
Negotiations break down between Unifor and CN Tower ahead of Canada Day
"We've hit an impasse and time is running out," said Shan Ramanathan, President of Unifor Local 4271. "Our members want a fair deal. We're ready to bargain, but the company needs to return to the table with a serious commitment to reaching an agreement."
Unifor Local 4271 represents approximately 250 full-time and part-time workers at the CN Tower, including hosts, wait staff, bartenders, the kitchen brigade including chefs, cooks, butchers, and others.
Key issues in the dispute include the lack of pension improvements for more than 15 years, the need for fair wage increases, scheduling concerns, enhanced benefits, and improved health and safety protections.
The deadline to avoid job action is 12:01 a.m. on Monday, June 30, 2025. If no deal is reached, workers could be locked out or go on strike, disrupting operations at one of Canada's most iconic landmarks during the height of tourist season.
Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, representing 320,000 workers in every major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad, and strives to create progressive change for a better future.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


CTV News
14 hours ago
- CTV News
Thunder Bay plant secures major subway car contract, safeguarding hundreds of jobs
Unifor is pleased to hear today's long-awaited federal government commitment to fund new TTC subway cars, with the union's expectation that the investment will result in good jobs at the Alstom plant in Thunder Bay. (File photo/Unifor/Presswire) Hundreds of skilled manufacturing jobs in Thunder Bay, Ont., have been secured after the federal, provincial and Toronto governments announced a sole-source agreement with Alstom Transport Canada Inc. to build 70 new subway cars for Toronto's transit system. The deal, confirmed in a joint announcement on Friday, ensures that Alstom's Thunder Bay facility will produce the trains for the Toronto Transit Commission's (TTC) Line 2 (Bloor-Danforth), along with additional cars for future extensions. The move safeguards critical employment in northwestern Ontario amid ongoing trade tensions with the United States. A win for Thunder Bay's workforce The agreement has been hailed as a major victory for Thunder Bay's manufacturing sector, which has long been a hub for transit vehicle production. The Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association praised the decision, emphasizing its regional economic impact. 'This is a win not just for Thunder Bay, but for all of northwestern Ontario,' said the association's president Rick Dumas in a new release Aug. 15. 'The skilled workers at Alstom's Thunder Bay plant have a proven track record of excellence, and this agreement provides stability for families, strengthens our local economy, and keeps our region at the forefront of Canada's transit manufacturing sector.' Thunder Bay City Councillor and NOMA Vice-President Kristen Oliver echoed the sentiment. '(Friday's) announcement demonstrates what can be achieved when all levels of government work together. This sole-source agreement means good jobs, economic security, and a strong future for Thunder Bay's manufacturing sector,' she said. Unifor, the union representing Alstom workers, also celebrated the decision, calling it a 'great victory' for Canadian workers. 'Unifor fought long and hard to get the federal, provincial, and municipal governments to support a Made-in-Canada solution,' said Unifor National President Lana Payne in a separate news release. 'We must use our Canadian procurement dollars to support Canadian workers and Canadian-made products, especially given the current trade war.' Sole-sourcing amid trade pressures The decision to sole-source the contract comes as Canada faces economic uncertainty, including U.S. tariffs on softwood lumber and other trade disputes. Governments emphasized the need for a 'Team Canada and Team Ontario' approach to protect domestic industries. 'In the face of U.S. tariffs and economic uncertainty, this decision will support Canadian and Ontario workers with good manufacturing jobs and ensure reliable trains for Toronto transit riders,' the governments stated in their joint release. The contract includes 70 six-car trains – 55 to replace aging Line 2 subway cars and 15 for the Yonge North and Scarborough extensions. Alstom must meet strict conditions, including maximizing Canadian content, adhering to TTC specifications and undergoing an independent price assessment. Thunder Bay - Alstom Transport Canada Inc An undated photo of light rail manufacturing operations at Alstom Transport Canada Inc.'s plant in Thunder Bay, Ont. (FIle photo/Supplied/Unifor) Ontario Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria underscored the province's commitment to local manufacturing. 'Our government is proud to protect Ontario from U.S. tariffs by ensuring the TTC's Line 2 subway trains will be made in Ontario, by Ontario workers,' he said. Securing Thunder Bay's economic future The Alstom plant has been a cornerstone of Thunder Bay's industrial economy for decades, producing transit vehicles for cities across Canada. Earlier this year, Ontario also committed $500 million to refurbish 181 GO Transit rail coaches at the facility, further stabilizing employment. Alstom approves GE bid A photo shows the company logo of Alstom at the headquarters of the leading global maker of high-speed trains, power plants and grids. (File photo/Christophe Ena/Associated Press) 'We are excited and ready to build the subways of the future,' said Justin Roberts, President of Unifor Local 1075, which represents the plant's workers. 'Reliable, sturdy, and resilient – the way (Friday's) announcement has contributed to the working lives of our members.' The TTC expects negotiations with Alstom to conclude by year's end, with production set to begin soon after. The aging Line 2 fleet will remain in service until the new trains arrive. A model for Canadian procurement The agreement sets a precedent for leveraging public transit investments to bolster domestic manufacturing. With billions in transit spending planned nationwide, unions and industry leaders hope to see similar commitments to Canadian jobs. 'Governments in Canada will spend tens of billions of dollars on transit vehicles in the coming years,' Unifor noted in its news release. 'In a sector valued at $2.9 billion GDP in recent years, leveraging this procurement to maximize Canadian content means procuring trusted, reliable vehicles that support Canadian jobs.' For Thunder Bay, officials say the deal is more than just an economic boost – it's a reaffirmation of the region's vital role in Canada's industrial landscape. 'At a time when global trade pressures are impacting Canadian industries, we must stand together as Team Canada and Team Ontario,' said Oliver.


