Unifor
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Founded | 2013 |
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Headquarters | 205 Placer Court, Toronto, Ontario |
Location | |
Members | 310,000 |
Key people | Jerry Dias (President) |
Affiliations | IndustriALL, ITF, IFJ |
Website | www |
Unifor is a general trade union in Canada and the largest private sector union in Canada. It was founded in 2013 as a merger of the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) and Communications, Energy and Paperworkers unions, and consists of 310,000 workers and associate members in industries ranging from manufacturing and media to aviation, forestry and fishing.[1] In January 2018, the union left the Canadian Labour Congress, Canada's national trade union centre, to become independent.[2]
The union elected Jerry Dias, a former union leader at de Havilland's facility in Downsview, as its first president on August 31, 2013.[3]
Split from Canadian Labour Congress[]
On January 16, 2018, the National Executive Board of Unifor decided unanimously to discontinue affiliation with the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) and become independent. In a notice posted on their website, they stated their reasons for the split were due to CLC and its affiliates lack of action and will in addressing alleged aggressive and undemocratic tactics of US-based unions towards Canadian locals.[4] The CLC accused Unifor of leaving the congress in order to engage in "raiding" (soliciting members of another union) following an announcement that UNITE HERE Local 75 in Toronto would leave UNITE HERE and join Unifor.[5] CAW, one of Unifor's predecessors, had previously been expelled from the CLC in 1998 due to accusations of raiding.
Local 1285[]
![]() | This section's tone or style may not reflect the encyclopedic tone used on Wikipedia. (February 2019) |
Founded | May 12, 1961 |
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Headquarters | 23 Regan Road, Brampton, Ontario, Canada, L7A-1B2, 905.451.8310 |
Location |
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Members | 7242 (Sept. 2008) |
Parent organization | Unifor |
Website | uniforlocal1285 |
Formerly called | Canadian Auto Workers Local 1285 |
Unifor Local 1285 (formerly Canadian Auto Workers Local 1285) is an amalgamated local, representing automotive workers in Brampton, Canada. It is the largest private sector union local in Brampton.[6]
In February 2019, Unifor featured on the Canadian broadcast of Super Bowl LIII to broadcast a commercial protesting General Motors' decision to close the Oshawa Car Assembly plant. Two days prior to the commencement of the game, Unifor received a letter from GM Canada demanding that the commercial as well as an online advertisement boycotting Mexican-manufactured GM vehicles be discontinued, alleging they were "designed intentionally and maliciously to mislead Canadian consumers and forever tarnish GM's reputation with them". In defiance of such demands, the advertisement aired as scheduled, with Unifor intending to display it during other major events.[7][8]
Saskatchewan Crown Corporations[]
Most of Saskatchewan’s Provincial Crown Corporations employ Unifor members.
- Local 1-S represents workers at SaskTel, , and and is based in Regina.[9]
- Local 2-S represents workers at SaskTel and is based in Saskatoon.[10]
- Local 649 represents workers at SaskPower and SaskEnergy.[11]
- Local 820 represents workers at SaskWater and the .[12]
On September 30, 2019, approximately 5,000 Unifor members from all of the above locals began a work-to-rule campaign after failing to negotiate new contracts with the provincial government. By October 4, the job action had escalated into a strike, as all of those workers walked off the job and began picketing, with the exception of those workers working essential roles such as 911 operators, power outage dispatchers, and natural gas leak responders.[13][14]
References[]
- ^ "'Unifor' will be name of new super union that combines CAW and CEP". Toronto Star. May 30, 2013. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
- ^ "Unifor breaks with Canadian Labour Congress". CBC. Canadian Press. January 17, 2018. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
- ^ He politically supports the liberal party of Canada and is a vocal proponent of Justin Trudeau and a staunch critic of opposition leader Andrew sheer "New super-union Unifor’s first president vows to start pushing back if governments, employers don’t heed.". Toronto Star, August 31, 2013.
- ^ "Notice to Members on Unifor's Disaffiliation from the Canadian Labour Congress". Unifor. 2018-01-17. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
- ^ "CLC accuses Unifor of leaving lobby group to raid another union". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2018-01-19. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
- ^ About Unifor. (2017, October 13). Unifor National. https://www.unifor.org/en/about-unifor
- ^ "GM trying to 'intimidate' union from airing Super Bowl ad, Unifor says". CBC News. Retrieved 2019-02-03.
- ^ "Unifor airs Super Bowl ad despite GM's cease and desist letter". CBC News. Retrieved 2019-02-07.
- ^ "1-S". Unifor National. 2017-11-10. Retrieved 2019-10-19.
- ^ "2-S". Unifor National. 2017-11-10. Retrieved 2019-10-19.
- ^ "649". Unifor National. 2017-11-10. Retrieved 2019-10-19.
- ^ "820". Unifor National. 2017-11-10. Retrieved 2019-10-19.
- ^ Atter, Heidi (October 11, 2019). "Striking Crown workers and their supporters hold rally, march through downtown Regina". CBC News. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
- ^ "Impasse reached, Unifor set to strike against Saskatchewan Crowns". Global News. Retrieved 2019-10-19.
External links[]
- Unifor
- International Metalworkers' Federation
- International Transport Workers' Federation
- General unions
- Trade unions in Canada
- International Federation of Journalists
- Trade unions established in 2013
- 2013 establishments in Ontario
- Organizations based in Toronto