TORONTO, Jan. 10, 2014 /CNW/ - Canada's largest union in the private sector is holding meetings across the country over the coming weeks to prepare for a nationwide campaign to defend the rights of Canadians in the workplace.
"Unifor is standing up for the rights of Canadians to provide for their families in safe and stable workplaces," said Unifor National President Jerry Dias, who will be attending all of the meetings. "Unionized or not, we believe that's what all Canadian workers want."
The meetings - which begin in Windsor, Ontario, this coming Monday and finish in St. John's, Newfoundland, on February 27 - are being held to discuss with local Unifor leaders threats posed to basic labour rights, and what they can do about it.
"Without unions and collective bargaining, it will be impossible for most Canadians to attain a decent, secure life," Dias said. "The current attack by governments across Canada on our basic labour rights will fundamentally damage our quality of life - and that's why we are determined to stop it."
A complete list of the meeting times and locations is attached. There will be top national leaders at each of the meetings, as well as local and regional leaders, researchers and experts.
Media are welcome at all the meetings to get a sneak peak at Unifor's spring Rights at Work campaign and to talk to the union's top leadership and research staff about these issues.
The Harper government's Bill C525 would make it easier to decertify unions in the federal sector, on the basis of biased voting rules. In Ontario, Conservative Leader Tim Hudak wants to eliminate the Rand Formula, while Alberta's Conservatives have made it illegal for some unions to even talk about striking.
The meetings will review such challenges, and how Unifor's Rights at Work campaign will counter the attack.
Unifor was founded Labour Day weekend 2013 when the Canadian Auto Workers and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers unions merged. With more than 300,000 members, Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector.
| Unifor Rights at Work tour dates | ||
| DATE | TIME & CITY | LOCATION |
| Monday Jan. 13 | 1 pm: Windsor | Local 444/200 1855 TURNER ROAD WINDSOR ON N8W 3K2 |
| Tuesday Jan. 14 | 1 pm: London | Local 27 606 FIRST STREET LONDON ON N5V 2A2 |
| Tuesday Jan. 14 | 7 pm: Kitchener | Local 1524 600 WABANAKI DRIVE KITCHENER ON N2C 2K4 |
| Wednesday Jan. 15 | 8:30 am: GTA East (Oshawa) | Local 222 1425 PHILLIP MURRAY AVENUE OSHAWA ON L1J 8L4 |
| Wednesday Jan. 15 | 1 pm: GTA West (Brampton) | Local 1285 23 REGAN ROAD BRAMPTON ON L7A 1B2 |
| Friday Jan. 24 | 9 am: St. Catharines | Local 199 124 BUNTING ROAD ST. CATHARINES ON L2P 3G5 |
| Monday Jan. 27 | 9 am: Winnipeg | Union Centre 206-275 BROADWAY WINNIPEG MB R3C 4M6 |
| Wednesday Jan. 29 | 9 am: Thunder Bay | Hoito Restaurant 314 BAY STREET THUNDER BAY ON P7B 1S1 |
| Wednesday, Jan. 29 | 1:00pm: Sudbury | Local 598 2550 RICHARD LAKE DRIVE SUDBURY ON P3G 0A3 |
| Tuesday/Wednesday, Feb. 11/12 |
Quebec City (in conjunction with Quebec Council) |
Hôtel Hilton à Québec 1100, BOULEVARD RENÉ-LÉVESQUE EST QUÉBEC QC G1R 4P3 |
| Thursday Feb. 13 | Noon: Ottawa | OTTAWA AREA OFFICE 5 GURDWARA DRIVE OTTAWA ON K2E 7X6 |
| Monday Feb. 17 | 9 am: Vancouver | New West Office 326 - 12TH STREET 2ND FLOOR NEW WESTMINSTER BC V3M 4H6 |
| Monday Feb. 17 | 6 pm: Prince George | TBA |
| Tuesday Feb. 18 | 1 pm: Edmonton | TBA |
| Wednesday Feb. 19 | 9 am: Fort McMurray | Local 707A 10020 FRANKLIN AVENUE FORT MCMURRAY AB T9H 2K6 |
| Thursday Feb. 20 | 9 am: Saskatoon | TBA |
| Thursday Feb. 20 | 6 pm: Regina | Local 1S 3525 PASQUA STREET REGINA SK S4S 7G9 |
| Tuesday Feb. 25 | 1 pm: Moncton | Moncton Lyon's Club 55 MARK AVENUE MONCTON NB E1C 7G8 |
| Wednesday Feb. 26 | 1 pm: Halifax | TBA |
| Thursday Feb. 27 | 9 am: St. John's | St. Teresa's Parish Hall 120 MUNDY POND ROAD ST. JOHN'S NL A1E 1V |
SOURCE: Unifor
For more information, please contact Unifor Communications director Shannon Devine at 416-302-1699 (cell) or [email protected] or, Unifor Communications national representative Stuart Laidlaw at 647-385-4054 (cell) or [email protected]. or Unifor Communications national representative at 416-333-8097 (cell) or [email protected].
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