By Cole Rockarts On Wednesday, July 29, Alberta’s United Conservative Party government passed the Restoring Balance in Alberta’s Workplaces Act, which aims to control how union dues can finance political activities and legislate restrictions on where unions can picket. The bill claims it will save employers $100 million dollars per year by “reducing red tape”, Continue readingIt’s going take more than the courts to stop Kenney’s Bill 32
"Right-to-Work"
By David Bush On June 27 the United States Supreme Court handed down its ruling on the Janus v. AFSCME case. In a 5–4 decision the court ruled that public sector union fees to non-members is a violation of First Amendment rights. In effect the ruling obliterated closed shop unions in the public sector across Continue readingWhat Janus means North of the border
On June 28, the United States Supreme Court delivered a huge blow against federal workers in the United States, allowing so-called “Right-to-Work” to exist. Pressures will mount for it to spread to further American states, and there will be growing calls in Canada for the same. What are Right-to-Work laws? The business lobby and political Continue readingWeekend Video: Fighting “Right-to-Work” laws
By John Ertl, field mobilization specialist for the Amalgamated Transit Union Going into its latest contract, the transit union in Fairfax County, Virginia, was in tough shape. People weren’t active because they didn’t believe the union could do much—and the union couldn’t do much because people weren’t active. Management never budged on the issues that Continue readingRebuilding a transit union under right-to-work
On February 1, Republicans in the House of Congress introduced a bill for a national right to work law. If passed, this represents a significant assault on trade union rights and power in North America. For international unions in Canada the impact of right to work would be felt immediately. For the Canadian union movement at Continue readingHow to maintain unity and membership under Right to Work
In Kentucky, hundreds of demonstrators packed into the Capitol building last Saturday to protest the state Legislature’s passage of a slew of controversial bills, including an anti-union “right-to-work” law and extreme anti-choice legislation that bans abortions after 20 weeks and requires a woman to have an ultrasound before having an abortion. The surprise emergency legislative Continue readingWeekend Video: Right-to-Work in Kentucky
To kick off May Day the Toronto and York Region Labour Council organized a morning solidarity picket with striking Crown Metal Packaging workers outside of Ontario’s Ministry of Labour in Toronto. The solidarity picket called on the government to intervene in the strike to help bring it to a just end for the workers. The solidarity picket Continue readingStriking Crown Can workers: 20 months and counting
R&F.ca has launched its Spring fundraising drive. Our goal is to raise $6,660 by May 1, 2015. Click here to find out how you can donate. Nation contributor Jane McAlevey says right-to-work legislation has its roots in repressing black workers under Jim Crow, and will harm African Americans who benefit from unions far more than Continue readingWeekend Video: Racist roots of right-to-work laws
Part 2: “Right-to-Work” in Ontario – The Tory Plan and Union Strategies By Andrew Stevens and Dave Bush When Tim Hudak announced his reversal on RTW on February 21 he painted this backtracking as a simple shift in priorities for the Tories. They would now be focusing on tax cuts, the skills shortage and hydro Continue readingHudak’s 180 & the “Right-to-Work” Roller Coaster: The Tory Plan and Union Strategies (Part 2)
Part 1: “Right-to-Work” – A Political Backgrounder By Andrew Stevens and Dave Bush Introduction Last week, Ontario Progressive Conservative leader, Tim Hudak, backtracked on his promise to end automatic union dues check-off, commonly referred to as “right-to-work” (RTW) legislation, if his party formed a government in the next provincial election. He made this announcement during Continue readingHudak’s 180 & the “Right-to-Work” roller coaster: A Two Part Series on Anti-Labour Legislation & Union Strategy
By Alex Hunsberger Ontario Progressive-Conservative leader Tim Hudak has made no secret of his wish to assault organized labour if elected premier, something which could happen as early as this spring. The most significant of his proposed reforms is the promise to enact so-called “right-to-work” legislation. Despite its Orwellian name, right-to-work has nothing to do Continue readingWhat Tim Hudak doesn’t want you to know: “right-to-work” laws invented by southern US segregationists
From a string of regressive labour law reforms at the provincial and federal levels, to factory closures and the formation of Unifor, 2013 has been eventful for workers and organized labour. Check out some of the Rankandfile.ca highlights from the past year. Be sure to follow our upcoming series on labour and the environment, a Continue readingA Rankandfile.ca Reader: Reflections on 2013