The Local 191 office will be closed for the Christmas break, effective the end of the business day Monday, December 23, 2024. The office will re-open Thursday, Jan. 2. If you need immediate assistance during that time, please contact your chapel chair/shop steward.
General Membership Meeting
Sunday, January 26, 2025
1:00PM
1A – 675 Berry St,
Winnipeg, MB
Zoom Meeting log-in and dial-in information for those that cannot attend in person
Time: Sunday, January 26, 2025, 01:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81327895013
Meeting ID: 813 2789 5013
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kwkmFgvJ9
+1 204 272 7920 Canada
Carrier Dues Statements
If you were a Carrier with the Winnipeg Free Press during 2024 your union dues are tax deductible. If you do not receive a copy of your union dues statement in the mail by March 1, 2025, please contact the local office at unifor191@mymts.net with the following information:
- Full Name
- Carrier # or Route #
- Mailing address
- Email address
Winnipeg Free Press Members Ratify Contracts
Unifor 191 members at the Winnipeg Free Press ratified two collective agreements on December 10th, 2023 (the contracts are in effect July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2026). A majority of members in each unit approved the tentative agreements.
Congratulations to all Carriers and Inside Workers.
Transcontinental to Close Winnipeg Printing Plant in January
“It’s devastating — I mean, I can’t stress that enough. It’s bad enough with people dealing with the anxieties and health risks of COVID-19, and now they’re having to deal with the loss of employment at the end of the year,” said John Webster, staff representative for Unifor Local 191
Press Release: Transcontinental abandons Manitoba workers during pandemic
September 24, 2020
WINNIPEG–Transcontinental Inc. has announced that it is closing its last remaining printing plant in Manitoba, abandoning 93 workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Transcontinental remains incredibly profitable, raking in $48.3 million net profit in the last quarter alone and that’s during the pandemic,” said Unifor National President Jerry Dias. “This is a company that took $44 million from the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, a program designed to save jobs during this crisis, and then opted to pull up stakes and take good paying positions out of Winnipeg.”
Transcontinental has shuttered 20 locations across Canada over the past 15 years. The Winnipeg plant is scheduled to shut down by 2021, although workers will be let go before then as the work load dwindles.
“Just two years ago, Transcontinental committed to at least five years of production in Winnipeg with the possibility of extending to 10. This move not only betrays the workers, it will effectively kill large-scale commercial printing in the province of Manitoba,” said Unifor Western Regional Director Gavin McGarrigle.
The workers, members of Unifor Local 191, print magazines and flyers at the plant which has been operating for generations.
“This is a sad day for the workers, many of whom have decades of service at the plant,” said Jill Wilson, President of Unifor Local 191. “Clearly their loyalty has not been returned by Transcontinental.”
Unifor is Canada’s largest union in the private sector and represents 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.
For media inquiries or to arrange a phone, Facetime, Skype or Zoom interview please contact Unifor Communications Representative Kathleen O’Keefe at kathleen.okeefe@unifor.org or 416-896-3303 (cell).
View other Unifor media releases
Unifor 191 presents Winnipeg Harvest with cheque on behalf of Unifor’s Prairie Regional Council
John Webster, Local Rep for 191, and Glen Dawkins, 191 secretary-treasurer, present a cheque for $7500 to Colleen McVarish of Winnipeg Harvest on behalf of Unifor‘s Prairie Regional Council and all the Unifor Manitoba Locals who have donated to Harvest during the pandemic. The cheque is in addition to the $6600 Unifor locals in Manitoba have already donated to Harvest
MFL Rallies in Solidarity With Locked Out Local 594 Unifor Members
The Manitoba Federation of Labour showed up in full force today to rally in solidarity with Unifor members from across the country to support refinery workers in Regina. Unifor Local 594 has been locked out since December 5th and have been walking the line since trying to urge the company to return to the bargaining table.
Cheques presented to Scholarship Winners
Unifor191 was proud to present the cheques to the 2019 Scholarship Winners during the last week of January.
Once again, the winners were (from left to right) Emily Gauthier (daughter of Mike Gauthier, Winnipeg Free Press), Dara Rosdobutko (daughter of Jamey Rosdobutko, Thunder Bay Chronicle Journal), and Crystal Wade (daughter of Jim Wade, Winnipeg Free Press).