IN THIS ISSUE: Detroit Three bargaining secures $1.5 billion in investment >> page 2 Tougher regulations required to prevent monitoring of journalists >> page 3 School bus agreement sets new standards >>page 4

VOLUME 4, NO.23 WWW.UNIFOR.ORG NOVEMBER 17, 2016

Unifor fighting SaskTel privatization

After Conservative Premier Brad Wall openly mused about accepting offers for Saskatchewan’s public telecommunication company, SaskTel, Unifor locals sprung into action to fight any attempts Unifor launches ads on the dangers of privatizing Saskatchewan Crown corporations. to privatize Crown corporations. Unifor is the largest union in Saskatchewan’s TPP a threat Grocery store members Crown corporation sector, representing thousands to Canada make gains of workers at SaskTel, SaskWater, SaskPower, and A rainy night and U.S. Solidarity laid the foundation and commitment to better SaskEnergy. election results rolling in to ensure Unifor members both wages and working “Brad Wall is deeply did not stop more than 250 employed at Dominion and conditions for all full-time mistaken if he thinks he people from turning out to Food Basics grocery stores and part-time grocery store has a mandate to privatize a town hall to discuss the made significant gains in members.” any portion of our Crown Trans-Pacific Partnership in recent contract talks. In separate negotiations, corporations,” said Joie on November 8. “Achieving consistent members at Dominion Warnock, Unifor’s Western “This deal is going to do improvements in retail stores in Newfoundland Director, referring to an some serious damage to our is a priority for Unifor,” and Labrador, represented explicit promise from Wall country,” Canadian Labour said Unifor National by Local 597, and Food during the spring 2016 Congress President Hassan President Jerry Dias. “I’m Basic stores, Local 414, provincial election that Yussuff warned the crowd. proud of these bargaining in 20 different Ontario Crown corporations would The event, hosted by committees for their work communities led a hard not be privatized. >> Continued on page2 >>Continued on page3 >> Continued on page3 Local 1410 Auto talks secured a brighter future ratifies first When Unifor formally $613 million for a new opened bargaining with the engine at the Windsor contract Detroit Three automakers Essex engine plant. For three months ago, only one FCA, the Brampton Members of the former thing seemed certain, the Assembly Plant and Pepsico Employees’ future of Canada’s industry the Etobicoke Casting Association overwhelmingly was at stake. Plant investment ratified their first contract Priorities for talks were secured a rebuild and as Unifor Local 1410. established in early June, upgrades. At GM, $554 The local represents 163 when 120 delegates passed million was secured members at the Calgary resolutions calling for each and Oshawa will now facility. company to commit to bring produce both cars and “We’re happy to welcome new products to Canada, and trucks. The agreements reached this group into the Unifor to secure investments for These negotiations also make many important gains. family,” said Joie Warnock, jobs. brought jobs back to Canada. Most of all the talks are an Unifor Western Director. Today, thanks to the Unifor accomplished more important reminder that “The bargaining committee collective efforts and in the last three months to with our collective power demonstrated leadership determination of the union, secure auto’s footprint, and and unity there can be good and dedication, securing the bargaining committees offer a brighter future for jobs and a stable, secure a strong deal despite and the membership, the autoworkers, their families future for generations to uncertain economic times in industry has a brighter future. and local communities, than come. This is something we Alberta.” With the Detroit Three governments have in the last all can be proud of. To learn This is the first set of a total of $1.5 billion in 10 years. In fact, for every job about the campaign visit negotiations since the investment was secured. in an auto plant nine more are unifor.org/AutoTalks16 former Pepsico Beverages Almost half was at Ford, with created in Canada’s economy. Employees’ Association merged with Unifor in April of 2015. >> Continued from “TPP a “We have an agreement threat to Canada...” on page1 that we’re all proud of, with wage gains and the CLC and the Council much stronger language of Canadians, is part of a regarding health and safety, cross-country tour to raise job security and seniority awareness about the TPP. rights,” said Val Walker, Town halls have also been President of Unifor Local held in Windsor and Halifax, 1410. with more planned in Vancouver on November 22 and Winnipeg on November 23. Toronto town hall warned of sweeping corporate powers contained in the Trans-Pacific Partnership Council of Canadians Uniforum is published every National Chairperson Barlow also paid tribute individuals and groups until two weeks by Unifor, Canada’s Maude Barlow said the to Unifor and other unions January 27, 2017. You can largest union in the private Investor-State Dispute for pushing for fair trade. send your concerns about sector. Settlement system in the At the end of October, the TPP via email to: TPP will allow corporations the House of Commons [email protected]. Reach us at: to sue governments if they Standing Committee To access background Uniforum pass laws that hurt their on International Trade information, lobby kits, Unifor Communications profits – even if those laws wrapped up cross-country handbills, sector-by-sector 205 Placer Court, Fifth Floor are in the public interest. public meetings on the reports on the impact of Toronto, Ontario, M5H 3H9 “It has a huge dampening Trans-Pacific Partnership the TPP and information on effect on the ability of Agreement; however the sending an email or tweet to 1-800-268-5763 government to govern committee has extended your own MP visit Unifor’s [email protected] on behalf of the people,” the deadline for written campaign page at www.unifor.org Barlow said. submissions from unifor.org/tpp

