Category: Information

Dear members,

We need your help to save 230 Unifor members’ jobs and thousands more forestry jobs across Nova Scotia – and it will only take a few minutes.

Unifor Local 440 members at Northern Pulp are in a battle to get approval for a brand new, state-of-the-art effluent treatment facility to replace the current system in Boat Harbour, adjacent to Pictou Landing First Nation. But – the company needs the approval of Nova Scotia Environment before construction can begin.

That’s where you can help. If enough people submit supportive comments to Nova Scotia Environment, then we can push the government to save these members’ jobs.

Here are 5 tips to use in your comments:

• Use your expertise as a forestry worker (if applicable)

• Keep it simple, straight-forward and fact-based

• Focus on the mandate of Nova Scotia Environment

• Emphasize the third-party science contained in the Focus Report

• Encourage others to do the same

Are you ready? Email ea@novascotia.ca or click here to submit your comment today. Choose “Replacement Effluent Treatment Facility Project” from the site’s drop-down.

A complicated history with previous owners of the mill has left the community divided and a vocal group is advocating to shut the mill down. Meanwhile Paper Excellence, the new owners since 2011, have invested millions of dollars to upgrade the mill and are ready and eager to spend $130 million more to install this new treatment plant.

A 2,600-page scientific report has been submitted for government review and clearly states this new facility would be well within Nova Scotian and Canadian guidelines.

Our union firmly believes this new facility is the right project to support thousands of good jobs across the province, protect the environment, and respect First Nations. This is what we’ve advocated for all along.

If you want more information before submitting a comment, refer to the NEW Member Guide to Submitting Comments. For some inspiration, I’ve attached a sample submission from a Unifor forestry member. You can read Unifor’s submission here.

There are 88 other pulp and paper mills across Canada that coexist and support their communities. We know Northern Pulp can, too.

Comments close on November 8. That’s just one week away! 

Thank you for your solidarity,

Jerry Dias
Unifor National President

Up to 4 scholarships will be awarded annually to persons undertaking full time post-secondary education at a University or Trade School.  One scholarship is in memory of Shirley Reynolds for $1000.00. The remaining three scholarships will be $750.00 each. The scholarships will be awarded at the end of the first semester.

Applications can be made by any member of the immediate family of a Unifor Local 594 member, or a member of the immediate family whose spouse was a member of Unifor Local 594 and employed by the complex at the time of their death.  Immediate family shall include spouse, children and stepchildren.  If you have previously received a Unifor Local 594 scholarship you are not eligible to apply for another.

Applicants must currently be enrolled in a post-secondary program.

All scholarships awarded are at the discretion of the Finance Committee.

Scholarship applications will be considered according to the following criteria.

Please send a cover letter and supporting documents that outline and describe:

1. Academic Achievement (40% of scoring)
2. 500-1000 Word Essay on “My Career Goals” (40% of scoring)
3. Secondary Teachers’ Report (10% of scoring)  
4. Extra-Curricular Activities (10% of scoring)

APPLICATIONS MUST BE COMPLETED AND MAILED TO:

     Unifor Local 594
     200 Hodsman Road
     Regina, Saskatchewan
     S4N 5X4

OR EMAILED TO: treasurer@unifor594.com

All applications must be post marked by NOVEMBER 1, 2019.

On October 6th, 2019, Regina will be hosting the CIBC Run for the Cure. It is a 5km run or walk to raise awareness of Breast Cancer and its devastating effects on women, men and families across Canada.

Our local has answered the call and we are entering a team this year. The Unifor 594 Support Squad will be there to join the fight alongside many brave families. We would love you to lace up and join us in supporting this important cause. It will be a fun way to meet fellow Unifor 594 members while making a valuable contribution both monetary and in person. Plus, you’ll add some steps to your step counter.

Our local has generously offered to supply us with some kickass team shirts and a pledge of $25.00 to each member if you choose to join our team. There is no limit to the number of members on our team. Men, women and kids are welcome to participate. Like any team, we welcome folks who would like to show their support by cheering us on to the finish line. Register today and become part of something great!

How to join or donate:

1. Click the ‘Join or Donate’ button below or Google CIBC Run for the Cure.
2. Select run location, click ‘sign up’
3. Click ‘join a team’
4. Enter ‘Unifor 594 Support Squad’ and hit search
5. Our team name will pop up under search results, click ‘Join Team’ or ‘Donate’ to donate only
6. Choose if you want to agree to raise $150 and pay no entry fee or just donate the minimum entry fee
7. Set up username, password and finish entering your personal information

You may have received a phone call from myself or Renaud, and a follow up text message or email. Your union is taking on a cross-country member survey in order to better prepare for the upcoming federal election.

