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Leaving No One Behind

International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples

Unifor commemorates the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples on Monday, August 9 and this year’s commemoration focuses on the theme “Leaving no one behind: Indigenous peoples and the call for a new social contract”.

On this day, we honour and recognize the diverse culture, history and achievements of Indigenous Peoples here in Canada and around the world. We call on all governments worldwide and for all Canadians to recognize and respect Indigenous rights wherever Indigenous citizens reside.

The International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples was first established by the United Nations in 1994 to mark the day of the first meeting of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations. On this day, people around the world are encouraged to spread the UN’s message on the protection and promotion of the rights of Indigenous Peoples.

The Covid 19 pandemic has laid bare the inequalities affecting Indigenous communities in Canada and around the world. The United Nations has called for plans to build stronger, equity-focused health systems and to strengthen social protections and public services that are based on the genuine inclusion, participation, and approval of Indigenous peoples.

What would a new social contract between citizens and states that secures rights and dignity for all and leave no one behind look like? That addresses the needs of groups that are often left out? The choices made by world leaders must heed the calls create a just and sustainable future that ensures that all people can share in prosperity. We need a new social contract that delivers recovery and resilience.

In the upcoming year, our union will work to pressure the Government of Canada to act on the following:

  • Act for truth and reconciliation by fully implementing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
  • Make urgent, systemic changes to protect Indigenous women and girls and two-spirited people. The 231 calls for justice issued two years ago by the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and two-spirited (MMIWG2S). The federal government’s recent response to the report was inadequate and more work is needed.
  • Demand that all Members of Parliament be a vocal supporter of the 94 Calls to Action issued by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. They are an urgent call to action for government and organizations to take meaningful action on a many outstanding issues, ranging from protecting language and culture to education to ensuring justice for the victims of residential school violence.

Online Events

The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues 2021 Virtual Commemoration

August 9, 2021 9 a.m.–11 a.m. EDT

Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_I_WCWGQbQjC0K4S3U5bOMQ

The 2021 commemoration of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples will feature a virtual interactive discussion on the distinct elements to be considered when building and redesigning a new social contract that is inclusive of Indigenous peoples—where Indigenous peoples’ own forms of governance and ways of life must be respected and based on their free, prior and informed consent and genuine and inclusive participation and partnership.

New Video – Drag the Red campaign

Unifor is a key supporter and sponsor of the Winnipeg community-driven campaign to drag the Red River in Manitoba. When the community organizers needed a new vessel to continue their work, Unifor made a donation from the Canadian Community Fund to supply a new purpose-built aluminum boat.

Watch the new video documenting the Drag the Red Boat launch and the history and context of this important project.

Video screenshot of an aluminum boat with a red canopy on the Red River. The boat says Drag the Red on the side and has a Unifor logo on the hull.

 

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Ne laisser personne de côté

Journée internationale des peuples autochtones

Unifor commémore la Journée internationale des peuples autochtones le lundi 9 août et la commémoration de cette année porte sur le thème « Ne laisser personne de côté : Les peuples autochtones et l’appel à un nouveau contrat social ».

En ce jour, nous honorons et reconnaissons la diversité de la culture, de l’histoire et des réalisations des peuples autochtones, ici au Canada et dans le monde entier. Nous demandons à tous les gouvernements du monde entier et à tous les Canadiens et Canadiennes de reconnaître et de respecter les droits des autochtones, où qu’ils résident.

La Journée internationale des peuples autochtones a été instituée par les Nations Unies en 1994 pour marquer le jour de la première réunion du Groupe de travail des Nations Unies sur les populations autochtones. À l’occasion de cette journée, les gens du monde entier sont encouragés à diffuser le message de l’ONU sur la protection et la promotion des droits des peuples autochtones.

La pandémie de la COVID-19 a mis à nu les inégalités dont souffrent les communautés autochtones du Canada et du monde entier. Les Nations Unies ont demandé que des plans soient élaborés pour mettre en place des systèmes de santé plus solides, axés sur l’équité, et pour renforcer les protections sociales et les services publics fondés sur l’inclusion, la participation et l’approbation véritables des peuples autochtones.