2 www.Unifor.org | @UniforTheUnion >> Continued from “Unifor corporation can be sold fighting Sask Tel...” on off before triggering a page1 public referendum on its Unifor says Wall is privatization. deliberately undermining The incremental sale SaskTel’s efficiency to of Manitoba Telephone foment dissatisfaction Service (MTS) was how with the widely respected Conservatives privatized the Crown corporation. On Crown corporation in the November 7, the company 1990s. began shrinking the regional Earlier in the fall, Unifor workforce in Moose Jaw. ran radio ads exposing “Brad Wall’s campaign the folly of privatization in against SaskTel is making Regina, Saskatoon, and the families suffer,” said other areas where cabinet Warnock. ministers hold seats. The In response to the fierce ads are still available Don’t sell our SaskTel campaign ad backlash to full-scale to be shared online at privatization, the Wall Soundcloud.com/unifor “Brad Wall isn’t fooling winter, including when government introduced Print ads accompanied anyone. He’s preparing the the legislature resumes in Bill 40 on October 29. the launch of the radio groundwork to break an January. In the meantime, The Bill changes the spots and Unifor members election promise and we’re Unifor members across the definition of privatize in leafleted Labour Day going to stop him in his country can send a letter to the Crown Corporation events and engaged with tracks,” said Warnock. Saskatchewan Premier Brad Public Ownership Act. If community members about Unifor Locals in Wall at: Bill 40 passes in 2017, up the value of SaskTel and the Saskatchewan are planning unifor.org/backoffbrad to 49 per cent of a Crown other Crowns. mobilizations for the

>> Continued from “Grocery store members make gains” on The new agreements Spying on journalists page1 include annual wage fought campaign. increases for members should never be easy “The advancements we regardless of their achieved will make a real employment status. Unifor National President recently come to light. difference in the daily lives There is also a revised Jerry Dias is calling for strict While the surveillance of members,” said Christine part-time wage grid, measures to make it harder was set up under provisions Connor, President of Unifor benefit enhancements for police to put journalists of the Harper Government’s Local 414. “I am incredibly and improved scheduling under surveillance. Bill C-51, the journalists proud of members for practices to provide better “It is too easy to spy on involved were writing their solidarity to push and notice for shifts. In each journalists and impede stories about the police demand more.” round of talks Unifor freedom of the press themselves, and corruption Although workers in helped to improve the lives in Canada,” Dias said. in the Québec construction the retail sector do not of precarious low wage “Journalists rely on their industry. formally use a process of workers in the industry. sources to reveal stories. Unifor is calling on federal pattern bargaining, the In supermarkets and When police tap the phones and provincial attorney’s contracts negotiated with other retail locations across of journalists, it puts a chill general to immediately Dominion and Food Basics Canada, Unifor represents on people being willing to direct police forces and achieved the same core more than 20,000 talk to them.” Crown Attorneys that provisions included in the members, making our union The federal and Quebec warrants relating to the Unifor-Metro supermarket one of the country’s largest governments have been surveillance of journalists contract negotiated in 2015. for retail workers. under pressure to take must always require the This is a clear example of “The successes gained action since learning that approval of the Attorney how negotiations in one in each round of bargaining Montreal police monitored General before going to workplace can help to raise over the last year the iPhone of La Presse court and that a panel of the standard across the demonstrate why being in a columnist Patrick Lagacé; federal judges must review sector. union matters,” said Connor. several other cases have each application.

www.Unifor.org | @UniforTheUnion 3 IN THIS ISSUE Detroit Three bargaining delivers $1.5 billion auto industry investment. Unifor tells Premier Wall that Saskatchewan Crowns aren’t for sale. Stricter measures called for to protect journalistic freedom. Grocery store workers ring up gains at the bargaining table, and more!

School bus contract addresses industry issues

A new contract for school left stranded when school bus drivers in Toronto and resumed due to driver York Region, represented by shortage. The issue of Unifor Local 4268, sets new shortage and retention standards for the industry became a main bargaining that could help avoid driver priority. shortages if more widely “No child should be left adopted. on a curb when a school bus “For drivers who are should be picking them up. members of Unifor in the I’m proud of these drivers Toronto and York Region, for working so incredibly the job just got better,” hard to improve industry said Local 4268 President, conditions and livelihoods,” Jenny Ahn, Unifor Assistant to the National Secretary -Treasurer, Debbie Montgomery. said Unifor Assistant to and members of the Local 4268 Bargaining Committee achieve new standards for school bus drivers following all-night negotiations. The Local represents the National Secretary- 320 drivers with First Treasurer Jenny Ahn. Student bus company The contract includes previously paid a minimum time will be Employment and serves about 18,500 higher wages for drivers, wage of $11.42, will increase Insurance accredited, students in the public and and bus drivers getting paid to $13.40 over the life of the allowing workers to qualify Catholic school boards in for all the hours they are agreement. All rates in the for EI benefits during lay off. those regions. Earlier this on duty, not just time when collective agreement will For more detail, go to year, more than 2,600 children are on the bus. increase by between six and unifor.org/ students in Toronto were Non-driving route tasks, 17 per cent. As well, all paid schoolbuscampaign

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