Energy sector bargaining opens with an emphasis on job security

CALGARY, Feb. 1, 2016 /CNW/ - Canada's energy union began contract negotiations today with Suncor as part of sector-wide bargaining that will impact over 12,000 energy workers across Canada. Unifor says that the key issue in this round of bargaining will be job security.

"Energy workers have played a key role in Canada's prosperity over the last decade," said Jerry Dias, Unifor's National President. "Energy sector jobs sustain communities right across the country, and that shouldn't change when the market does."

During sector-wide bargaining, the union and one of the employers in the sector bargain an agreement that can be applied to other unionized companies in the sector. This is the first energy sector bargaining undertaken since Unifor's formation in 2013.

"No worker is disposable. We will work in this round to ensure that energy workers get the security that they deserve," added Dias.

Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, representing more than 310,000 workers, including 12,000 working in all stages of the petroleum value chain. It was formed Labour Day weekend 2013 when the Canadian Auto Workers and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers unions merged.

SOURCE Unifor

please contact Unifor Communications Representative Ian Boyko at 778-903-6549 (cell) or [email protected]