The Graphic History Collective has published a new comic about the Ontario Days of Action: the major protests and strikes against the right-wing Harris government in the 1990s and a major turning point for labour and social justice movements in Ontario. The new comic is another great addition to the Graphic History Collective’s growing list Continue readingThe Ontario Days of Action: A Graphic History
Labour history
by Christo Aivalis Earlier this month, the benefits of the Good Jobs Summit were overshadowed by a return of tripartism as a strategy for Canadian unions and workers. In simple terms, tripartism is a system in which labour, business, and the state cooperate to address issues affecting the economy, including investment, wages, pensions, labour laws, Continue readingTripartism: A Dangerous Mix
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
Dave Bush speaks with Kyle Buott, President of the Halifax-Dartmouth & District Labour Council, about trade unionism and worker activism. Kyle addresses the political importance of local labour councils in regional labour movement struggles and building solidarity between workplace issues and social movements. [audio:https://www.rankandfile.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/kyle_buott_final.mp3|titles=Kyle Buott, Halifax-Dartmouth District Labour Council]
by Doug Nesbitt On June 14 1872, the Trade Union Act, introduced by Prime Minister John A. Macdonald, became law. Unions were now legal in Canada. How did this happen and what did it take for unions to achieve legal recognition? Was it enlightened and benevolent politicians looking out for the masses? Backroom deals between Continue readingThe Nine-Hour Movement: How civil disobedience made unions legal