IN THIS ISSUE: NEW UNIFORUM MAGAZINE TO LAUNCH PAGE 2 ALLS FOR INCREASED CHILD CARE SPENDING >> PAGE 2 NIFOR AIDS BC FIRE VICTIMS >> PAGE 4

VOLUME 5, NO. 15 AUGUST 3, 2017

Rebuilding a NAFTA for workers

As the fi rst round of talks to revamp the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) approach Unifor is calling for a massive overhaul of the trade deal. “International talks on trade have to go beyond a tweak here and a little change there,” said Jerry Unifor is raising this billboard in Regina, Saskatoon and Moose Jaw to increase awareness of the move to privatize Crown corporations Dias, National President. “What we need is a fundamental change in the way our governments Solidarity Should we call Brad Wall approach trade.” A joint Unifor-UAW for a Better a liar? statement on auto and the re-negotiation of NAFTA World New revelations that public services and sell off blames the pact for the loss Saskatchewan Premier Crown corporations that of hundreds of thousands Unifor members from coast Brad Wall is aggressively took generations to build, of jobs and the closure to coast to coast will come pursuing the privatization it should have the decency of thousands of U.S. and together in Winnipeg, of SaskTel, makes it to run an election on the Canadian manufacturing Manitoba to set political increasingly difficult to issue.” facilities. The unions priorities and elect Industry conclude that he was During the last warn that “NAFTA re- Council reps on the National truthful during the 2016 Saskatchewan election negotiations will only be Executive Board at the 2017 election. campaign, Wall promised successful if it leads to Canadian Council. “Brad Wall misled voters,” the CBC in writing that higher wages in all three Over a jam packed said Jerry Dias, National no Crown corporations countries, reverses trade two and a half days, President. “If the Sask covered under the Crown deficits with Mexico, and from August 18-20, Party wants to dismantle Corporations Act would be creates new manufacturing >> Continued on page2 >>Continued on page3 >> Continued on page3

WWW.UNIFOR.ORG U C >> Launch of new IMF says Trudeau government Magazine can do more on child care

Unifor is proud to announce Justin Trudeau arrived in itself. Parents who can the evolution of Uniforum Nova Scotia on July 21 as access quality, affordable as it transforms from a part of a ‘working holiday’ child care are more likely biweekly newsletter to a tour to promote and discuss to re-enter the workforce, new national magazine. The several issues, both regional thus contributing income new Uniforum, published and national, including tax dollars back into the quarterly, will provide the Liberals’ Canada Child government coffers. information on national Benefit. The program, “Leading authorities and campaigns and priorities, implemented last year, international best practices and will also highlight is something he spoke of have been showing us the activities of regional with pride, but has faced for years that a universal The proposal suggested directors and national criticism from child care program where quality by the IMF study is more departments. experts and most recently spaces are made accessible than 10 times the amount the International Monetary and affordable will do the the Liberals plan to invest To ensure that you receive Fund (IMF). most to support Canadian in child care over the next your free edition of the Researchers at the IMF families,” said Lisa Kelly, decade and it would bring magazine, please register at concluded that the Canadian Director of the Unifor the cost of child care fees unifor.org/subscribe. federal government can Women’s Department. “The down by about 40% - a Current subscribers to afford to spend $8-billion IMF isn’t exactly radical. So number that would be the biweekly newsletter annually to directly reduce when they are calling for expected to allow more will continue to receive an the cost of child care spaces public investment, we know parents, particularly updated online newsletter nationwide because the our government can be women, to re-enter the by email. program would pay for doing a lot more.” workforce.

Timely coverage of news and events >> Continued from “Solidarity is also available at for a Better World...” on page1 unifor.org/news or check out Unifor delegates will consider on social media at how to build solidarity to Facebook.com/ fight for workers’ rights UniforCanada and in the workplace, in the on Twitter follow community and within our @UnifortheUnion. union. Delegates will hear from speakers and shape debate on how to better unite in the face of right- wing rhetoric and increasing Uniforum is published every discrimination, and how to two weeks by Unifor, Canada’s come together to support largest union in the private reconciliation. Actor, activist and honourary Unifor member Danny Glover will return to sector. Unifor’s Canadian Council speak to members at Canadian Council in Winnipeg will meet as NAFTA trade Reach us at: talks begin in Washington. President. Congress President and Uniforum “Coming together at Members who cannot Unifor member Hassan Unifor Communications Canadian Council during attend the Council can Yussuff and many more 205 Placer Court, Fifth Floor this landmark opportunity watch keynote speeches will be live-streamed at , Ontario, M5H 3H9 will give Unifor members and presentations online. unifor.org/UniforCC17. the upper hand in Remarks from honorary Follow the conversation 1-800-268-5763 developing and fighting for Unifor member Danny online on Twitter and be [email protected] our working-class vision for Glover, world-renowned sure to use the hashtag fair and progressive trade,” activist Maude Barlow, #UniforCC17. www.unifor.org said Jerry Dias, National Canadian Labour