À quoi ressemblerait un nouveau contrat social entre les citoyens et les États qui garantirait les droits et la dignité de tous et ne laisserait personne de côté? Un contrat qui réponde aux besoins des groupes qui sont souvent laissés pour compte? Les choix faits par les dirigeants mondiaux doivent tenir compte des appels à créer un avenir juste et durable qui garantisse que tous les peuples puissent partager la prospérité. Nous avons besoin d’un nouveau contrat social qui assure la reprise et la résilience.

Au cours de l’année à venir, notre syndicat s’efforcera de faire pression sur le gouvernement du Canada pour qu’il agisse sur les points suivants:

  • Agir pour la vérité et la réconciliation en mettant pleinement en œuvre la Déclaration des Nations Unies sur les droits des peuples autochtones (DNUDPA).
  • Apporter des changements systémiques urgents pour protéger les femmes et les filles autochtones et les personnes bi-spirituelles. Les 231 appels à la justice lancés il y a deux ans dans le rapport de l’Enquête nationale sur les femmes, les filles et les personnes bispirituelles autochtones disparues et assassinées (FFADA2S). La réponse récente du gouvernement fédéral à ce rapport est inadéquate, il faut poursuivre le travail.
  • Réclamer que tous les membres du Parlement soutiennent avec force les 94 appels à l’action lancés par la Commission Vérité et Réconciliation. Il s’agit d’un appel urgent à l’action pour que le gouvernement et les organisations prennent des mesures significatives sur un grand nombre de questions en suspens, allant de la protection de la langue et de la culture à l’éducation, en passant par la garantie de justice pour les victimes de violence dans les pensionnats.

Événements en ligne

Commémoration virtuelle de l’Instance permanente des Nations Unies sur les questions autochtones 2021

Le 9 août 2021 de 9 h à 11 h HNE

Lien pour s’inscrire: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_I_WCWGQbQjC0K4S3U5bOMQ

La commémoration en 2021 de la Journée internationale des peuples autochtones donnera lieu à une discussion interactive virtuelle sur les éléments distincts à prendre en compte lors de l’élaboration et de la refonte d’un nouveau contrat social incluant les peuples autochtones – où les formes de gouvernance et les modes de vie propres aux peuples autochtones doivent être respectés et fondés sur leur consentement libre, préalable et éclairé, ainsi que sur une participation et un partenariat authentiques et inclusifs.

Nouvelle vidéo – Campagne « Drag the Red »

Unifor soutient et commandite de façon importante la campagne menée par la communauté de Winnipeg pour draguer la rivière Rouge au Manitoba. Lorsque les organisateurs communautaires ont eu besoin d’un nouveau bateau pour poursuivre leur travail, Unifor a fait un don du Fonds communautaire canadien pour fournir un nouveau bateau en aluminium spécialement conçu à cette fin.

Regardez la nouvelle vidéo sur le lancement du bateau « Drag the Red » ainsi que sur l’histoire et le contexte de cet important projet.

Capture d'écran vidéo d'un bateau en aluminium avec un auvent rouge sur la rivière Rouge. Le bateau porte l'inscription Drag the Red sur le côté et le logo d'Unifor sur la coque.

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All GRT buses to be outfitted with device to control traffic lights

All GRT buses to be outfitted with device to control traffic lights

Waterloo Region Record
By Johanna Weidner
May 16, 2017

WATERLOO REGION — Waterloo Region plans to outfit all Grand River Transit buses with a device to control traffic lights.

“It gives transit vehicles a small advantage which makes transit services more attractive to commuters,” said Peter Zinck, assistant director of transit services.

The total cost would be $1.1 million, including installation and taxes, with $500,000 coming from a federal subsidy.

Currently, 30 buses are outfitted with the traffic signal priority units. They’re used on the iXpress Route 200 along the Hespeler Road and University Avenue corridors, and transit queue jump lanes that are located at three intersections along Hespeler Road.

Buying another 221 control units would outfit the remainder of the fleet, leaving 10 spares.

“The equipment needs to be on all vehicles because we move them around,” Zinck said.

The devices allow a bus running behind schedule in key areas to shorten red lights or extend green lights at intersections, activate transit-only signals at intersections with transit queue jump lanes, and to control gate systems at transit garages and other locations.

