The Ocean Ranger was the world’s biggest offshore oil rig. Located in the North Atlantic over 250 kilometres east of Newfoundland, the rig went online in November 1981. On the evening of February 14 1982, the platform was battered by a storm. By the time rescuers arrived in the early hours of February 15, all Continue readingRemember the Ocean Ranger
oil
In this latest installment of the Work in the West podcast, University of Regina’s Dr. Emily Eaton provides an overview of her research on the idea of a “just transition” in the oil & gas industry.
Photo via REUTERS/Chris Wattie by C Rockarts On Saturday, March 28, two days before workers were set to return from Spring Break, the UCP government announced the province’s largest mass layoff in history, with $128 million in cuts to funding for 26,000 educational assistants, bus drivers, substitute teachers and other K-12 support staff. The government Continue readingLargest layoff in Alberta history proves workers aren’t Kenney’s priority
Editor’s introduction The following letter was received by Andrew Stevens, a Regina city councillor and co-founder of Rankandfile.ca. It was first shared publicly on Facebook. It relates to the scab camp established at the Co-op Refinery in Regina in which the employer has locked out refinery workers for over 100 days. Stevens writes of the Continue readingRN says Co-op Refinery scab camp “a disaster waiting to happen”
By Doug Nesbitt Across the country, the right-wingers are outraged once again about the loss of thousands of potential jobs in the Alberta oil sands. Teck Resources, the Vancouver-based energy company, pulled its proposal to develop a new massive oil sands mine north of Fort McMurray. Jason Kenney wasn’t the only politician choking for air Continue readingOil politicians only care about fantasy jobs, not real jobs
by Emily Leedham On Wednesday February 5, Federated Co-operatives Ltd. CEO Scott Banda gave a shout out to United We Roll, the group responsible for last year’s well-publicized but small convoy to Ottawa claiming to defend oil and gas workers. “…I kind of noticed that United We Roll was here as well,” said Banda. “Thank Continue readingStrange new allies for FCL CEO Scott Banda
by Andrew Stevens The lockout of 700+ workers at Regina’s Cooperative Refinery Complex has now entered its third week. On the table: another round of pension concessions and the elimination of a co-funded savings plan. Under the guise of a “business continuity plan,” the Refinery has for months been preparing for what Unifor Local 594 Continue readingRegina refinery lockout is no “tea party”
By Doug Nesbitt and Andrew Stevens Editor’s note: This article was written at the start of the 2019-2020 lockout of refinery workers at the Co-op Refinery in Regina, Saskatchewan. For Rankandfile.ca‘s coverage of the lockout, click here. With near unanimous support from the membership, Unifor Local 594 provided the Co-operative Refinery Complex (CRC) with job Continue readingLocal 594 and the Lost History of Oil Worker Unionism
Workers in the oil and gas industry have been used as a talking point by the Alberta NDP and United Conservative Party, both parties say they are the best choice for workers to get the Trans Mountain pipeline built and create more jobs in the industry. Albertans go to the polls on Tuesday, April 16. Continue readingWhat is it actually like to work in Alberta’s oil patch?
Bob Barnetson, Athabasca University prof, provides an overview of the labour reforms introduced by the NDP, and what might happen to those reforms should Jason Kenney’s United Conservative Party form government in just a few months. He also provides an update on bargaining and impending faculty strike at Athabasca University. albertalabour.blogspot.com/ And Regan Boychuk from Continue readingBob Barnetson on the Alberta NDP’s labour reforms & Regan Boychuk on cleaning up oil & gas wells
In this week’s episode of Rank and File Radio – Prairies Edition, two guests speak with Emily Leedham about race and gender in Alberta’s oisands, as well as organizing for climate justice. The first guest is Dr. Angele Alook is proud member of Bigstone Cree Nation and currently works in the labour movement as a Continue readingA Just Transition for Alberta’s Workers
The diplomatic row between Canada and Saudi Arabia has become headline news around the world. In this episode of Rank and File Radio – Prairies Edition, host Emily Leedham speaks with Anthony Fenton, an expert on Canadian-Saudi relations. Fenton speaks about the dispute, the controversial arms trade, the Canadian brand of “ethical oil”, and Saudi Continue readingSaudi Arabia & Canada: Arms, Oil and the Wheat Board