By Andrew Stevens For the first time in generations, international migration has helped to fuel Saskatchewan’s population growth. “Suddenly,” wrote Saskatchewan-based columnist Tammy Robert in Maclean’s in 2017, “Saskatchewan was the place to be — not the place to be from.” Starting in 2007, for almost a decade, a prolonged resource-led boom drew domestic and international migrants, reshaping the Continue readingYellow Vests and Migrant Worker Rights in Saskatchewan
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By Tony Leah Did Jerry Dias make a deal to save the Oshawa plant, or did he give in and accept GM’s determination to end vehicle production in Oshawa? Just before Christmas last year, GM announced their intention to close Oshawa, meaning the loss of 5,000 direct jobs involved in the assembly of cars and Continue readingUnifor Settlement with GM: Footprint or Toe Tag?
The 1919 General Strike anniversary conference in Winnipeg kicked off on Wednesday, May 8, with labour activists and academics from across Canada congregating at the University of Winnipeg. The intention of the conference was to not only reflect on the lessons of the general strike, but understand where Canada’s labour movement is at today. Specifically Continue readingBoots Riley on labour organizing for social justice
By Leanne Pearce-Graham and Ryan Hayes A pitched battle is currently taking place in Niagara Falls with implications for the future of decent work in Ontario. On Clifton Hill, the heart of Niagara’s tourist district, a courageous group of nearly 100 restaurant workers are on strike against one of the region’s largest employers: Canadian Niagara Continue readingRainforest Cafe workers strike against Ford’s race to the bottom
By Chloe Rockarts Today, March 21, marks the International Day for the Elimination of Racism, bringing together migrant justice organizations, activists and communities to unite against racism and call for permanent status, an end to deportations, and decent work and fair wages for migrant workers. The Caregiver Program In November, migrant care workers in Toronto, Continue readingCare workers organize: Landed status now!
By Donna Burman TTC worker and ATU Local 113 member Having a state or province run the subways is a big mistake. In Baltimore, Maryland they already have such a system they are trying to move away from. After multiple incidents in Baltimore, including safety issues, a report made it clear that the only way Continue readingDon’t steal our subway!
As Ontario faces a new round of neoliberal attacks on workers, the poor, racialized, and other marginalized communities it is important to draw lessons from past struggles. For two days in October 1996, Toronto was shut down with massive protests against the harsh new policies of Mike Harris’ Conservative government. That was one of eleven Continue readingRemembering the Metro Days of Action
By Justin Kong, Edward Hon-Sing Wong, and Veronica Yeung During the 2018 Ontario elections, a campaign pamphlet for Progressive Conservative (PC) candidate Raymond Cho was distributed with the words “為人民服務” – “Serve the People” – in bold. The phrase is one of the most iconic Maoist slogans – but in this case, it was used Continue readingOrganizing the suburbs
By Bradley Hughes After eight months of organizing and many setbacks, cleaning staff on four BC campuses have successfully joined the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). Janitors have been trying to organize on several BC campuses since last December. This battle was hard fought by the employer, Best Service Pros, which has the cleaning contract Continue readingJanitors sweep rat union off BC campuses!
By Judy Haiven Day two of the restorative justice caseworkers’ strike, and it must have been more than 32 degrees on Barrington Street in downtown Halifax. Armed with opened umbrellas, sunscreen, tri-colour popsicles and new t-shirts, members of CUPE Local 4764 walked the picket line. They were not alone, as today supporters from another union, Continue readingRestorative justice caseworkers on strike for wage fairness
By Eve Ottenberg China has more strikes per year than any other country, many thousands. These strikes are often unplanned, spontaneous, even chaotic, and the bosses stop at nothing to suppress them: they lie, cheat, call in the police, and hire gangsters to intimidate strikers or even beat them up. But the strikes keep happening—especially Continue readingBook Review: Chinese Workers Strike against Runaway Factories
By Jesse McLaren Ford proclaimed a “strong, stable majority government,” but the Ontario election results don’t represent a surge to the right. Instead there has been a polarization to the left and to the right, and Ford’s own voting base includes both those pushing for austerity and those angered by it. While Ford is strong Continue readingFord has no mandate for cuts