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Rank and File Perspectives

Article | 5/9/2023

“Back to the table” says PSAC member

By Deanna Allain Member of the Union of Taxation Employees Local 00014 (PSAC) As a young worker new to the workforce, I never imagined I would be lucky enough to be a union member, and I certainly never expected to experience a strike firsthand, let alone a general strike, 155,000-members strong. I don’t take that Continue reading“Back to the table” says PSAC member

3/8/2019

Towards a working class feminism in the Fight for $15

by Emily Leedham While we can share many facts and statistics about low-wage work as a feminist issue, our organizing practices within the labour movement needs to reflect the reality that women deserve autonomy in every step of this fight. You might know women represent  over 60% of minimum wage workers across Canada. And that women Continue readingTowards a working class feminism in the Fight for $15

9/18/2015

The rise and fall (?) of the British Columbia Teachers’ Federation

by Tara Ehrcke Just one year ago, BC teachers returned to class from what was the longest teacher strike in Canadian history. Teachers, upset with over a decade of deteriorating funding and particularly with large and complex classrooms, were unwilling to accept a contract offer which simply maintained the status quo. In one of the Continue readingThe rise and fall (?) of the British Columbia Teachers’ Federation

3/5/2015

From popsicles to pledge cards

Our members want to be engaged but they’re not sure how By Tiffany Balducci President, CUPE 960 Unions know how to negotiate contracts with unfair and greedy employers, but how do they engage their own members? In order to remain relevant in 2015 and beyond, the labour movement must connect meaningfully with their rank-and-file members Continue readingFrom popsicles to pledge cards

3/3/2015

When “the Man” is a Union

Reflections and Responsibilities in the Ranks of Labour By Sheetal Rawal My job was precarious, as were the jobs of six of my colleagues. We worked on an ongoing Pay Equity project for a trade union Local that represents about 7,000 mostly female administrative and technical staff at the University of Toronto. Our backgrounds were Continue readingWhen “the Man” is a Union

1/7/2014

In the Shadow of Profits: Work and Unions at Visa Financial

Times are good for Canada’s banks. At the end of 2013, the country’s Big Five – Royal Bank of Canada, Scotiabank, CIBC, TD, and Bank of Montreal – delivered a record $29 billion in profits and stock value is up 20 percent from the year before. The CEOs of these financial institutions list as some of the Continue readingIn the Shadow of Profits: Work and Unions at Visa Financial

1/3/2014

On Work And Struggle At Canada Post – A View From A Postie

By Mike Palecek I remember my first day at Canada Post. I stepped into an elevator with an elderly letter carrier who proudly proclaimed that he had the highest seniority in the country. I have no idea if it was true. I told him it was my first day.  He laughed and said, “Don’t worry. Continue readingOn Work And Struggle At Canada Post – A View From A Postie

7/3/2013

OSSTF members’ letter to Provincial Executive re: Ken Coran

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

4/27/2013

Rank and File.ca Perspectives

Check out the latest Rank and File.ca perspectives articles by Dan Bouchard (CUPE 2544) and Amanda Moravec. Dan talks about the tragic cases of Amanda Todd and Rehtaeh Parsons. Amanda reflects on the death of former British PM, Margaret Thatcher, on April 8, 2013. Sad Eyes of the Innocent By Dan Bouchard A large part Continue readingRank and File.ca Perspectives

4/24/2013

Flying Refined or Flying Blind?

By Ted Turner On strike since January 10 for a first collective agreement, workers represented by COPE Local 343 and employed by Porter FBO to refuel aircraft at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) are facing a union busting Bay Street corporate agenda. It is telling that the largest institutional investor in Porter Aviation Holdings Continue readingFlying Refined or Flying Blind?

4/18/2013

The Ignorance of Youth

By Dan Bouchard I have been a member of CUPE Local 2544 for over twenty-four years now. I started as a high school student working for the summer on the maintenance trucks with some of the different trades that the Peel District School Board (PDSB) employs. I was just a fourteen-year-old student looking to make Continue readingThe Ignorance of Youth

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