On the latest episode of Rank and File Radio – Prairies Edition, we cover the strike of over one thousand Co-op workers in Moose Jaw and Saskatoon, all members of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1400. Moose Jaw workers have been on strike for just over a month. A few days ago, Saskatoon workers walked off the job at over 20 locations across the city. While they are striking over two separate collective bargaining agreements, both are fighting similar issues, including a two-tiered wage system that would see some workers earn less than others. Rod Gillies, the director of negotiations for UFCW Local 1400, will provide an update on the latest round of bargaining with co-op, which occurred Friday, November 2.
And as Alberta premier Rachel Notley continues to use scare tactics about potential devastation to workers lives and the economy if the TransMountain pipeline doesn’t get built, we’ll hear a more hopeful message from Hadrian Mertins- Kirkwood, CCPA researcher about the massive opportunity for job growth in a just transition away from fossil fuels. This will be part of a talk that was recorded at a conference called Just Transitions: Building Saskatchewan’s Next Economy.