by Michael Keefe On June 24, 2014, the Nova Local of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers held a rally in front of Halifax City Hall. The reason for the rally was to make the public aware that Halifax’s Mayor, Mike Savage, its Chief Administrative Officer, Richard Butts, and its Municipal Clerk’s office told Nova Continue readingHalifax rallies to Save Canada Post
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BC teachers | Boycott IKEA | Halifax baristas | Aerospace strike | Suncor deaths | Federal sick leave | Save Canada Post | Bonfield strike | Prostitution laws | Sao Paulo transit workers BC teachers strike: Essential reading Why I’m on the picket line Tara Ehrcke, Staffroom Confidential BC teachers to vote June 9-10 on Continue readingRankandFile.ca Weekly Labour Update – June 9 2014
BC teachers strike | Impark workers | Ontario minimum wage | Save Canada Post | Nova Scotia nurses | Lac-Mégantic fallout | Manitoba NDP & IBEW | GO Transit Why I’m on the picket line Tara Ehrcke, Staffroom Confidential May 31 2014 I believe I deserve a raise, but just like other teachers, that isn’t Continue readingRankandFile.ca Weekly Labour Update – June 2, 2014
By Ben Sichel The provincial budget was tabled in Nova Scotia earlier this month, with education funding being increased by $18.6 million.I don’t have time to crunch the numbers here to analyze what they really mean. (e.g. to what extent do they compensate for cuts to the P-12 education budget in recent years? And what year Continue readingUnion Concerns Are Community Concerns
By Judy Haiven The tragic suicide by a worker with 38 years’ seniority at Halifax Shipyard on Wednesday, sparked a walk out of more than 300 shipyard workers on Thursday. First thing this morning, workers found out that on learning of their comrade’s death, workers on the previous night’s shift had refused to work. At Continue readingSuicide – The Last Straw At Halifax Shipyard
Dave Bush speaks with Shay Enxuga, an activist with the Baristas Rise Up (BRU) campaign. Shay recently authored the article Queer Struggles are Class Struggles which looks at the experience of queer and trans workers in the low wage service sector. Shay speaks about the working experiences of young queer and trans workers and their Continue readingRank and File Podcast With Shay Enxuga
By Shay Enxuga Originally published at the Halifax Media Co-op, September 4 2013 This article uses the single gender-neutral pronoun “they”. “Queer struggles are class struggles,” says Charlie Huntley, a 25 year old coffee shop worker, “and should never be addressed as if they are isolated issues.” On the heels of a successful union drive Continue readingQueer Struggles are Class Struggles
A weekly digest of labour and labour-related news Canada PSAC going to federal court over forced vote at CBSA PSAC communication, July 2013 Ratification of Agreement Ends Airport Strike PSAC new release, 22 July 2013
by Doug Nesbitt The unionization of baristas in Halifax has earned mainstream news coverage, including CBC Radio’s “News at Six” and well-researched articles in the press addressing wider issues of low wages and lack of job security for young workers. In contrast, some commentary in the right-wing press perpetuates common but false claims about work Continue readingFive myths about barista work and unionization
The low wage service sector is one of the most difficult sectors for workers to form unions. The small workplaces’ lack of union tradition, high staff turnover and aggressive anti-union managers and owners in the sector have meant that most unions have stayed away from organizing places such as coffee shops. In Halifax, Nova Scotia Continue readingBaristas Rise Up in Halifax
by David Bush and Doug Nesbitt On July 5, Nova Scotia’s New Democratic government reconvened the legislature to pass a special law revoking the right-to-strike for 800 ground and air ambulance paramedics of Local 727 of the International Union of Operating Engineers. The paramedics are employed by EMC Inc., a private for-profit company involved in Continue readingNova Scotia’s NDP revokes paramedics’ right-to-strike
Ontario education workers and Bill 115 Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne on labour and right-to-work Porter Airlines strike BC’s 10-year-plan for teachers ignores court rulings, again Halifax schools face labour trouble Xstrata and Mine Mill brace for job action Blockade at Vertis in Fort Erie St.FX faculty on strike Massive EI protest on Îles-de-la-Madeleine Walmart warehouse Continue readingLabour news update – January 29 2013