This work is of vital importance to our union. When we speak on the federal scene, we are heard because of the size and strength of our membership. Unifor is the voice of working people, and in the upcoming election, your union is doing everything in our power to ensure that workers’ priorities are front and centre.

I hope that you encourage all members to participate in this process, so that they can be entered to win this awesome prize.

Complete the survey now. Start by calling 647-697-5889 or by visiting this link: https://apps.facebook.com/my-polls/2019-election-survey

In solidarity,

Jerry Dias

National President
Président national

Unifor recognizes that the costs associated with post-secondary education is a challenge for many working-class families.  To assist in making education more accessible, we’ve established 28 scholarships of $2,000.00 each.  Five of these scholarships are administered by the Quebec Council with a separate application form (see www.uniforquebec.org).  Residents of Quebec must apply using that application process.

The scholarships are awarded to children of Unifor members in good standing.  Students must be entering their first year of full-time post-secondary education (university, community college, technological institute, trade school, etc.) in a public Canadian institution.  One of these scholarships will also be available to a Unifor member with at least one year seniority.  These are entrance Scholarships only and are not renewable for students entering subsequent years of study.

Online Registration Process

Detailed information about eligibility and how to apply for a scholarship can be found in the following document:  Application Description and Instructions

In order for your application to be complete, you must have the following document signed by a Local Union Officer and ready for upload with your application documents:  Local Signature Form

Using the Online Application

Your application must be submitted using the online application form no later than June 7, 2019.

All applicants will be notified by email after July 19 of the disposition of their application. 

Click on the appropriate link below to complete your online application.  Please ensure that you have read the instructions carefully, and have the following documents ready on your device for upload with your application:

1)  Current high school transcript (children of Unifor members only)

2)  Reference letter

3)  Local Union Officer signature form

4)  Essay

Please note that any partially completed applications, or applications missing any of the required documents, will result in an error message, and cannot be submitted.  Please ensure you have all documents available before submitting.

Click here to apply as the child of a Unifor member.

Click here to apply as a Unifor Member.

Questions?   Email scholarships@unifor.org

Visit the website for all the details: https://www.unifor.org/en/education/scholarships

This year on Tuesday, April 9, 2019, Unifor marks Equal Pay Day. This date is designated each year as the time when women will finally earn the same wage that men did in 2018!

Join Unifor to take action to close the gender wage gap with these four steps and let’s make some noise!  

1. Wear red on Tuesday April 9 because the gender pay gap leaves women, “in the red” and help us send a united visual message with your selfie or group photo.
2. Share your “red” solidarity photos on social media and email your images to communications@unifor.org!
3. Share these Unifor graphics to show how to close the gap on women’s wages. On social media please include the hashtag #EqualPayDay
4. Contact your provincial and federal representatives to ask that they take meaningful actions to finally end the gender wage gap. Start with this letter demanding pay transparency and action on universal child care.

Click the links to find out why Unifor is asking consumers to boycott purchasing GM vehicles made in Mexico. 

Boycott Mexico GM Why

Boycott

Unifor marks December 6, the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women with a call to action to make our workplaces and communities safer.

As we remember the 13 engineering students and one worker who were murdered at l’École Polytechnique de Montréal in 1989, we also commemorate all the missing and murdered Indigenous women, trans women, and all women whose lives have been harmed or lost to gender-based violence.

Each year, Unifor supports the crucial work of women’s shelters across the country through donations between November 25 and December 6. These donations are a small but important contribution towards the chronically underfunded shelter system.

Our greater goal is to end the need for shelters and work toward safer workplaces and communities. Join us today and every day.
For more information please visit https://www.unifor.org/en/whats-new/briefs-statements/national-day-remembrance-and-action-violence-against-women-1

Unifor Sisters, Brothers, Friends

Please Join Us!

Rally for Accountability

Thursday, October 25^th

Noon at the Sask Legislature

2405 Legislative Dr., Regina

 

The Saskatchewan Party government has wasted record revenues.

Now they’re cutting public services, seeking wage rollbacks and continuing to attack our Crown Corporations.

Join us as we rally for accountability on this first day of the fall session at the Legislature in Regina.

Transportation – there are buses available at locations around the province to transport folks to the rally.

Please visit WhereDidTheMoneyGo.org for transportation options.

For more information about the rally, please contact Dave Lyons-Morgan at dave.lyons-morgan@unifor.org

 

Rally4Accountability