Planning and works committee chair Coun. Tom Galloway asked how much disruption the priority signals have on regular traffic.

“There’s a time frame for the system to recover,” Galloway said.

Thomas Schmidt, the region’s commissioner of transportation and environmental services, said it does not give buses automatic priority like with ambulances, and it’s only used at certain locations.

While there is some disruption to other vehicle traffic, Schmidt said that “we feel that overall there’s benefit.”

Transit signal priority minimizes delays, providing a shorter and more consistent trip time. Shorter trip schedules can reduce the number of buses allotted to a particular route, resulting in lower operating costs and increased customer satisfaction, said the report given to the committee on Tuesday.

All of the region’s traffic signal control equipment is outfitted with the system. Grand River Transit will work with the transportation division to determine the best locations for transit signal priority and mitigate the impact on traffic flow.

“They’ll be more locations through the region as transit grows,” Zinck said.

The plan, approved by the committee, will need final approval from council at its next meeting.

Source: All GRT buses to be outfitted with device to control traffic lights

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Grand River Transit installing new fare boxes on buses

Grand River Transit installing new fare boxes on buses

New fare boxes have coloured LCD screen, printed transfers and temporary ticket container beside fare box

CBC News
April 23, 2017

Waterloo region residents who take Grand River Transit (GRT) on a regular basis will gradually start to notice new installed fare boxes.

So far, GRT has been testing the new fare boxes on four of its buses. On Monday, a fifth bus will have a new fare box installed, followed by a sixth bus on Tuesday.

“As we find our feet, the rate of installing fare boxes will gradually increase,” said Gethyn Beniston, project manager for electronic fare systems for Waterloo region.

Riders will notice that the new fare boxes have a coloured LCD screen, transfers will be printed rather than given by the bus operator and there will be a temporary ticket container located beside fare box.

Beniston adds that it may take about two months for all of GRT buses to be equipped with the new fare boxes.

‘One system, one fare’

The new fare boxes are designed to take the new EasyGo fare card, which will eventually become the new form of paying for public transit.

However, the EasyGo card will only be available once all GRT buses have the new fare boxes installed. For now, riders can use cash (coins only), transfers and paper tickets when using the new fare boxes.

GRT will eventually stop selling paper tickets as well, said Beniston and adds that the public will get a few months’ notice before that happens.

Once the ION starts to operate, riders will be able to use the same transfer from buses to the ION service and vise versa.

“It will be one system, one fare,” said Beniston. “We need to get people to ION so they can take advantage of ION to get around the city and we don’t want fares to be an impediment to doing that so the transfers should make it easy.”

Source: Grand River Transit installing new fare boxes on buses

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Region of Waterloo and transit union ratify labour deal

Region of Waterloo and transit union ratify labour deal

Wage increases of 1.5 per cent in 2017, 1.75 per cent in 2018, and 2.00 per cent in 2019

CBC News
April 13, 2017

The Region of Waterloo has ratified a labour agreement with the union representing 644 Grand River Transit workers, ensuring bus service on regional and city streets will continue without interruption.

The 36-month agreement with Unifor Local 4304 is retroactive, beginning Jan. 1, 2017, and ending Dec. 31, 2019.

In it, the region agreed to wage increases for union members: 1.5 per cent on Jan. 1, 2017; 1.75 per cent on Jan. 1, 2018; and 2 per cent on Jan. 1, 2019.

The agreement follows an intense period of negotiations earlier this year, which came to a head in early April after the union rejected a tentative agreement with the region.

There were threats of a strike on Monday, April 3, but that job action was avoided when the region and the union reached a second tentative agreement.

Workplace health and safety, along with other workplace issues, were the main points of discussion in the negotiations, according to both regional officials and union representatives.

Source: Region of Waterloo and transit union ratify labour deal

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GRT to test driver shields on new buses

GRT to test driver shields on new buses

Waterloo Region Record
By Anam Latif
April 7, 2017

WATERLOO REGION — Driver shields will appear on a few new Grand River Transit buses next year as part of a pilot project.

The move comes after the transit service’s union asked for better protection on the job. Earlier this week, Unifor 4304, the union representing 644 Grand River Transit workers, ratified a new contract with the Region of Waterloo.

