by Doug Nesbitt The unionization of baristas in Halifax has earned mainstream news coverage, including CBC Radio’s “News at Six” and well-researched articles in the press addressing wider issues of low wages and lack of job security for young workers. In contrast, some commentary in the right-wing press perpetuates common but false claims about work Continue readingFive myths about barista work and unionization
workers' rights
The low wage service sector is one of the most difficult sectors for workers to form unions. The small workplaces’ lack of union tradition, high staff turnover and aggressive anti-union managers and owners in the sector have meant that most unions have stayed away from organizing places such as coffee shops. In Halifax, Nova Scotia Continue readingBaristas Rise Up in Halifax
by David Bush and Doug Nesbitt On July 5, Nova Scotia’s New Democratic government reconvened the legislature to pass a special law revoking the right-to-strike for 800 ground and air ambulance paramedics of Local 727 of the International Union of Operating Engineers. The paramedics are employed by EMC Inc., a private for-profit company involved in Continue readingNova Scotia’s NDP revokes paramedics’ right-to-strike
A recent story by Vancouver Sun reporter, Peter O’Neil, reveals that a poll widely cited by Tory MP, Russ Hiebert, to support Bill C-377 might have contained some dubious claims. The Senate just recently sent the Bill back to the Commons with a list of amendments. Let’s not forget that the poll, commissioned by the Continue readingAnti-union poll now under investigation
Caterpillar closing its tunnelling plant by mid-April 2014, throwing 330 people out of work Toronto Star, May 3 2013 Alberta government insists union pay millions for ‘cost they put on taxpayers’ during wildcat strike Calgary Herald, May 2 2013 St. John’s NL airport strike drags on as high tourism season looms Montreal Gazette, May 7 Continue readingLabour News Update, May 8 2013
Changes to Canada’s federal temporary foreign workers program: Is there any difference? Foreign Workers Canada: Tories Change Course On Controversial Program Wildcats in Alberta: Is labour militancy on the rise in Wildrose country? Alberta jail guard wildcat strike leaves main courthouses in gridlock Alberta jail guard union fined, found in contempt of court Workers on Continue readingLabour News Update, 30 April 2013
By Andrew Stevens Sweeping changes to Saskatchewan’s labour relations and employment standards legislation are on the verge of being passed. Bill 85, the Saskatchewan Employment Act, will dramatically transform the laws governing trade unions and industrial relations in the province. The Saskatchewan Party government, led by Premier Brad Wall, insists that the changes will simply Continue readingSaskatchewan: A Beachhead of Labour Law Reform?
Some of subjects in these week’s labour news update: Saskatchewan labour legislation Porter Airlines strike Study: Employment precarity and household well-being Labour Force Survey: February 2013 Austerity in Ontario universities Precarious employment in GTA Racial wealth gap triples since Reagan era
by David Bush and Doug Nesbitt Over a month has passed since Bill 115 was repealed by the Ontario Liberals, but the contracts imposed on the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation and Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario remain intact and effectively unchallenged. This has led to several incidents of open dissent from the ranks of Continue readingDissent brews in the OSSTF
In this week’s labour news update: Bill 115 & Ontario teachers OLRB ruling: Ontario government vs ETFO Idle No More Porter Airlines strike Walmart challenge in Saskatchewan New Brunswick nurses CAW drive at Toyota “New Normal” in Canadian IR Right-to-Work in Ontario Employment Insurance Temporary Foreign Worker program The Great Walmart Walkout UAW organizing at Continue readingLabour news update – January 15 2003
Commend the Canadian Union of Postal Workers for their ongoing solidarity work at home and abroad Please support the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) and their international solidarity work. CUPW has come under attack for sending delegates to the 2012 World Social Forum – Free Palestine. Emails can be sent to Dave Bleakney, dbleakney@cupw-sttp.org Continue readingRank and File News Update, December 17, 2012
[audio:https://www.rankandfile.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Lorne_interview.mp3|titles=November 14 2012 interview] RankandFile.ca interviewed Lorne Brown, Professor Emeritus at the University of Regina and author of Trade Unions and Canadian Democracy: Democracy, Labour Laws, and Workers’ Rights, published by Next Year Country Books in 2012. In 2008, Lorne was retained by the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour as an expert witness in the legal Continue readingInterview with Lorne Brown, November 14, 2012