UberXploited: Behind the Toronto taxi wars | Anti-Muslim Sentiments Not Welcome in Toronto, Protesters Tell Donald Trump | Union court challenge to Bill 115 will resume on Monday, December 14 | Nova Scotia teachers brace for government reprisals as strike looms | Over 400,000 went on strike Dec. 9 in historic labour action in Quebec | Quebec reaches agreement in principle with health-care workers’ union | Ontario jail guards poised to walk out Dec. 28 | Workload, safety, on the table for BC’s Coast hotel workers | Study puts BC migrant work under a microscope
UberXploited: Behind the Toronto taxi wars
by David Bush, December 11, rankandfile.ca
On Wednesday taxi drivers in Toronto took their battle against Uber to the streets. The protest was just the latest salvo in an increasingly bitter and seemingly complex war over the future city’s taxi industry.
Anti-Muslim Sentiments Not Welcome in Toronto, Protesters Tell Donald Trump
December 11, northumberlandview.ca
Protesters gathered in front of the Trump International Hotel & Tower Toronto Friday afternoon, protesting Donald Trump’s recent anti-Muslim statements and celebrating Toronto’s diversity and inclusiveness.
“We can’t allow hateful anti-Muslim comments like Trump’s to go unchallenged,” said Abu Azam, a Houseperson at the Hilton Hotel Downtown Toronto. “As a Muslim myself, I am encouraged to see Canadians from all walks of life standing up to reject Trump’s hateful, vile bigotry.”
Union court challenge to Bill 115 will resume on Monday, December 14
December 11, cupe.ca
CUPE’s education workers in Ontario, alongside the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario ETFO, the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF), and the Ontario Public Service Employees’ Union (OPSEU) will be back in court to challenge the constitutionality of Bill 115, starting Monday, December 14. UNIFOR also has intervenor status in the case.
Nova Scotia teachers brace for government reprisals as strike looms
by Nora Loreto, December 10, rabble.ca
On November 12, Nova Scotia Teacher Union’s negotiator reached a tentative agreement with the Government of Nova Scotia. Negotiations had been quick, only about a month and a half.
The deal represented a compromise: the teachers would accept a wage freeze and the government promised to not pursue their system reforms. For the Nova Scotia Teachers Union representatives, that was a good enough deal to put to the membership for a vote.
Over 400,000 went on strike Dec. 9 in historic labour action in Quebec
by David Gray-Donald, December 10, rabble.ca
A historically high number of public service employees were on strike and protesting in Quebec on Wednesday Dec. 9. Unresolved contract negotiations with the government were the flashpoint leading to the day’s unrest.
Quebec reaches agreement in principle with health-care workers’ union
December 10, montrealgazette.com
The Fédération de la santé et des services sociaux (FSSS) represents more than 110,000 unionized workers, in all types of health and social services establishments.
As was the case with other agreements in principal before this, the agreement with the health-care workers’ union was concluded at the sector tables, which is where public sector unions and Quebec negotiate all clauses other than salary and pension plans.
Ontario jail guards poised to walk out Dec. 28
by Antonella Artuso, December 10, torontosun.com
Ontario could be staring down a full-blown strike by the province’s correctional officers as early as Dec. 28. Unlike a previous strike where a portion of the workforce remained on the job, all of the unionized officers would be on the picket line, said Warren “Smokey” Thomas, president of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU).
Workload, safety, on the table for BC’s Coast hotel workers
by Tania Parker, December 10, rankandfile.ca
Sometimes seen, rarely heard, hotel housekeepers often toil away in the background with little to no recognition for the backbreaking work they do.
Study puts BC migrant work under a microscope
by Daniel Tseghay, December 8, rankandfile.ca
A new study, released by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA), provides an in-depth look into the conditions of exploitation facing BC migrant workers, and makes substantive recommendations for federal and provincial policy change.