Latest news with #collectiveagreement
National Post
20 hours ago
- Business
- National Post
CUPE Ontario Comes Out in Force to Support Striking CUPE 5525 Members at Villa Colombo
Article content TORONTO — Over one hundred CUPE members from around the GTA gathered outside the Villa Charities owned property at the corner of Dufferin and Lawrence Avenue West to bolster the picket line of CUPE 5525. The 25 members of CUPE 5525 have been on strike since the 28 th of March after negotiations to secure their first collective agreement broke down. Villa Colombo hired scab replacement workers and did not engage with the union's bargaining team for weeks. Article content The bolstered picket line blocked all points of entry for vehicle traffic onto the property to disrupt the daily operations of Villa Charities various operations on the site. The bolstered picket line runs from 7:30 to 11:30 AM to have maximum impact on the Villa Charities morning operations. Regular picketing activities will resume in the afternoon. Article content Article content ' We are putting Villa Colombo and Villa Charities on notice that continued disrespect to these striking workers will not be tolerated. CUPE 5525 has the full support of all 230,000 CUPE Ontario members,' said Yolanda McLean, Secretary Treasurer of CUPE Ontario. 'These members are ready to negotiate a fair contract and get back to serving the community they love but today is a reminder that we are also ready and able to ramp up the pressure if needed.' The employer has agreed to a bargaining date on July 29 th, and the two sides are preparing to return to the table to try and find an end to this labour disruption. Key issues on the table include sick day provisions and benefits for part time staff members. Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Contacts Article content For more information, please contact: Article content Article content Article content Article content
CBC
2 days ago
- Business
- CBC
Workers at Windsor's NextStar EV battery plant have ratified their 1st collective agreement
Workers at the NextStar EV battery plant have voted 88 per cent in favour of ratifying a first collective agreement, Unifor Local 444 announced Sunday.
CTV News
4 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
NextStar workers ratify first collective agreement at Windsor EV battery plant
Workers at the NextStar Energy EV battery plant voted 88 per cent in favour of their first collective agreement and the installation of their union, Unifor Local 444. Nearly 500 members are represented under the agreement, which was ratified on Sunday at the Ciciaro Club. James Stewart, the union's president, told CTV News that talks proved to be 'prolonged' due to the U.S. administration's changes to trade and green energy policy. 'I think the future is still promising,' Stewart said after the vote. 'We do have a problem. The world is getting hotter, and this is one of the avenues people will look at in the future to reduce the footprint.' 072025 - Unifor Windsor James Stewart, President of Unifor Local 444, which now represents nearly 500 members at the NextStar Energy EV battery plant. (Robert Lothian/CTV News Windsor) Uncertainty in the market led the union to bargain a one-year collective agreement with NextStar. The short-term pact, Stewart noted, allows the union to assess the issues of employees and return to the table in the near future. 'It's different than any other workplace, and it's got its own unique set of issues. So we're going to take our time, address those issues and work on what we do in a short period of time, which is a year from now,' Stewart explained. Under the agreement, members will receive a one-time wage increase of 5 per cent, lump sum payments, and increases to their pensions. He recognized employees could eventually be used to produce batteries for ventures outside of vehicles. In the coming months, Stewart said union representation will be 'living in the plant' to ensure workers feel represented and are treated fairly.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
NextStar Energy workers ratify historic first collective agreement
WINDSOR, ON, July 20, 2025 /CNW/ - Unifor members at NextStar Energy have voted 88% in favour of ratifying their first collective agreement, marking a historic milestone for workers at Canada's first large-scale electric vehicle battery cell manufacturing facility. "Bargaining a first collective agreement is never easy, and this one took place in an exceptionally difficult economic and political climate," said Unifor National President Lana Payne. "The work of our bargaining committee at NextStar Energy ensures that as the electric vehicle sector grows, good union jobs grow with it." The one-year agreement includes a 5% wage increase, certifies Unifor and Local 444 as the exclusive bargaining agent for employees at the facility, and delivers important gains on wages, wage progression, pensions, short and long term disability programs, and workplace health and safety, among other improvements. "This is a proud day for our union and for every worker who believed that organizing and standing together would make a difference," said Unifor Local 444 President James Stewart. "By ratifying this collective agreement, our members have secured a voice at work and a seat at the table as this industry takes shape in Canada. We're ready to build the future—together." The one-year term of the agreement positions workers at NextStar Energy to return to the bargaining table in 2026, aligning closely with the next round of Unifor negotiations with Detroit Three automakers. 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. SOURCE Unifor View original content to download multimedia: Sign in to access your portfolio
CTV News
6 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
N.B. school bus drivers, custodians get wage increase in new collective agreement
Thousands of workers in New Brunswick school districts have agreed to a new collective agreement that will increase their wages by $5 per hour over four years. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 1253, which represents more than 3,300 workers, signed the new agreement with the New Brunswick government, according to a news release. Both parties tentatively agreed to the deal in May. CUPE Local 1253 includes school bus drivers, maintenance workers and custodians. The wage increase, which is retroactive to April 1, 2024, will boost hourly wages by $1 in the first year, $1.10 in the second year, $1.30 in the third year and $1.60 in the fourth year, according to the release. The new collective agreement also allows for increases to various allowances, an increase to on-call premiums for weekends and holidays and an adjustment to weekend and split-shift premiums. There is a new bus driver classification that will let districts hire permanent drivers and assign them by geographic location. This move is meant to reduce the number of route cancellations due to driver absenteeism. 'We rely on these employees to keep our education system running smoothly each and every day, whether they are transporting students or keeping the schools clean and in good working order,' said Finance and Treasury Board Minister René Legacy in the release. 'I want to thank the negotiators on both sides who worked diligently to reach a fair and well-deserved deal.' For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
