CUPW Local 730 has sent a letter to CUPW’s national office asking for support in defying back-to-work legislation. CUPW was legislated back to work nearly one year ago, which broke the postal workers’ rotating strike across the country. CUPW Local 730 President Roland Schmidt explains what lead up to this point. —- Alberta’s Bill 20 Continue readingEdmonton posties willing to defy back-to-work
back-to-work legislation
By Rick Telfer The Ontario college faculty strike ended Nov. 19 as the Ontario Liberals’ back-to-work legislation passed final reading in the province’s legislature. Outstanding issues will be referred to binding mediation-arbitration. The government sought to pass back-to-work legislation on Nov. 16, but was thwarted when the Legislative Assembly’s Ontario New Democratic Party (NDP) caucus Continue readingOPSEU continues fight to protect precarious workers at colleges after back-to-work legislation
By Joel Harden For the past five weeks, teachers in Ontario’s College system have been on strike. Two days ago, their employer compelled them to vote on an offer that was summarily rejected. 95 percent of college teachers sent the deal packing by a margin of 86 percent. This is because the deal the Wynne Continue readingCollege faculty deserve a fair deal not back-to-work legislation
by Haseena Manek, originally published by the Canadian Association of Labour Media Harper has been Prime Minister for almost a decade. In that time, the Conservative government’s war on workers has touched nearly every sector and industry. Through a combination of policy and propaganda, the Conservatives have started to dismantle the system of protections that Continue readingWorkers must remember Harper’s attacks when they go to the polls in October
by Doug Nesbitt The federal Tories are already introducing back-to-work legislation against CP Rail workers’ unions who are still in bargaining with a Sunday morning strike threat. The two unions are the Teamsters and Unifor. On Friday February 13 at 4:50pm, Minister of Labour Kellie Leitch introduced “An Act to provide for the resumption of Continue readingPre-emptive strike at CP: Tories planning back-to-work law
Although May 1 is the workers holiday declared by workers themselves, Labour Day is the government-sanctioned holiday for workers. In this week’s video, RankandFile.ca presents “As Friend and Foe”, a National Film Board short film from 1980. It is a brief look at the Canadian federal government’s relationship to workers: “as friend and foe” in Continue readingWeekend Video: As Friend and Foe
by Doug Nesbitt The current Ontario election could be an immense turning point for organized labour in the province and across Canada. As union activists know, the Tim Hudak Tories are promising devastating public sector layoffs of 100,000 people, union-wrecking right-to-work legislation, and the privatization of the already unjust Workplace Safety Insurance Board. And his Continue readingOrganizing our way out of Ontario’s political mess
BC teachers fight for a fair deal By Tara Ehrcke Bargaining chair and past president of the Greater Victoria Teachers’ Association Teachers in British Columbia will be on the picket lines beginning next Monday May 26 after 16 months of failed contract talks. The strike is province-wide and rotating – teachers will strike one day Continue readingThe ABCs of the BC teachers’ fight
What the Supreme Court of Canada decision will mean for unions and workers: Lessons from Air Canada By Andrew Stevens and Doug Nesbitt Back-to-work legislation and sweeping “essential service” designations at the federal and provincial levels. These are trends that are sweeping public and private sector industries nation wide. Tomorrow, the Supreme Court of Canada Continue readingAn era of wildcats and civil disobedience in Canada?
Rankandfile.ca‘s Andrew Stevens answers a few questions from fellow Rankandfile.ca editor Doug Nesbitt about how the Harper Tories have introduced new labour legislation, including bills C-377 and C-525. Q: What is the reason why federal anti-union bills C-377 and C-525 have been introduced by Tories as private members’ bills. What exactly is a private members’ Continue readingWorking in the shadows for transparency: Bills C-377 and C-525
Oil train derailment in Alberta and gas fracking protest in New Brunswick add to fossil fuel industry woes in Canada By Roger Annis, first published in the Vancouver Observer, October 24, 2013 Another oil train derailment and explosion in Canada has sent nearby residents fleeing from their homes in the middle of the night. It happened Continue readingLabour news update: October 28, 2013
Postal Workers | Ontario teachers & Bill 115 | CAW auto parts strikes THE “NO” VOTE GAINS SUPPORT AMONG POSTAL WORKERS Rankandfile.ca has received news that the executives of the Calgary, Saskatoon and Winnipeg CUPW locals have decided to oppose the Urban Operations tentative agreement announced on October 5. This confirms informal conversations we’ve had Continue readingLabour News Brief: Postal workers, Ontario teachers, CAW auto parts strikes