UPDATE: Media Advisory - Unifor briefing for Press Gallery this Thursday

Adds Unifor Quebec Director Renaud Gagné to list of attendees

OTTAWA, Feb. 1, 2016 /CNW/ - As part of its effort to bring the concerns of working people to MPs this week, Canada's largest union in the private sector will hold a morning press briefing for members of the Canadian Parliamentary Press Gallery on Thursday.

"Unifor will be incredibly active during the life of the 42^nd Parliament," Unifor National President Jerry Dias said. "Defeating the Harper government was good, but we need to keep the new Liberal government focused on improving the lives of all working people in this country."

Dias will lead a delegation of more than 70 Unifor activists to Ottawa on February 3 and 4 to meet MPs from both government and opposition to discuss a wide variety of issues, from manufacturing to labour law reform to Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women and Girls to the Canada Pension Plan.

"Unifor is a social union. Our concerns extend far beyond the shop floor and the bargaining table," Dias said.  

"Issues such as violence against women, tax policy, Aboriginal issues, and health care have a tremendous impact on the lives of all working people, so Unifor needs to be active on these issues."

• What: Media briefing, hot breakfast served
• Where: Room 200, Sir John A MacDonald building, 144 Wellington Street
• When: Thursday, February 4, 8-10am
• Who: Unifor National President Jerry Dias, Quebec Director Renaud Gagné, Research Director Bill Murnighan, Regional Directors Joie Warnock (Western Canada), Katha Fortier (Ontario) and Lana Payne (Atlantic), and more
• Why: Briefing on Unifor plans for 42^nd Parliament, including meetings in Ottawa February 3-4

All comments will be on the record. There will be brief opening statements from Dias and Murnighan, followed by an informal open question period on any topic members of the media wish to discuss. Private interviews can also be arranged.

Members of the media will be provided with background sheets on issues Unifor will raise with MPs, including CPP, taxes, Industrial policy, infrastructure, trade, health care and pharmacare, labour law, Employment Insurance, precarious work, temporary foreign workers, climate change, electoral reform, Aboriginal issues, childcare, OAS and GIS, flexible family work leaves, violence against women, fisheries, Coast Guard, transportation, CRTC, supply management, armoured cars and disabilities issues.

Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, representing more than 310,000 workers, including more than 65,000 in federally regulated sectors. It was formed Labour Day weekend 2013 when the Canadian Auto Workers and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers union merged.

SOURCE Unifor

please contact Unifor Communications National Representative Stuart Laidlaw at [email protected] or (cell) 647-385-4054.