Cision Canada
2 days ago
- Cision Canada
Unifor condemns federal government's attack on CUPE flight attendants' right to strike and fair and free collective bargaining
TORONTO, Aug. 16, 2025 /CNW/ - Unifor strongly condemns the federal government's imposition of binding arbitration between Air Canada and CUPE Flight Attendants, cutting short a legal strike action just hours after it began. "This move by the federal government sends a clear message to federally regulated employers: don't bother bargaining fairly with workers because the government will step in to strip away your right to strike," said Unifor National President Lana Payne. "Our message is equally clear – Unifor will always defend workers' right to strike and any government or company that tries to rip that away is in for one hell of a fight." On the first day of the strike, Minister of Jobs and Families Patty Hajdu invoked Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code, directing the Canada Industrial Relations Board to arbitrate the dispute. "The government is condoning Air Canada's refusal to bargain fairly while blocking workers' legitimate fight against unpaid work. Workers have constitutional rights in this country, and we expect our own governments to uphold them," said Payne. "My message to these same federal employers, many of whom Unifor also bargains with, is to consider hard on what you are sowing, because here's the truth: suppressing the rights of workers will never bring you labour peace." Unifor stands shoulder-to-shoulder with CUPE flight attendants, having issued a solidarity letter earlier this week and pledging ongoing support in the fight for justice and respect on the job. Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, representing 320,000 workers in every major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad, and strives to create progressive change for a better future.


Cision Canada
3 days ago
- Cision Canada
Unifor celebrates long-awaited confirmation that Alstom Thunder Bay workers will build new TTC subway trains
THUNDER BAY, ON, Aug. 15, 2025 /CNW/ - Unifor is very pleased to see that all three levels of government have confirmed that Toronto Transit Commission subway trains will be manufactured at the Alstom plant in Thunder Bay, securing jobs for workers represented by Unifor Local 1075. "This is a great victory. Unifor fought long and hard to get the federal, provincial and municipal governments to get on board and support a Made-in-Canada solution," said Unifor National President Lana Payne. "We must use our Canadian procurement dollars to support Canadian workers and Canadian-made products, especially given the current trade war." "This decision to formally award this contract to Alstom speaks volumes with respect to how we must support Canadian workers, local industries, economies and communities. We need to see more of this if we are to build a more resilient Canadian economy." In a joint media release today, the governments noted that "in the face of U.S. tariffs and economic uncertainty, this decision will support Canadian and Ontario workers with good manufacturing jobs and ensure reliable trains for Toronto transit riders." The Alstom sole-source construction contract means Unifor members will build 70 six-car trains – 55 of those to replace aging infrastructure on Line 2 (Bloor-Danforth) and 15 to be used for the Yonge North and Scarborough Extensions. "This is the right move to bolster Canada's economy by creating sustainable, good-paying jobs right here in Ontario," said Unifor Ontario Regional Director Samia Hashi. In January, Ontario committed to spend nearly $500 million to refurbish 181 GO Transit bi-level rail coaches, which is expected to support hundreds of jobs for at the Alstom plant in Thunder Bay. "We are excited and ready to build the subways of the future," said Unifor Local 1075 President Justin Roberts. "Reliable, sturdy and resilient – the way today's announcement has contributed to the working lives of our members." Governments in Canada will spend tens of billions of dollars on transit vehicles in the coming years. In a sector valued at $2.9 billion GDP in recent years, leveraging this procurement to maximize Canadian content means procuring trusted, reliable vehicles that support Canadian jobs.