Unifor 'pushing and advocating' for laid-off Irving Paper workers
CBC
Unifor says it won't stop fighting for unionized paper mill workers receiving layoff notices this week from J.D. Irving Ltd.
Jennifer Murray, Atlantic regional director of Unifor, said 100 of the 140 people laid off from Irving's Saint John paper mill workforce are Unifor members.
"Today, we have to point our heads to these young families in Saint John and what their futures will look like," Murray told CBC Radio's Shift. "We're not going to stop pushing and advocating for these workers."
Workers of these specialized jobs were notified Monday they would be laid off officially within 45 days, said Murray.
"People are thrown into chaos … wondering where are they going, how are they going to put food on the table," said Murray.
The company has blamed the workforce cuts on what it called the province's "uncompetitive industrial electricity rates," saying increasing costs made it difficult for the company to remain competitive in an international market.
Murray said JDI was in discussion with Unifor regarding rising energy costs. Unifor had several meetings with the provincial government to find strategies to protect these jobs.
"The timing of this was not expected," said Murray. "Obviously, this demonstrates the importance of collaborating and moving forward together."
She said it's been all hands on deck since the news, with local and national members of the union meeting with JDI and government to make sure these workers' needs are met.
So far, JDI has said there may be opportunities for some of these workers to be put in positions elsewhere within the company. Murray said it is still very early in those discussions and how many workers may get these opportunities is unknown.
She is hopeful that JDI will reconsider these layoffs.
Unifor had a meeting with Natural Resources Minister John Herron Tuesday on strategies to bolster the forestry industry in the province.
Murray said these layoffs are just another blow to the industry that is already facing the threat of tariffs from the U.S.
"There hasn't been a whole lot of optimism in our conversations," said Murray.
Six years after e-learning became a mandatory requirement to get an Ontario high school diploma, students don't appear to be taking online school to diversify their course selection as the province had intended, according to a CBC News analysis of provincial enrolment data.
Sarnia City Council will hold a special meeting Tuesday morning to respond to social media comments made by Coun. Bill Dennis, who criticized city spending on a new mural by Indigenous artist Kennady Osborne as “virtue signalling by woke politicians” — then made a series of comments in response to a reply from Aamjiwnaang Chief Janelle Nahmabin that some have characterized as unprofessional and aggressive.
While many Albertans continue to feel the pinch at the pump, Premier Danielle Smith says the government is not considering any fuel tax breaks, as it does not believe it will make much of a difference.
WARNING: This story contains disturbing details about gruesome deaths and sexual abuse.
Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) says they will take part in the federal government's buyback program for assault-style rifles this year, but a local member of parliament says she "can't get behind this decision."
The use of American contracts and services is down by nearly half on Prince Edward Island following tariffs and shaky trade relations under the Donald Trump administration.
The first set of deadlines included in the energy and climate deal struck between Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith are not expected to be met, showing early challenges with the agreement that includes pursuing a new export pipeline from Alberta to the West Coast.
Mayoral-hopeful Coun. Brad Bradford is calling for a host of safety measures across Toronto’s subway system, including a specific focus on platform edge doors, with a motion before city council this week.
When the one-star reviews first began to appear on his restaurant's Google page, owner Damon Ataei swung into action, trying to contact each reviewer.
The Mounties called it the "Native extremism program." Today, it sounds like a spy novel.
A judge is expected to rule in June on a proposed settlement for a class-action lawsuit involving a crash landing of an Air Canada flight in Halifax more than a decade ago.
An inmate who was on the loose after escaping a jail in Shediac has been caught, New Brunswick RCMP said in a press release late Monday afternoon.
Premier Wab Kinew draped the Manitoba flag over an empty seat as politicians from across the aisle said goodbye to one of their own in an emotional tribute at the legislature on Monday.