Media Advisory - Unifor organizes NAFTA rally in Halifax on Friday

HALIFAX, Oct. 19, 2017 /CNW/ - As part of a national effort to keep the North American Free Trade Talks focused on the needs of working people, Unifor is holding simultaneous rallies across the country on Friday.

"The renegotiations are at a critical stage and it's time for workers to stand up and push for improvements to rebalance trade," said Lana Payne, Atlantic Regional Director.

"It's about shifting trade deals from corporate rights to put workers and communities across all three countries first," said Payne.

The rally will be part of a Canada-wide action held in six communities including Halifax to encourage the federal government to continue to push for a better NAFTA.

This past week the union 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. 

• WHAT: Rally for a Better NAFTA
  
• WHEN: Friday, October 20, 1 p.m.
  
• WHERE: 1888 Brunswick Street, Constituency Office of Halifax MP Andy Fillmore,
  
• WHO: Speakers include Lana Payne, Unifor Atlantic Regional Director and Ian Hutchinson, a pulp and paper worker and Unifor Atlantic Regional Chairperson.

Rallies will also be held in Surrey, British Columbia; Windsor, Ontario; Woodstock, Ontario; Brampton, Ontario; and Chicoutimi, Quebec. For event details please click here, or go to unifor.org/events. 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