By Ben Sichel Teachers in Ontario found reason to celebrate recently. In 2012, the Ontario Liberal government passed the “Putting Students First Act,” a bill which imposed contracts on teachers and effectively took away their right to strike. This April, the Ontario Superior Court ruled that this act (also known as Bill 115), had violated teachers’ constitutional Continue readingThere is no substitute for solidarity
Bill 115
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
by David Bush Since the economic crisis the union movement in Canada has faced a number of defeats at the bargaining table and on the picket line. On top of that the union movement has had to do battle with a slew of regressive legislative attacks on collective bargaining at the provincial and federal level, Continue readingRank and file power and union reforms
A dozen Ontario teachers from an Eastern Ontario high school sent this letter to the Provincial Executive of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation (OSSTF). It addresses former OSSTF president Ken Coran’s recent announcement to run for the Ontario Liberal Party in the London-West by-election. Rankandfile.ca has blocked out the names of the signatories and Continue readingOSSTF members’ letter to Provincial Executive re: Ken Coran
by Doug Nesbitt Recent Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) president Ken Coran shocked many teachers, education workers and trade unionists this past week when it was announced he would run as an Ontario Liberal in the London-West by-election later this summer. Why would Coran run for the same party that had used the authoritarian Continue readingKen Coran: Anatomy of a Sellout
Caterpillar closing its tunnelling plant by mid-April 2014, throwing 330 people out of work Toronto Star, May 3 2013 Alberta government insists union pay millions for ‘cost they put on taxpayers’ during wildcat strike Calgary Herald, May 2 2013 St. John’s NL airport strike drags on as high tourism season looms Montreal Gazette, May 7 Continue readingLabour News Update, May 8 2013
by David Bush and Doug Nesbitt Over a month has passed since Bill 115 was repealed by the Ontario Liberals, but the contracts imposed on the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation and Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario remain intact and effectively unchallenged. This has led to several incidents of open dissent from the ranks of Continue readingDissent brews in the OSSTF
This Saturday, thousands of trade unionists and their supporters will be protesting at the Ontario Liberal Party leadership convention at Allen Gardens in Toronto. The use of the now-repealed Bill 115 and the prorogation of the legislature will be the target. The action is being coordinated by the Ontario Federation of Labour and many other Continue readingRally for Rights and Democracy
In this week’s labour news update: Bill 115 & Ontario teachers OLRB ruling: Ontario government vs ETFO Idle No More Porter Airlines strike Walmart challenge in Saskatchewan New Brunswick nurses CAW drive at Toyota “New Normal” in Canadian IR Right-to-Work in Ontario Employment Insurance Temporary Foreign Worker program The Great Walmart Walkout UAW organizing at Continue readingLabour news update – January 15 2003
[Editor’s Note: this article has been slightly revised to reflect OSSTF’s decision to cancel its January 16 protest.] by Doug Nesbitt At 4am this morning, the Ontario Labour Relations Board ruled that a “political protest” by the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario would be an unlawful action. ETFO leaders promptly called off the protest and Continue readingOntario teachers and the law
A group of rank-and-file OSSTF members have released this video highly critical of their union’s campaign against Bill 115 and relations with political parties. Associated with the video is a petition to push the OSSTF executive in a different direction.
Commend the Canadian Union of Postal Workers for their ongoing solidarity work at home and abroad Please support the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) and their international solidarity work. CUPW has come under attack for sending delegates to the 2012 World Social Forum – Free Palestine. Emails can be sent to Dave Bleakney, dbleakney@cupw-sttp.org Continue readingRank and File News Update, December 17, 2012