By James Napier The membership of Unifor Local 222 has issued a stunning rebuke to Unifor National President Jerry Dias. At the Local 222 general membership meeting on February 1, two motions were passed that opposed the sudden, destructive action taken by Dias on January 16, to pull Unifor out of the house of labour. Continue readingUnifor local 222 opposes Unifor’s split from the CLC
By Roy J. Adams During the recent college teacher’s strike in Ontario there was a lot of media coverage of the inconvenience suffered by the students and of the possible consequences to their futures. On the other hand there was very little press commentary on the constitutional right of teacher’s to strike. In Hamilton, Ontario, Continue readingTeachers have a fundamental right to strike
By Bob Barnetson The recent spate of sexual harassment allegations has triggered a couple of articles examining the role of human-resource departments. The crux of the analysis is that HR shops are intended to advance the employer’s interest. Not surprisingly, a key employer interest is mitigating liability. When proactive measures (such as codes of conduct) Continue readingHarassment and HR: Whose side are you on?
By John Bell In October 2014 the business press reported: “Carillion Canada fined $900,000 for not properly clearing QEW during two storms.” What then seemed an isolated bit of corporate irresponsibility takes on a different character with today’s news that Carillion’s British parent company, a world leader in Public-Private Partnership (P3) deals, has gone bankrupt. Continue readingCarillion crash
Between 1949 and 1956 the small town of Dresden, in South Western Ontario, Canada, was the scene of an aggressive campaign by the National Unity Association to end anti-black racism and discrimination. The courage and determination of folks like Hugh Burnett and his allies in the Labour Movement resulted in the passing of the Fair Continue readingWeekend Video: Welcome to Dresden
By Gerard Di Trolio To rebuild a working class movement that can actually push back against neoliberalism and intervene at every level of society – from the workplace, to the community, and in politics – it is essential that activists understand how capital has reshaped workplaces in advanced economies. Kim Moody’s new book, On New Continue readingBook Review – On New Terrain: How Capital is Reshaping the Battleground of Class War
By Liette Doucet, President of the Nova Scotia Teachers Union. Last week, on the advice of private consultant Avis Glaze, the McNeil government announced it is once again eroding the collective rights of teachers. Instead of investing more resources to support students with special needs, this government has decided to ban school principals and vice Continue readingNova Scotia continues to place needs of students last
By Jonathan Rosenblum Dear Canadian union sisters and brothers, There’s a lot to admire about your labor movement. With community organizing, creative street heat, and militant strikes, you’ve just scored the biggest win yet in the Fight for $15, forcing a pro-corporate Ontario government to raise wages for 1.7 million workers and grant new card-check Continue readingDear Canadian unions: Don’t let a union split tear the labour movement apart
By David Bush When Unifor left the CLC on January 16 it cited the inability of the CLC and its affiliates to properly handle the process by which workers can change unions. This process is outlined in Article 4 of the CLC constitution. The disagreement over Article 4 is the only reason that has been Continue readingArticle 4, a smokescreen for labour’s civil war
By Joe Allen This Monday, negotiations began between Teamsters and the package giant UPS for a new national contract. The formal exchange of proposals was in preparation for July, when the national master UPS contract will expire. Teamsters general president James P. Hoffa — son of the infamous Jimmy Hoffa Sr — refused to release Continue readingWill There Be a Fightback at UPS?
By Kevin Taghabon, Samantha Connolly, Bradley Hughes, Tom Leonard On Friday, January 19 the Fight For $15 and Fairness and labour movement allies launched actions at 50 Tim Hortons locations from Vancouver to Halifax. The actions are part of a continued pushback against Tim Hortons bosses who have come out of the gate openly abusing workers Continue readingNational Day of Action brings mass support to Tim Hortons workers
By Alexandra Bradbury It’s Friday morning, and you’re starting another 12-hour shift in the bitter cold. At least you know the end is in sight, because tomorrow is Saturday and you’re almost to the 60-hour weekly limit. That is, until your manager hits you with the news: UPS has decided to exploit a loophole in Continue readingUPS drivers beat forced overtime during holiday rush