{{Short description|Trade union in Canada}} {{Infobox organization | name = Unifor | logo = Unifor logo.png | logo_alt = | merged_into = <!-- any other organization(s) which it was merged into --> | successor = | formation = {{start date|2013}} | founder = <!-- or |founders = --> | founding_location = | dissolved = <!-- or |defunct = --><!-- use {{end date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> | merger = {{ubl | Canadian Auto Workers | Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada}} | type = Trade union | headquarters = Toronto, Ontario, Canada | location = Canada | coordinates = <!-- {{coord|LAT|LON|display=inline,title}} --> | fields = <!-- or |field = --> | membership = 310,000 | num_members_year = | languages = {{hlist | English | French}} | leader_title = President | leader_name = Lana Payne | leader_title2 = | leader_name2 = | secessions = | affiliations = {{hlist | IndustriALL Global Union | International Federation of Journalists | International Transport Workers' Federation}} | budget = | budget_year = | revenue = | revenue_year = | expenses = | expenses_year = | endowment = | endowment_year = | num_staff = | num_staff_year = | website = {{official URL}} }}
'''Unifor''' is a Canadian general trade union founded in 2013 as a merger of the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) and Communications, Energy and Paperworkers unions. It consists of 310,000 workers, and associate members in industries including manufacturing, media, aviation, forestry and fishing,<ref>{{cite news|title=‘Unifor’ will be name of new super union that combines CAW and CEP|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2013/05/30/unifor_will_be_name_of_new_super_union_that_combines_caw_and_cep.html|access-date=May 30, 2013|newspaper=Toronto Star|date=May 30, 2013|archive-date=October 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018143317/http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2013/05/30/unifor_will_be_name_of_new_super_union_that_combines_caw_and_cep.html|url-status=live}}</ref> making it the largest private sector union in Canada. In January 2018, the union left the Canadian Labour Congress, Canada's national trade union centre, to become independent.<ref>{{cite news|title=Unifor breaks with Canadian Labour Congress|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/unifor-canadian-labour-congress-1.4492169|access-date=24 January 2018|work=CBC|agency=Canadian Press|date=January 17, 2018|archive-date=23 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180123161733/http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/unifor-canadian-labour-congress-1.4492169|url-status=live}}</ref>
The union elected Jerry Dias, a former union leader at de Havilland's facility in Downsview, as its first president on August 31, 2013.<ref>He politically supports the liberal party of Canada and is a vocal proponent of Justin Trudeau and a staunch critic of opposition leader Andrew sheer [https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2013/08/31/new_superunion_unifor_elects_first_president.html "New super-union Unifor’s first president vows to start pushing back if governments, employers don’t heed."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171015145856/https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2013/08/31/new_superunion_unifor_elects_first_president.html |date=2017-10-15 }}. ''Toronto Star'', August 31, 2013.</ref> He announced his retirement on March 12, 2022, for health reasons.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Unifor |title=Unifor National President Jerry Dias retires |url=https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/unifor-national-president-jerry-dias-retires-895622310.html |access-date=2022-03-13 |website=www.newswire.ca |language=en |archive-date=2022-03-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313213749/https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/unifor-national-president-jerry-dias-retires-895622310.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Split from the Canadian Labour Congress == On January 16, 2018, the National Executive Board of Unifor decided unanimously to discontinue affiliation with the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) and become independent. In a notice posted on their website, they stated their reasons for the split were due to CLC and its affiliates lack of action and will in addressing alleged aggressive and undemocratic tactics of US-based unions towards Canadian locals.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.unifor.org/en/whats-new/news/notice-members-unifors-disaffiliation-canadian-labour-congress|title=Notice to Members on Unifor’s Disaffiliation from the Canadian Labour Congress|date=2018-01-17|website=Unifor|access-date=2019-10-03|archive-date=2019-12-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191230224311/https://www.unifor.org/en/whats-new/news/notice-members-unifors-disaffiliation-canadian-labour-congress|url-status=live}}</ref> The CLC accused Unifor of leaving the congress in order to engage in "raiding" (soliciting members of another union) following an announcement that UNITE HERE Local 75 in Toronto would leave UNITE HERE and join Unifor.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/clc-union-unifor-workers-1.4495389|title=CLC accuses Unifor of leaving lobby group to raid another union|date=2018-01-19|website=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|access-date=2019-10-03|archive-date=2020-11-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109043217/https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/clc-union-unifor-workers-1.4495389|url-status=live}}</ref> CAW, one of Unifor's predecessors, had previously been expelled from the CLC in 1998 due to accusations of raiding.
==Local 1285== {{Infobox organization |name = Unifor Local 1285 |location = Ontario, Canada |num_members = 7,242 (Sept. 2008) |parent_organization = Unifor |affiliations = |headquarters = Brampton, Ontario, Canada |key_people = |former_name = Canadian Auto Workers Local 1285 |image = |founded = May 12, 1961 |website = {{URL|http://uniforlocal1285.ca}} }} Unifor Local 1285 (previously Canadian Auto Workers Local 1285) is a merged local that represents automotive workers in Brampton, Canada. It is the biggest private sector union local in Brampton.<ref>''About Unifor''. (2017, October 13). Unifor National. https://www.unifor.org/en/about-unifor</ref>
Unifor appeared on the Canadian broadcast of Super Bowl LIII in February 2019 to air an advertisement opposing General Motors' decision to shut the Oshawa Car Assembly factory. Unifor received a letter from General Motors (GM) Canada two days before the game. The letter told Unifor to stop airing the commercial and to discontinue an online advertisement on boycotting Mexican-manufactured GM vehicles, stating that this was an attempt to tarnish GM's reputation along with their own. Despite these requests, the campaign ran as planned, with Unifor intended to continue airing it at subsequent significant events.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/gm-unifor-oshawa-super-bowl-ad-1.5004190|title=GM trying to 'intimidate' union from airing Super Bowl ad, Unifor says|website=CBC News|language=en|access-date=2019-02-03|archive-date=2019-02-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190204102247/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/gm-unifor-oshawa-super-bowl-ad-1.5004190|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/gm-unifor-oshawa-super-bowl-ad-1.5004190|title=Unifor airs Super Bowl ad despite GM's cease and desist letter|website=CBC News|language=en|access-date=2019-02-07|archive-date=2019-02-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190204102247/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/gm-unifor-oshawa-super-bowl-ad-1.5004190|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Saskatchewan Crown corporations == Most of Saskatchewan's Provincial Crown corporations employ Unifor members.