A test run of driver shields on new buses was one of the union’s requests.

“The members really wanted this,” said Rick Lonergan, union president.

“The drivers feel vulnerable because they are on the front lines.”

The region ordered 20 new buses expected to arrive in the fall. Eight of those buses will be retrofitted with the clear, plastic shields as part of the pilot project. Those are expected to hit the roads in January 2018.

Lonergan said there are four types of shields available and the region plans to test them all to see which ones work best for Grand River Transit.

“It will address some safety issues,” said Eric Gillespie, director of transit services for the Region of Waterloo.

He said the initiative did come about through contract negotiations, but it was also an issue that had been raised at Grand River Transit’s employee health and safety committee.

The region plans to test the shields for three to four months and plan to gather feedback from drivers and riders during that time frame.

“The drivers just want to get home safe,” Lonergan said.

The recent stabbing death of a bus driver in Winnipeg also has local drivers on edge.

Bus drivers can often feel unsafe, especially when faced with behaviour like verbal abuse and spitting. Lonergan said both are common on Grand River Transit buses.

Physical altercations are rare, but they have happened, he added.

“Fortunately we live in a community where it’s mostly safe, but you never know who is getting on the bus and what they might be concealing,” he said.

That’s why he’s glad to see the region commit to testing out driver shields.

“It’s a positive approach.”

A handful of Ontario cities have driver shields on buses including Brampton and Toronto.

Lonergan said in Toronto, drivers have the option to fold away the shields if they don’t want to use them. Some models can also be folded in half.

The union’s new three-year collective agreement includes improved safety and discipline procedures and recognized maintenance protocols. It also includes wage increases of 1.5, 1.75 and 2 per cent over three years.

Source: GRT to test driver shields on new buses

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GRT bus drivers to get shields under new pilot project

GRT bus drivers to get shields under new pilot project

Operators ‘led to believe that being verbally assaulted or spit on is part of the job’

CBC News
April 5, 2017

Some Grand River Transit bus drivers will work behind shields starting early next year as part of a new pilot project.

The shields were part of the contract negotiations between Unifor, the union which represents bus operators and maintenance staff, and the Region of Waterloo.

Local 4304 president Rick Lonergan said safety is a top concern for bus operators.

“The members really wanted this,” Lonergan told CBC News.

“We feel it’s better to be proactive and not to be reactive of that event. Fortunately, we live in a mostly safe, secure community,” he said.

Lonergan said drivers are concerned after a rise in physical abuse in other cities, including a Winnipeg bus driver who was stabbed to death in February.

Operators ‘very excited’

Physical assaults on GRT buses are rare, Lonergan said, but there are other confrontations.

“I think that they’ve been led to believe that being verbally assaulted or spit on is part of the job,” Lonergan said, adding he hears about those kinds of attacks more and more.

“I hear about them, other people hear about them,” he said, adding some drivers have raised concerns because they don’t know if a passenger is carrying a concealed weapon such as a knife.

“The biggest part of this bargaining, I believe, had to do with health and safety and when [the bus operators] saw they were going to get some help, perhaps with protection from shields, they got very excited about that.”

Eight buses will get four different types of shields for the pilot project. The shields will be installed on new buses, which are expected to arrive in the region in November and to go into service in January.

The region and Unifor ratified a new contract on Monday. The new contract also gives employees a 5.25 per cent raise over three years and improved working conditions.

Source: GRT bus drivers to get shields under new pilot project

 

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No strike at GRT, workers ratify new contract

No strike at GRT, workers ratify new contract

570 News
By Leah Johansen
April 3, 2017

Over 600 transit workers with Grand River Transit have ratified a new contract averting a strike.

In a statement, Unifor Local 4304 President Rick Lonergan says “with this deal, Unifor helped to ensure that safer buses are on the streets for both the drivers and the public.”

One of the main issues highlighted by GRT workers was workplace health and safety.

The new collective agreement improves safety procedures, recognized maintenance protocols, and a trial process for driver shields on new buses.

It also ensures wage increases of 1.5, 1.75 and 2 per cent over the next three-years.

