By Gerard Di Trolio On February 10 at the IBEW Local 353 offices, the Tamil Workers Network held a community forum on workers’ rights. The forum’s goal was to reach out to the Tamil community in Toronto and let them know how their rights at work are changing because of Bill 148 and involved speakers Continue readingTamil Workers Network raising its community profile
By Nora Loreto NDP delegates overwhelmingly voted in favour of free higher education on Sunday afternoon in Ottawa at their policy convention. Of the hundreds of motions served, it was endorsed by the greatest number of riding associations. The NDP’s new policy on tuition fees now explicitly supports eliminating tuition and other administrative fees, eliminating Continue readingFree Higher Education Resolution Passes Overwhelmingly at NDP Convention
By Nora Loreto Emotions ran high on Saturday night as a motion about Israel/Palestine came to convention floor. The motion was one of twelve about Israel and Palestine that had been served to the convention, including one motion that received the support of more than 30 riding associations. Of the hundreds of motions served, only Continue readingContentious Debate Over Justice for Palestine at NDP Convention
By Nora Loreto During the leadership race, Jagmeet Singh made carding and street checks one of his priorities. Day two of the NDP policy convention started by debating this policy, motivated by an impassioned and radical speech from Hamilton city councilor Matthew Green. The motion was served by the riding associations of University-Rosedale and Brampton Continue readingNDP convention: Motions without action?
By Nora Loreto The NDP Convention started early Friday afternoon in Ottawa with a routine debate on the amount of time available for debate on the motions. The backdrop to this debate was hours of morning sessions where delegates argued over the order of the hundreds of motions that were served by dozens of riding Continue readingBattle over resolutions marks NDP Convention Day 1
By Nora Loreto The NDP convention starts this afternoon, but right before, delegates will engage in a mad dash to organize so that their favoured motions will hit the floor for debate. This will be no small feat, as there are hundreds of motions that have been loosely organized in themes. Sixteen motions were served Continue readingMotions out the wazoo; the NDP convention is about to drop
By Orlando Buonastella and David Newberry The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) recently announced that it will no longer reduce certain kinds of benefit payments for injured workers as a result of non-symptomatic pre-existing conditions. The change comes as a result of a long struggle by of injured workers, labour activists, and legal representatives, Continue readingChanges to WSIB pre-existing conditions policy a cautious step forward
By Samantha Ponting The Trudeau government has recently cancelled a path to permanent residency for many caregivers, without any consultation with workers participating in Canada’s caregiver program. A new announcement posted on the Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada website states: These 5-year pilot programs [Caring for Children and Caring for People with High Medical Needs] Continue readingTrudeau government creates roadblocks for caregivers
By Robert Devet Asking teachers and others who work in the school system directly what it is that works in today’s schools and what needs fixing, now there is a novel idea. Members of Educators for Social Justice (ESJ) are doing exactly that. Their recently posted online survey asks just a few simple questions: what Continue reading“It’s a calling, but it’s getting so hard.” Online survey aims to amplify Nova Scotia teachers’ voices
By Pam Frache and Alex Hunsberger Don’t believe the spin from the business press. StatsCan data show provinces that significantly hiked minimum wage rates in 2017 are doing better than they were this time last year. What’s more, these provinces are actually outperforming their low-wage counterparts, as their unemployment rates are declining most quickly among Continue readingDon’t believe the spin about January’s job numbers
Goodbyes are a ritual for Delroy. A migrant worker from Jamaica, he spends six months of every year working in the tobacco fields of southwestern Ontario. He is the only breadwinner for his wife and six children. His family’s survival hinges on his annual departure for Canada each spring; a journey he has made for Continue readingWeekend Video: Babe, I Hate To Go
By David Bush, Gerard Di Trolio, and Doug Nesbitt After months of dragging their feet on the issue, the BC NDP have finally announced they have committed to a $15 minimum wage… in June 2021. That’s just a short 39 months away! At this point, there is no excuse for a province, especially a wealthier Continue readingLowered expectations: BC NDP’s path to $15