Hi All, 

You may have received a letter from the President of GFX about the upcoming vote. We want to speak directly to you — the workers, our brothers and sisters who have built this campaign and stood together through everything that has brought us to this point.

First, we want you to know this: Unifor is here, and we are not going anywhere. We have represented Autoworkers for over 90 years.

We know this campaign has not been easy. You have had difficult conversations, supported your co-workers through hard days, and continued to stand together because you believe your co-workers deserve a stronger voice in their workplace.

That strength belongs to you.

The Company is slightly correct that a union cannot guarantee the outcome of bargaining. But that is not what we have promised you.

What we can promise is that, if you choose Unifor, your priorities will become the priorities of the bargaining process, and the team of negotiators.

Workers will elect their bargaining committee. Together, with the support of Unifor's Local Office and National Office, you will negotiate with GFX over the things that matter to you — wages, benefits, health and safety, job security, seniority, scheduling, holidays, vacations, fair treatment and other terms and conditions of employment.

And when a tentative agreement is reached, you will have the opportunity to vote on it.

That is what collective bargaining means.

The real question is not whether everything changes automatically when workers unionise.

The question is whether workers want a collective voice and a seat at the table when those decisions are negotiated.

You have told us that you do.

The Company also talks about union dues. Workers deserve the complete picture. Under Unifor's current Constitution, dues are not mandatory for a newly organised bargaining unit until a first collective agreement is ratified. Unifor's current materials generally describe dues at 1.35% of regular wages. That money is remitted from taxes, as unions and associate fees do.

But this campaign has never been about a number on a paycheque.

It is about having a voice.

It is about workers having a meaningful role in negotiating the rules that govern their working lives.

You know what you have experienced at GFX in Whitby. You know the issues that matter to you. You know what you want to improve.

And you know the people standing beside you.

We believe in GFX workers.

We believe in the courage you have already shown. We believe in your ability to stand together. And we believe that the people who do the work every day should have a meaningful voice in decisions that affect their working lives.

Stay strong. Stay connected. Support each other.

Unifor is here.

We will stand with you, bring our experience and resources to the table, and work with you to ensure improvements to your wages, benefits, job security, health and safety and the other priorities you identify.

You built this campaign.

You brought us to this moment.

Now let's stand together and take the next step.
Deatils for the date and time of the electronic vote, will be commuicated to you as early as next week, when the Ontario Labour Relations Board sets the details.
Stay in contact and support each other. Coworkers can keep signing up for email and communications by clicking here 

In solidarity,

John MacDonald
Unifor Canada

Unifor and GFX Solutions Workers Website