Special Events

Black History Month 2021 – The History of Our Breath

The History of Our Breath

During Black History Month, we celebrate the many achievements and contributions of Black Canadians who, throughout history, have done so much to make Canada the culturally diverse, compassionate and prosperous nation it is today.

This Black History Month we want to speak to the importance of our breath.

Breathing is an exchange of the experience, knowledge and contributions of Black people. At the 2017 Ontario Regional Council, Bermuda Public Service Union Vice President Linda Bogle Mienzer delivered a powerful speech about allowing people to breathe in their full identity in order to live. We see globally that is contested for Black people. The epidemic of extreme police violence, most recently epitomized by George Floyd’s murder at the hands of Minneapolis police, proves that “I can’t breathe” is still an urgent rallying call for systemic change. Breath is vital and it is essential for life.

Black History Month should not only be about struggle, is about the resilience of people, but it is also about the determination, the success and accomplishments of Black people.

Just like the millions of people who marched, declaring boldly, that Black Lives Matter, our goal is for Black members to feel comfortable in their diverse identities to breathe in all of our spaces, including at their workplaces, union events and activities.

We will celebrate Black history, Black present and Black future, not only during the month of February, but every day.

This year, Unifor reaffirms our commitment to listen, acknowledge, support, and make space for Black people in our locals, workplaces, communities. We have many Black leaders in our union and we are committed to supporting their success.

Unifor will be featuring Black Unifor members from across the country in short videos speaking to the “History of our breath” on our social media channels.

Please share those and this powerful message, the attached shareable and please support virtual Black history events and organizations in your community.

Happy Black History Month.

Unifor – Kitchener Virtual Area Meeting

When: 6PM on Tuesday, November 17, 2020
To RSVP visit: https://www.uniforvotes.ca/kitchener
For more information contact Tim Mitchell at: Tim.Mitchell@unifor.org

Unifor’s Ontario Area Meetings are back! Are you in?

Gather with fellow Unifor members online to reconnect and strategize about issues relevant to workers in your part of the province.

Ontario’s workers are facing growing stress and continue to organize and fight for the kind of lasting, systemic change necessary to build back better after the COVID-19 pandemic.

RSVP today to secure your spot in the first ever virtual Ontario Area Meetings.

This meeting is open to all members. Zoom Meeting information will be emailed out to all participants the morning of the event.

We will see you there!

A Sneak Peek at the Agenda:

• Introductions from Tim Mitchell, Area Director
• Current issues for Ontario Workers with Naureen Rizvi, Ontario Regional Director
• Sector updates:
  • Health Care with Andy Savela
  • Hospitality with Deb Tveit
  • Transportation with Len Poirier
  • Gaming and Transit with Chris MacDonald
• From CERB to CRB, Navigating COVID Benefits
• Safe and Secure Online Elections through Simply Voting
• Local Union Reports
• Question Period
• How Workers Can Prepare for the Next Federal Election

Unifor National – Kitchener Virtual Area Meeting – 6PM on Tuesday, November 17, 2020

Unifor’s Ontario Area Meetings are back! Are you in?

Gather with fellow Unifor members online to reconnect and strategize about issues relevant to workers in your part of the province.

Ontario’s workers are facing growing stress and continue to organize and fight for the kind of lasting, systemic change necessary to build back better after the COVID-19 pandemic.

RSVP today to secure your spot in the first ever virtual Ontario Area Meetings.

This meeting is open to all members. Zoom Meeting information will be emailed out to all participants the morning of the event.

We will see you there!

Visit https://www.uniforvotes.ca/kitchener to RSVP

When: Tuesday, November 17, 202 @ 6PM

Union Savings 30th Anniversary Sweepstakes

Unifor Local 4304 is proud to be affiliated with the Union Savings discount program to offer all our members discounts on many goods and services.  Consider entering the Union Savings 30th Anniversary Sweepstakes for a chance to win prizes!

2019 Unifor Family Day at Canada’s Wonderland

2019 Unifor Family Education Program

Since the early 1970’s our Union has offered a Family Education Program for members and their families. The program takes place during the summer months at the Unifor Family Education Centre in Port Elgin, Ontario.

If selected by the union to attend, members agree to give their personal time and the national union covers costs for meals and accommodations while at the Unifor Family Education Centre, and where required, air travel.

Preteens participate in recreational programs run by fully-trained child care workers and counsellors.

Teenagers participate in a specially-designed program which recognizes their unique interests but also incorporates the issues of social unionism in their curriculum.

Adults, both members and their spouse/partner, combine learning and recreational activities and come away from the program with a better understanding of how to integrate trade unionism and social activism in the life of the family and community. Through small group discussions, case studies, video presentations, guest speakers, role plays, art, music and other activities, participants draw from their own experiences and learn from each other about environmental, workplace, political, human rights, and social issues affecting all of us, our families, and working people around the world.

Every Unifor member, and their immediate family members, including dependent children up to 18 years of age, are eligible to attend the Family Education Program.

If you are interested in attending the Unifor Family Education Program please download an application form here: https://www.unifor.org/sites/default/files/attachments/2019_application.pdf

March 8 – International Women’s Day

Dear members,

International Women’s Day is a global day of celebration of women and women’s achievements. It was started by working women to call attention to poor pay and working conditions. It grew to include a call for women’s right to vote and stand for office. Today it is a day to celebrate equality gains and recommit to action and persistence towards full equality for all equity-seeking groups.

Unifor marks International Women’s Day with an intersectional approach to gender equality and a particular recognition of the barriers facing Indigenous women, women with disAbilities, non-binary people, racialized and trans women.

Women’s inequality is glaringly evident in the gender pay gap, low numbers of women in leadership, high rates of gender-based violence and the frustrating lack of action on structures of equality such as universal child care.

Government leaders at the municipal, provincial and especially federal levels play an integral role in advancing gender equity. Member mobilization will ramp up in the months and weeks preceding the federal election, as we set up efforts to ensure that public policy, legislation and government action prioritizes gender equality.

Our struggles, recent and historic, for the advancement of workers’ rights reminds us that change happens through collective action. Join the International Women’s Day march in your community, and be active in the push for true gender equality.

For a complete list of marches across Canada, please click HERE

In Solidarity,

Lisa Kelly
Director, Women’s Department
Unifor Canada

Unifor National Event: Farts & Darts

National Chili Cook-Off & Dart Tournament sponsored by Unifor P.O.E.M. (Perth, Oxford, Essex, Middlesex) Recreation Council

When:
April 6, 2019 11AM-4PM

Where:
Unifor Local 88, 364 Victoria St., Ingersoll

Details:
Chefs and Dart Players must be Unifor members or family
Registration $10 per chili entry
Registration $20 per dart player
Registration $25 for both chilli and darts
Dart players will be in teams of 4 people
Cash prizes will be awarded
Open to the public for chilli tasting – $5 for 3 samples
Deadline for registration is April 1, 2019
Cash Bar will be available
All proceeds from the ‘tasters’ tickets will go to support STICH Supper Club in Ingersoll.  Everyone is welcome to be a chilli taster!

How:
For more information and to register, contact jeweleryjulie@hotmail.com 519-993-7756 OR Jean Simpson 519-494-3396
Payment can be made be e-transfer to jeweleryjulie@hotmail.com OR by cheque made out to ‘Unifor POEM Council’

NOTE: Dart players will be required to sign a Release of Liability Waiver of Claim, Assumption of Risks and Indemnity Agreement prior to the start of their first game.