She reached out for support to build a union. And only CLAC gave a helping hand. Have you read Part One of this story? By Zaid Noorsumar Laura Borden* was determined to form a union at ParaMed’s Oshawa branch. The working conditions had deteriorated after ParaMed, owned by Extendicare, had restructured and expanded its government-funded Continue readingInside and outside a home care union drive
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Conditions in home care were getting worse. One PSW decided to organize a union. By Zaid Noorsumar The drive north from Oshawa to Haliburton County in Central Ontario takes two hours. There were times when Laura Borden* would travel that distance to meet her co-workers – and end up sitting alone at Tim Horton’s. “Sometimes Continue readingShe wanted a union
Estevan, Saskatchewan 1931; RCMP murders 3 in union recognition strike By Doug Nesbitt, Rankandfile.ca editor On September 29 1931, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police murdered three miners in Estevan, Saskatchewan. The miners and their families were striking for union recognition against one of the most notorious coal operators in the country. In 1931, 600 miners Continue readingOur History: Remember the Estevan Miners
By Lisa Cameron As businesses continue to re-open across Nova Scotia, workers adjust to employment during the time of COVID. The unprecedented nature of the pandemic has raised several legal questions about an employer’s duty to respect health and safety protocols for the sake of their staff, and the public. The Halifax Workers’ Action Centre, Continue readingFired for quarantine
By Doug Nesbitt This Labour Day, the new Conservative Party leader Erin O’Toole released a video talking frankly about the massacre of jobs in manufacturing, energy and forestry. He says too many are “living in quiet desperation.” In the video, O’Toole attacks not just “big government” for lousy free trade negotiations, but also “corporate and Continue readingBeware the Corporate O’Toole
By Barbara Fletcher I have always been a helper. For over 20 years, I have done the work of a PSW (Personal Support Worker), and I am good at it. I work in home care, the purpose of which is to keep people out of LTC (Long-term Care) and hospitals. It is better mentally, and Continue readingI help them stay in their homes; I want to stay in mine
By Cole Rockarts On Wednesday, July 29, Alberta’s United Conservative Party government passed the Restoring Balance in Alberta’s Workplaces Act, which aims to control how union dues can finance political activities and legislate restrictions on where unions can picket. The bill claims it will save employers $100 million dollars per year by “reducing red tape”, Continue readingIt’s going take more than the courts to stop Kenney’s Bill 32
I’m a teacher in Saskatchewan and my provincial government is trying to send me back to work to a room crowded full with the normal number of kids a building with 100s of people using the same few toilets with no safety measures in place and no extra funding to make it safe I want Continue readingEducation worker speaks out about reopening
By Doug Nesbitt “André Ouellet, Canada’s [Liberal] foreign affairs minister, threw human rights out of the whole issue of trade,” He [Craig Kielburger] told the delegates indignantly. “He said that Canada isn’t the world’s Boy Scout.” (Laughter. Meaningful pause). “Well, I’m a Boy Scout-” (Prolonged surge of laughter and applause). “And this just means that Continue readingWE, the United Way, and labour’s charity problem
By Zaid Noorsumar Robin Nelson’s 79-year old mother has endured more than four months of isolation during the pandemic in a long-term care home in Lakefield, Ontario. Ann Nelson, who has suffered three strokes, has intensive care needs. Even before the pandemic, Robin says the resident-to-staff ratio wasn’t sufficient to provide the level of care Continue readingOntario’s nursing homes continue to face critical staffing challenges
By Jeremy Appel Black labour leader and activist Nicholas Thompson hosted a Facebook livestream Thursday night responding to the Public Service Alliance of Canada’s (PSAC) decision to disinvite journalist and activist Nora Loreto from an upcoming anti-racism workshop. PSAC is the country’s largest federal sector union, representing 200,000 members. Thompson invited fellow PSAC leader and Continue readingBlack PSAC union leader & activists call for PSAC National to re-invite Nora Loreto to anti-racism workshop
A one per cent budget increase could pay for appropriate staffing in long-term care homes By Zaid Noorsumar A new report by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives demonstrates how the fiscal policies of successive Ontario governments have led to immense pain and hardship for long-term care residents, their families and the workforce. For decades, Continue readingOntario’s fiscal policies have wrecked long-term care