Sad day for Rupert as cannery closes | Unions, community groups keep up pressure on Quebec government | ONTC/Unifor dispute goes international | Canada Post employees allege firing unfair | Judge to hear U.S. Steel $2B claim ahead of other creditors | Egg Films ‘unlawfully locked out its employees,’ N.S. board rules | Mass layoffs in Alberta surge past 18,000 workers as oil’s collapse takes toll | Private operators squeeze nurses in public home care | Truro educator: Teachers’ tentative deal a step backwards | Nipissing University students leave sit-in protest to walk picket line | It’s time for labour to fight back against the TPP
Sad day for Rupert as cannery closes
Kevin Campbell, The Northern View
November 18 2015
Prince Rupert is reeling after the Canadian Fishing Corporation (Canfisco) announced it will be shutting down its salmon canning operations at its Oceanside plant.
“I can’t give you an exact number [on the number of jobs lost]. Most of the jobs that would be directly impacted would be the ones for people in our trades maintenance group, who are involved in maintaining and operating the canning equipment itself. Also, there will be some impact on the general workforce, because we’ll still be doing unloading and dressing of the salmon, but that doesn’t take as many people as putting it into the cans as well,” Rob Morley, Canfisco vice-president of production and corporate development, said on Thursday.
Unions, community groups keep up pressure on Quebec government
Shuyee Lee, CJAD 800
November 27 2015
Unions, community groups and grass roots organizations are keeping up the pressure against the Couillard government, by holding another anti-austerity demonstration tomorrow afternoon in Montreal.
The groups say it’s necessary to maintain their message despite reports in La Presse that a deal with public sector unions may be imminent with a bargaining blitz this weekend.
ONTC/Unifor dispute goes international
North Bay Nugget, November 27 2015
As the Ontario government’s lockout of nearly 200 members of Unifor closes out its second week, demands for the involvement of Premier Kathleen Wynne are now coming from International corners. In a letter to the premier, the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) headquartered in London UK, has called on the Wynne government to get serious about negotiations.
“The government’s all-or-nothing approach to the outstanding proposals is unacceptable, unreasonable and does nothing to advance the bargaining process. We understand there is a mechanism in the labour code that could see this dispute brought to a prompt resolve if you were to agree to Unifor’s proposal to binding dispute resolution process” ITF general secretary Stephen Cotton wrote to Premier Wynne.
Canada Post employees allege firing unfair
Sueann Musick, New Glasgow News
November 26, 2015
NEW GLASGOW – The union supporting Canada Post employees say two workers have been fired unfairly over a health and safety issue.
Kevin Peterson, president of the Local CUPW, said Thursday during a day of action protest in front of the New Glasgow post office, Elizabeth Koszkulics and Joan Mabey, two longtime employees of the New Glasgow office, were fired in October following a police investigation into a damage of property complaint.
Judge to hear U.S. Steel $2B claim ahead of other creditors
Kelly Bennett, CBC News
November 25, 2015
A judge ruled Wednesday he will hear the matter of the American U.S. Steel company’s claims that it’s owed $2.2 billion before the rest of the restructuring process for U.S. Steel Canada.
The judge concluded the outcome of the hearings on how much the American company is owed will have bearing on the rest of the U.S. Steel Canada restructuring process.
Justice H.J. Wilton-Siegel said that claims trial should be scheduled “as soon as reasonably possible” but said that will not likely be before the end of January 2016.
Egg Films ‘unlawfully locked out its employees,’ N.S. board rules
Patricia Brooks, Arenburg Business Reporter
November 25, 2015
A Halifax-based film company, which announced it was shutting down over a lengthy dispute with unionized workers, has been ordered to return to the table and pay damages for violating the province’s Trade Union Act.
But Mike Hachey, CEO for Egg Films Inc., says it’s “unclear” what the decision means now that the firm is closed.
In an email to The Chronicle Herald, Hachey wrote the firm shut down on Nov. 6 after filing notice with the Labour Minister on Sept. 8.
Mass layoffs in Alberta surge past 18,000 workers as oil’s collapse takes toll
Mario Toneguzzi, National Post
November 25, 2015
Group layoffs in Alberta during 2015 have surpassed 18,000 workers, according to new provincial government data.
Pam Sharpe, of Alberta’s Jobs, Skills, Training and Labour ministry, said eight layoff notices affecting 2,206 employees have been received in November. Employers are required to notify the government of layoffs involving 50 or more people at a single location.
Private operators squeeze nurses in public home care: Cohn
Martin Regg Cohn, The Toronto Star
November 26, 2015
Kathleen Wynne made two solemn commitments on the 2014 campaign trail.
A new public pension plan for Ontario’s most vulnerable workers.
And a boost for low-wage staff who care for the province’s most vulnerable patients.
It’s one thing for a premier to make airy promises at 30,000 feet. But at ground level, navigating through the political fog isn’t so easy for one group of poorly paid nurses caught in a bitter seven-month labour dispute.
Truro educator: Teachers’ tentative deal a step backwards
Michael Gorman, Halifax Chronicle Herald
November 24, 2015
A teacher in Truro calls the tentative agreement between the Nova Scotia Teachers Union and provincial government “a complete and utter disgrace” and “total capitulation” by union leadership.
“Members should be outraged,” Eric Boutilier writes in a letter wherein he calls on teachers to vote against the contract. The letter is making the rounds on the Internet and receiving support from teachers in various parts of the province.
Nipissing University students leave sit-in protest to walk picket line.
KA Smith, North Bay News
November 25, 2015
Nipissing University students have abandoned their sit-in protest which occupied President Mike DeGagné’s office and the boardroom for 18 days and have joined the picket line with their striking professors.
Eight students met with DeGagné at 10 this morning for about three minutes.
Afterward, spokesperson Lauren Edwards said the school year is in jeopardy and that the sit-in group had decided to leave its peaceful protest to support the faculty.
It’s time for labour to fight back against the TPP
Nora Loreto, rabble.ca
November 24, 2015
It isn’t an exaggeration to say that the Trans-Pacific Partnership will fundamentally change global trade and work. Considering the implications of the deal, the Canadian labour movement must figure out how exactly it plans to fight for workers under the new regime.
Of course, the TPP hasn’t actually been signed. Justin Trudeau has promised very minimal debate, which is unlikely to change the agreement. It was mostly finished by the time he was elected.