Source: No strike at GRT, workers ratify new contract

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Grand River Transit contract ratified, ensuring safer buses on the streets

Grand River Transit contract ratified, ensuring safer buses on the streets

Unifor Canada
April 3, 2017

KITCHENER, – Members of Unifor Local 4304, more than 600 transit workers with Grand River Transit, ratified a new contract today, averting a strike in Kitchener-Waterloo and Cambridge later this week.

“The bargaining committee worked day and night through the weekend to bring the membership a new contract that addressed their major concerns,” said Jenny Ahn, Assistant to National President Jerry Dias.

Unifor Local 4304 President Rick Lonergan said the deal is good for both the public and the workers at Grand River Transit.

“With this deal, Unifor helped to ensure that safer buses are on the streets for both the drivers and the public,” Lonergan said.

The new collective agreement with Grand River Transit establishes improved safety procedures, recognized maintenance protocols, a trial process for driver shields on new buses, and other improvements. It also contains improved discipline procedures to ensure greater fairness for workers and wage increases of 1.5, 1.75 and 2 per cent over a three-year contract.

“The drivers have done their part to address the financial challenges facing the region,” Ahn said. “Now the real work begins for the employer to resolve the serious cost issues it faces elsewhere.”

An initial strike deadline set for 5a.m. today was moved to 5a.m. Wednesday, April 5 after a tentative deal was reached Sunday afternoon. Talks with the Region began in December 2016. Unifor Local 4304 represents transit operators, service attendants and skilled trades workers at Grand River Transit.

“Safety and fairness were our primary concerns going into these talks, and the union is pleased with the progress made to achieve those goals,” said Unifor National Representative Tim Mitchell.

For more information, please contact Unifor Communications National Representative Stuart Laidlaw at stuart.laidlaw@unifor.org or (cell) 647-385-4054.

Source: Grand River Transit contract ratified, ensuring safer buses on the streets

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Waterloo Region and Grand River Transit reach tentative agreement Sunday

Waterloo Region and Grand River Transit reach tentative agreement Sunday

Workplace health and safety was among the main points of discussion in the negotiations

CBC News
April 2, 2017

Bus service in Waterloo region will continue Monday as the Unifor Local 4304, which represents 644 Grand River Transit workers, has reached a tentative agreement with the Region.

Unifor announced on Thursday that workers were going on strike as of 5:00 a.m. Monday, April 3 if a deal had not been reached, after the union rejected a tentative agreement with the Region last week.

However, after negotiations resumed over the weekend, an agreement was met between both parties, avoiding a possible strike and disruption to public transit.

“After intense negotiations this weekend, the union is pleased to have reached a mutual agreement with the employer to address Unifor’s main concerns, and will keep our drivers on the road serving the people of Kitchener-Waterloo and Cambridge,” Tim Mitchell, Unifor national representative, said in a statement Sunday.

Workplace health and safety, along with other workplace issues, were the main points of discussion in the negotiations, which started in December 2016.

According to the statement released by Unifor, ratification votes will be held Monday and a new strike deadline has been set for 5:00 a.m. Wednesday, April 5 in the event the union does not ratify the agreement.

Source: Waterloo Region and Grand River Transit reach tentative agreement Sunday

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GRT buses running Monday, new tentative deal reached

GRT buses running Monday, new tentative deal reached

570 News
By Leah Johansen
April 2, 2017

A new tentative agreement has been reached between the Region of Waterloo and the union representing Grand River Transit workers.

As a result, local bus service will run as usual on Monday.

A tentative agreement was reached almost two weeks ago, but Unifor Local 4304 did not ratify the terms of a new contract.

In a released posted on Sunday by the union, Unifor National Representative Tim Mitchell says “after intense negotiations this weekend, the union is pleased to have reached a mutual agreement with the employer to address Unifor’s main concerns, and will keep our drivers on the road serving the people of Kitchener-Waterloo and Cambridge.”

One of the issues highlighted by GRT workers is workplace health and safety.

The union represents over 660 employees at Grand River Transit and Great Canadian Holidays & Coaches.

Details of the new contract will not be released unit a deal has been ratified.

If the new deal is not ratified at the vote on Monday, a new strike deadline has been set for Wednesday, April 5th at 5 a.m.

Source: GRT buses running Monday, new tentative deal reached

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