party in calling for change.

Key Points: 
  • OTTAWA, ON, Dec. 8, 2020 /CNW/ -With no end in sight to the current COVID-19 border measures that mandate international travellers quarantine for a 14 day period, two unions representing approximately 1,500 airline workers are joining with the Conservative Party in calling for change.
  • "Ten months into the pandemic less than 100 of our 1,500 members are back at work.
  • The same scenario is playing out across Canada's entire travel and tourism industry," said Barret Armann, president of Unifor Local 7378.
  • Two major changes to the current border policies are being requested prior to the start of 2021.

Unifor urges all parties to support NDP's new anti-scab bill

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, December 3, 2020
Trade unions, International Federation of Journalists, International Metalworkers' Federation, International Transport Workers' Federation, Unifor, Scabs

"Any federal politician who claims to stand up for working people andtheir families, needs to back this private member's bill,"said Unifor National President Jerry Dias.

Key Points: 
  • "Any federal politician who claims to stand up for working people andtheir families, needs to back this private member's bill,"said Unifor National President Jerry Dias.
  • "Ending the use of scabs in federally regulated workplaces will go a long way to balancing the scales that are unfairly tipped in the employer's favour."
  • Unifor is also calling on all provincial governments to enact similar legislation to ban scabs, just as British Columbia and Quebec have done.
  • Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, representing 315,000 workers in every major area of the economy.