On September 27, workers across the world went out on strike in the largest global climate strike in history, walking out of their classrooms and workplaces to protest government inaction on climate change. This comes following the September 20 ‘School Strike for Climate’, which saw millions of young people and students in over 150 countries Continue readingCanadian Unions and a Green New Deal
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A week after mass mobilizations across the globe the climate strike is coming to Canada. Major actions are set to take place right across the country. In Montreal, 300,000 are expected for the main rally. Eleven unions are participating and the city is offering free public transit for the day. This massive show of force Continue readingThe climate strike is a gift for unions
When asked why he’s planning to support the Global Climate Strike slated for September 20, Larry Hopkins, a rail crew driver for the transportation and maintenance company Hallcon, says the reason is simple: “I want to help preserve and protect our personal safety. Because right now, we’re in a climate emergency that is very bad Continue readingWhat Backing The Climate Strike Means For Unions
James Hutt, senior manager of programming at the Leap, discusses ongoing work to connect labour and climate justice movements, including an upcoming webinar.
If you were to believe Jerry Dias, president of Unifor Canada, you’d conclude the Northern Pulp issue is easily resolved. 350 direct jobs will be lost if the Northern Pulp plant in Pictou County closes, and 2,700 full time spinoff jobs will also be gone. That was the message Dias delivered at a press conference Continue readingNorthern Pulp and Unifor
By Kevin Taghabon “General Motors is not the solution. General Motors is the problem,” loud applause followed autoworker Tony Leah’s declaration at the front of the room at IBEW Hall. His speech was part of an event, Nationalize General Motors: Oshawa’s Green New Deal. The evening served as the first organizing meeting for a grassroots Continue readingNationalize GM
By Solidarity Halifax Northern Pulp Nova Scotia Corporation, a subsidiary of Paper Excellence, owns a pulp mill at Abercrombie Point and an effluent treatment facility in Boat Harbour – both near New Glasgow, Nova Scotia – in the Epekwitk Aqq Piktuk district of Mi’kma’ki. The mill and treatment facility have been sites of struggle for Continue readingNova Scotia: No pipe, no pandering, the enemy is the 1%
By Donna Burman, member of ATU Local 113 Recently, a study led by University of Toronto (U of T) chemical engineer Greg Evans published in Environmental Science and Technology demonstrated that that trains and platforms of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) have higher levels of air pollution than other transportation systems in Canada. There is Continue readingPutting the mask on TTC subway air pollution
By James Wilt In recent years, many unions have started calling for a “just transition” for workers. That tends to include pushing for direct public investments and retraining efforts for sectors including renewable energy, public transit, energy efficiency and high-speed rail. The goal is to prepare workers for the massive changes that will occur in Continue readingWhy unions should call for new green housing investments
Winnipeg, June 17, 2016 – Representatives of Friends of Public Services, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers and Solidarity Winnipeg discuss how Canada Post could become the hub of a post-carbon economy. Speakers: Dru Jay – Friends of Public Services Basia Sokal – Canadian Union of Postal Workers Maya Martinez-Alper – Solidarity Winnipeg Sofia Soriano Continue readingWeekend Video: Delivering Community Power – Winnipeg
By Dru Oja Jay With the launch of Delivering Community Power this February, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers have created the possibility for an alliance between environmental groups and unions that goes beyond the usual rhetoric and could result in big wins and a new way of organizing. Postal workers are facing some big Continue readingIs this the summer of environmentalists on picket lines?
By James Hutt For the first time in over a decade, Canada has a government that is not ideologically opposed to even talking about climate change. Instead of criminalizing environmentalists, muzzling scientists and actively lobbying on behalf of the oil industry, Trudeau has promised a new age of cooperation. Before the election, he committed to Continue readingHow a national climate strategy can strengthen the labour movement