by Doug Nesbitt Nearly a month has passed since Canada Post’s management announced, without warning to either the public or the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, that home delivery for five million Canadians would be cut, at least 8,000 jobs eliminated, and service costs increased. As many have pointed out, including the Canadian Union of Continue readingSaving Canada Post: The struggle so far
workers' rights
By David Bush and Jason Edwards Wages, working conditions and fair treatment are, above all else, determined by workers’ collective power. For the majority of workers, collective power, and consequently industry standards, is defined in large part by their ability to bargain collectively. The uneven power relations between workers and employers within the capitalist system Continue readingThe Labour Board of Nova Scotia: Stifling Free Collective Bargaining
By Judy Haiven The tragic suicide by a worker with 38 years’ seniority at Halifax Shipyard on Wednesday, sparked a walk out of more than 300 shipyard workers on Thursday. First thing this morning, workers found out that on learning of their comrade’s death, workers on the previous night’s shift had refused to work. At Continue readingSuicide – The Last Straw At Halifax Shipyard
In our final installment of the Unifor Interview Series with union leaders, staff, and rank-and-file members, we speak with Gary Engler, Vice-President of Unifor Local 2000, the Media Union of BC. Gary also recently penned two articles at Rabble.ca, “Thoughts on Labour Day” and “Unifor and the potential rebirth of militant union activism.” He recently Continue readingUnifor Interview Series: Gary Engler, Local 2000
We continue our Unifor Interview Series with Dave Coles, former president of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers union (CEP), and now a member of Unifor. Before being elected CEP president in 2006, he served six years as the Western Regional Vice President of the CEP. He was involved in the merger talks between CAW and Continue readingUnifor Interview Series: Dave Coles, former CEP president
In our third installment of the Unifor Interview Series with union leaders, staff, and rank-and-file members, we speak with Roxanne Dubois about Unifor’s Community Chapters. Roxane is a staff member of the CEP and now Unifor, and is a former chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students. She presented a discussion paper on community chapters Continue readingUnifor Interview Series: Roxanne Dubois on Community Chapters
We continue our weeklong series of interviews with Unifor union leaders, staff, and rank-and-file members. Today we speak with Lindsay Hinshelwood, an assembly line worker at Ford Oakville and a member of Unifor Local 707, formerly of the Canadian Autoworkers. [audio:https://www.rankandfile.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/LHfinal.mp3|titles=Lindsay Hinshelwood interview] Lindsay is a rank-and-file Unifor member who ran from the floor for Continue readingUnifor Interview Series: Lindsay Hinshelwood, Local 707
Over the next week, Rankandfile.ca will be publishing a series of interviews with Unifor union leaders, staff, and rank-and-file members. We kick off our series with Bruce Allen, an outspoken member of the CAW/Unifor. [audio:https://www.rankandfile.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/bruce-allen-final.mp3|titles=Bruce Allen interview] (listen on YouTube) Bruce is Vice-President of the former CAW Local 199 (now Unifor) representing St. Catharines General Continue readingUnifor Interview Series: Bruce Allen, Local 199
Dave Bush speaks with Shay Enxuga, an activist with the Baristas Rise Up (BRU) campaign. Shay recently authored the article Queer Struggles are Class Struggles which looks at the experience of queer and trans workers in the low wage service sector. Shay speaks about the working experiences of young queer and trans workers and their Continue readingRank and File Podcast With Shay Enxuga
by Peter Hasek Originally published at School Edition! on August 14 2013 Editor’s note: a rally in support of Toronto Plaza Hotel workers is taking place today (August 15) at noon at the Toronto Plaza Hotel on 1677 Wilson Street. The USW brothers and sisters at the Toronto Plaza Hotel have been on the line Continue readingToronto Plaza Hotel Strike: A First Hand Report!
by Doug Nesbitt On June 14 1872, the Trade Union Act, introduced by Prime Minister John A. Macdonald, became law. Unions were now legal in Canada. How did this happen and what did it take for unions to achieve legal recognition? Was it enlightened and benevolent politicians looking out for the masses? Backroom deals between Continue readingThe Nine-Hour Movement: How civil disobedience made unions legal
A weekly digest of labour and labour-related news Canada PSAC going to federal court over forced vote at CBSA PSAC communication, July 2013 Ratification of Agreement Ends Airport Strike PSAC new release, 22 July 2013