By Daniel Tseghay Last week, Rankandfile.ca published a write-up of the BC Employment Standard Coalition’s Summary Report, Workers’ Stories of Exploitation & Abuse: Why BC Employment Standards Need to Change. The report detailed the many hurdles and gaps in protection workers who rely on no more the Employment Standards Act, from wage theft and erratic Continue reading“Your Rights at Work 101” aims to educate service sector workers
workers' rights
By Maya Bhullar In 2012, Lawrence Daquan “Day” Davis, a temporary worker, was killed on his first day at work. The film about this case, called A Day’s Work, will be screened twice at Mayworks this year as part of this year’s theme, Arts Against Precarity. It is the opening night film, screening on Friday April 28 at 6:30 p.m. in conjunction with Continue readingMayworks’ opening film is helping to build a movement
By Denise Leduc One year ago the newly elected Prime Minister Trudeau made headlines around the world when he appointed a gender balanced cabinet. Later when asked about this he famously quipped, “Because it’s 2015”. This soundbite garnered international attention and seemed hopeful for women in the workplace. Now in the last part of 2016, Continue readingBecause it’s 2016…
Gilary Massa was the executive director of communications and outreach at the Ryerson Students’ Union. She is also a member of CUPE 1281. In 2015 she was fired from her job while on maternity leave. Since that time Gilary has filed a Human Right’s complaint and her union has a pending grievance. RankandFile.ca spoke with Continue readingStanding up for maternity leave: Interview with Gilary Massa
By Nora Loreto Earlier this week, Goodwill announced that they were closing their Toronto-area stores. Sixteen stores and 10 donation centres stocked full of donated clothing and household items were apparently no longer profitable. The workers have expressed the most shock. Despite business as usual, as deliveries continued and people dropped off their impulse buys, Continue readingUnions Could Save Goodwill Toronto From Incompetent Management
By Gerard Di Trolio South Korea has seen the the largest crackdown on labour and civil rights since the end of the military dictatorship in the late 1980s. Protests led by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) against reforms that would weaken labour protections were repressed by police. The KCTU leader Hang Sang-gyun has Continue readingTime for Canada’s Labour Movement to Think and Act Globally
By Gerard Di Trolio Right now, scabs are the secret ingredient in Covered Bridge Potato Chips made near Hartland, New Brunswick. After members of UFCW 1288P began their strike for a first contract on January 5, Covered Bridge turned to scab labour. Workers are seeking their first collective agreement with Covered Bridge after voting to Continue readingBoycott Scab Chips
By Sonia Singh When you’re working without a union, it can feel impossible to take on workplace problems. What if you lose your job? But Somos un Pueblo Unido, a New Mexico worker center, is honing a process to help even tiny groups of workers win changes through small collective actions—while staving off retaliation. Willing Continue readingHow to Beat Retaliation, Even without a Union
By Robert Devet KJIPUKTUK (Halifax) – Another session of the House in Nova Scotia. Another effort by the Liberals to erode collective bargaining. Another rally by angry union members at the steps of the Legislature. This time it is about Bill 148, the Public Services Sustainability Act. The legislation ensures that a wage framework of Continue readingUnions rally in opposition to Bill 148
By Denise Leduc Rankandfile.ca’s Prairies correspondent Workers with disabilities face many challenges in Canada’s labour market, including marginalization and exclusion. Only about 25% of individuals with intellectual disabilities are able to find employment. Even at work this often-overlooked segment of the workforce is forced to confront a number of obstacles. Poverty, discrimination, and abuse Sheila Continue readingThe Right to Real Pay for Real Work
By Justin Kong With the devastating electoral defeat of the New Democratic Party last month in the 2015 Federal Elections, it’s clear that the Canadian left must adjust their strategy. The new strategy needs to support the development of a progressive, grassroots immigrant power to counter the presence of more conservative and moderate elements within Continue readingLabour and the new Chinese working class
By Gerard Di Trolio Cleaners in several office buildings in downtown Toronto and their allies held a protest last Friday to raise awareness of a number of major issues they have with their employers as part of the ongoing Justice for Janitors campaign organized by Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 2. Contractors providing cleaning Continue readingCleaners rally for justice