2 www.Unifor.org | @UniforTheUnion >> Continued from recommendations that go “Rebuilding a NAFTA for...” beyond the auto industry in on page1 a submission to the federal jobs in the U.S. and government. Canada.” Key Unifor The joint union recommendations include statement, found online enforceable labour and at unifor.org/NAFTA, also environmental standards, outlines four key priorities elimination of the right in the re-negotiation of of corporations to sue auto-related provisions: governments over lost • Strengthening profits, an overhaul of rules labour standards governing auto trade across and raising wages, borders, and measures to • Balanced trade, protect our food supply, • Real “made in cultural industries, and Unifor has submitted NAFTA recommendations to the North America” public services such as federal government ahead of opening talks rules, and health and education. Read • A fair share of the complete submission at communities,” Dias said. also bring a multi-pronged benefits for workers unifor.org/NAFTA. International trade recommendation on trade in each country. “These recommendations strategy will be discussed to the floor for delegates to In preparation of NAFTA will help ensure there is and debated at the consider. talks with the United a different kind of policy upcoming Canadian For more information States and Mexico, to be approach to NAFTA and all Council as Unifor prepares on the Unifor trade held in Washington, D.C. future trade deals. It’s about to implement its plan of campaign please visit from Aug. 16-20, Unifor time that trade helped action on trade. National unifor.org/peoplestrade. has also provided written not hindered workers and President Jerry Dias will

>> Continued from “Should we call Brad Wall a liar?” on page1 CANADIAN COUNCIL privatized. But six months Equally important, Crown after winning re-election, corporations are a source New Delegate Session the government amended of good union jobs in the the Act enabling up to 49% province. to be sold off to private “Brad Wall has no interests. mandate to sell off public More recently, Crowns assets that generate Thursday, August 17 Minister Dustin Duncan millions for the people of 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. was forced to admit Saskatchewan,” said Joie that backroom talks are Warnock, Western Regional Presentation Theatre underway to privatize Director. “Selling-off Crown Sasktel. corporations would be a It’s time to brush up on your skills and The birthplace of disaster for the long-term publicly-owned utilities, health of hospital and get ready for Council 2017. Saskatchewan’s many school funding.” Crown corporations are Among other sectors, All delegates are invited to an introductory both successful and popular. Unifor represents thousands session on rules and procedures, the agenda, The publicly owned services of Crown corporation save residents money every workers at SaskTel, and how to get active during Council. day on costs like energy SaskEnergy, SaskPower, and and phone bills. Other core SaskWater. public services like hospitals To find out how you and schools are partially can take action visit: funded through dividends mycrowns.ca received from the Crowns.

www.Unifor.org | @UniforTheUnion 3 IN THIS ISSUE Unifor takes action on NAFTA as negotiations are set to begin. The fight escalates to save Saskatchewan’s Crown corporations from privatization. Members provide aid to BC fire victims. Upcoming Canadian Council promises to be educational and inspiring. Uniforum newsletter to transform to national magazine and more!

Unifor donates over $220,000 to BC relief

On July 12, Unifor responded so that the affected families to the wildfire crisis in BC’s can rebuild and recover.” Interior with a $100,000 Unifor has several donation to the Canadian hundred members spread Red Cross relief efforts. out across the affected area, Unifor’s regional councils including 100 Mile House, have added another 150 Mile House, Dog Creek, $120,000 in donations, Lac La Hache, Quesnel, and on July 28 the Western Soda Creek, Wildwood, and Regional Office held a BBQ Williams Lake. to raise additional funds “I want BC residents, A fundraiser BBQ is held at Unifor’s Western Regional bringing the total donation Unifor members, and their Office to aid BC fire victims and evacuees to well over $220,000. communities to know that “Unifor members we want to do everything have been following the we can to support them www.redcross.ca/BCFires/ The Canadian Red Cross devastation caused by during this traumatic time,” Unifor. For those locals says 50,000 people in the the fires very closely and said Lana Payne, Atlantic that prefer to donate via province have registered we feel compelled to act,” Regional Director. cheque, mail your donation to receive assistance. said Jerry Dias, National With the support of the to the National Office (205 Tens of thousands of President. “I encourage Red Cross local unions Placer Court, Toronto, ON British Columbians remain every Unifor member and and members can make M2H 3H9). Please mark the evacuated as 150 fires all Canadians to make a an online donation via envelope attention to the continue to burn across BC. donation to the Red Cross a designated Unifor link International Department.

amvcope343