* Local 1-S represents workers at SaskTel, Directwest, and SecurTek and is based in Regina.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.unifor.org/en/about-unifor/locals/1-s|title=1-S|date=2017-11-10|website=Unifor National|language=en|access-date=2019-10-19|archive-date=2019-10-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191019065444/https://www.unifor.org/en/about-unifor/locals/1-s|url-status=live}}</ref> * Local 2-S represents workers at SaskTel and is based in Saskatoon.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.unifor.org/en/about-unifor/locals/2-s|title=2-S|date=2017-11-10|website=Unifor National|language=en|access-date=2019-10-19|archive-date=2019-10-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191019043801/https://www.unifor.org/en/about-unifor/locals/2-s|url-status=live}}</ref> * Local 649 represents workers at SaskPower and SaskEnergy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.unifor.org/en/about-unifor/locals/649|title=649|date=2017-11-10|website=Unifor National|language=en|access-date=2019-10-19|archive-date=2019-10-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191019043847/https://www.unifor.org/en/about-unifor/locals/649|url-status=live}}</ref> * Local 820 represents workers at SaskWater and the Water Security Agency.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.unifor.org/en/about-unifor/locals/820|title=820|date=2017-11-10|website=Unifor National|language=en|access-date=2019-10-19|archive-date=2019-10-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191019043804/https://www.unifor.org/en/about-unifor/locals/820|url-status=live}}</ref>
On September 30, 2019, approximately 5,000 Unifor members from all of the above locals began a work-to-rule campaign after failing to negotiate new contracts with the provincial government. By October 4, the job action had escalated into a strike, as all of those workers walked off the job and began picketing, with the exception of those workers working essential roles such as 911 operators, power outage dispatchers, and natural gas leak responders.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/unifor-strike-rally-friday-1.5317641|title=Striking Crown workers and their supporters hold rally, march through downtown Regina|last=Atter|first=Heidi|date=October 11, 2019|work=CBC News|access-date=October 18, 2019|archive-date=October 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191019111055/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/unifor-strike-rally-friday-1.5317641|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/5985674/impasse-unifor-strike-saskatchewan-crowns/|title=Impasse reached, Unifor set to strike against Saskatchewan Crowns|website=Global News|language=en|access-date=2019-10-19|archive-date=2019-10-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191019042250/https://globalnews.ca/news/5985674/impasse-unifor-strike-saskatchewan-crowns/|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Amazon == {{see|Amazon and trade unions}} In July 2025, the BC Labour Relations Board certified Unifor as the union representing Amazon warehouse workers in Delta, British Columbia. It found that management had "engaged in unfair labour practices that interfered with the unionization process."<ref name="July 11, 2025">{{cite news|title=B.C. Labour Board certifies union at Amazon facility in Delta, B.C., Unifor says |last1=Kshatri |first1=Shaurya |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/delta-amazon-facility-unionized-1.7583281}}</ref>
==References== <references> <!---ref>{{cite journal | last = Watson | first = Gary | title = Chrysler Workers In Canada Ratify Contract | journal = The Militant | volume = 60 | issue = 35 | date = 1996-10-07 | url = http://www.themilitant.com/1996/6035/6035_26.html }}</ref>
<ref>{{cite book | first = Sam | last = Gindin | author-link = Sam Gindin | year = 1995 | title = The Canadian Auto Workers | publisher = James Lorimer and Company | isbn = 1-55028-498-3 }}</ref>
<ref>{{cite news | title = Canadian Auto Workers ratify agreement to add jobs, third shift, to Ontario plant| work = The America's Intelligence Wire| date =2004-10-25 | url = http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-14130785_ITM }}</ref>
<ref>{{cite news | last = Higgins| first = Tim| title =Union accepts cuts in pay, jobs: Chrysler Group, CAW compromise | work =Detroit Free Press | date =2007-03-12 | url =http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-29940173_ITM }}</ref>
<ref>{{cite news | title =CAW, DaimlerChrysler deal could add 900 jobs to Ontario plant | work =AP Worldstream via The America's Intelligence Wire | date =2004-10-19 | url =http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-14063961_ITM }}</ref>
---> </references>
==External links== * {{Official website|http://www.unifor.org}}
<!-- {{Canadian Labour Congress}} --> {{Portal bar|Canada|Organized labour}} {{Authority control}}
Category:Unifor Category:International Metalworkers' Federation Category:International Transport Workers' Federation Category:General unions Category:Trade unions in Canada Category:International Federation of Journalists Category:Trade unions established in 2013 Category:2013 establishments in Ontario Category:Organizations based in Toronto