By Doug Nesbitt and Scott Price While organized labour has loudly pronounced the triumph of anti-scab legislation in federal parliament, Manitoba’s recently-elected New Democratic government has introduced two major labour law reforms that have largely flown under the radar, even in Manitoba. Automatic card check certification and anti-scab reforms are now in second reading in Continue readingLabour at the Bat: Manitoba’s new labour reforms
By Mason Godden On September 21st, 124 retired trade unionists, activists, and various friends, allies, and families of the labour movement congregated inside the Unifor union hall on 12th Street in New Westminster, British Columbia. The occasion was the 60th anniversary of the Canadian Association of Industrial, Mechanical, and Allied Workers (CAIMAW). If the name Continue readingCAIMAW’s 60th anniversary
By Doug Nesbitt Slavery was legally abolished in most of the British Empire and what is now Canada on August 1, 1834, although exemptions were made for the British East India Company until 1838. Emancipation Day, August 1, has been celebrated among black communities in Canada since the 19th century. Emancipation Day was officially recognized Continue readingAugust 1 is Emancipation Day in Canada
By Doug Nesbitt “We have to be fast like a robot. So we say we’re not robots,” says a former Amazon worker, Ibrahim Al Sahary, ahead of Amazon’s big discount “Prime Day” scheduled July 16 and 17. Amazon Prime Day and other Amazon sale periods are notorious among Amazon warehouse workers for speed-ups, cancelled breaks, Continue readingBeyond the Beachhead: Unionizing Amazon in Canada
“Under capitalism the working class has but two courses to follow: crawl or fight” – JB McLachlan By Doug Nesbitt Today is Davis Day in Nova Scotia. William Davis was a coal miner shot and killed June 11 by company police during the 1925 Cape Breton coal miners’ strike. The miners were fighting against a Continue readingThe Origins of Davis Day, June 11