Unifor organizes actions on NAFTA across Canada this Friday

TORONTO, Oct. 19, 2017 /CNW/ - With the current talks to renew the North American Free Trade Agreement facing new challenges, Unifor is holding simultaneous rallies across Canada to call on Canadian negotiators to stick with the progressive agenda that Canada has put forward for these talks.

"The renegotiation of NAFTA is an opportunity to repair what is wrong with the deal, and to put the needs of working people and their communities first," said Unifor National President Jerry Dias.

"For too long, trade deals have prioritized the wishes of corporations and investors, and that must change."

The rallies will be part of a Canada-wide action in six communities from Halifax to Surrey, BC, to encourage the federal government to continue to push for a better NAFTA. Several of the rallies will be held outside the constituency offices of local MPs.

This past week Unifor sent representatives to Ottawa who met with numerous MPs and called for a renewed NAFTA that puts the needs of workers and their communities first. Unifor stressed that the government should continue to push stronger labour rights and work protections in all NAFTA countries along with a range of other recommendations to reform auto trade, safeguard Canada's culture, remove extraordinary investor privileges among other issues. 

Here is a complete list of the rallies. For details, go to uinifor.org/events:

• Surrey, British Columbia: 9:00 a.m. PST Sukh Dhaliwal, MP Surrey-Newton Constituency Office, #202 - 12992 76 Ave.
• Windsor, Ontario: Noon EST, Unifor Local 195/2458 Labour Centre, 3400 Somme Ave.
• Brampton, Ontario: Noon EST, Ruby Sahota, MP Brampton North Constituency Office, 50 Sunny Meadow Blvd., Suite 307
• Woodstock, Ontario: Noon EST, Dave McKenzie MP Oxford Constituency Office, 208 Huron St.
• Chicoutimi, Quebec: Noon EST, Denis Lemieux, MP Chicoutimi-Le Fjord Constituency Office, 345 Des Saguenéens Street (Main Office) Suite 70
• Halifax: 1:00 p.m. AST, Andy Fillmore, MP Halifax Constituency Office, 1888 Brunswick St., Room 808

For more information on Unifor's campaign for a better NAFTA can be found at unifor.org/NAFTA

Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, representing more than 315,000 workers in every major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad, and strives to create progressive change for a better future.

SOURCE Unifor