Largest private-sector union supports First Nations

Unifor, Canada’s largest private-sector union, has thrown its support behind First Nations in opposing the Northern Gateway pipeline project, vowing to hit picket lines in solidarity if the project goes ahead. Unifor, which is the recent merger of the Canadian Auto Workers and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada, with more than 300,000 members across the country. represents workers in nearly every sector of the economy, including those in oil and gas, mining and smelting and construction. In November, the union released a position paper calling for a Canada-wide moratorium on all new oil and gas fracking, citing concerns over safety and environmental risks as well as a lack of informed consent by First Nations about fracking on native land.