Quebec pensions fight | Tembec strike | How WSIB has failed | Sexual harassment in the workplace | Rail fatigue | Western Canada workplace safety | Ste-Thérèse Paccar lockout | Muzzled scientists at bargaining table | Green jobs vs tar sands
Quebec unions slam pension bill, vow new round of protests
Marian Scott, Montreal Gazette
December 4, 2014
As the Quebec government passes the Bill 3 attack on municipal pensions, the union coalition in opposition plans a new round of protests. “We’re more determined than ever,” Marc Ranger, spokesperson for the Coalition. “We will target municipal administrations, that’s for sure,” he said. “Most of these mayors will not find this funny in the months to come.”
Tembec strike continues as bargaining resumes
Jennifer Hamilton-McCharles, North Bay Nugget
December 5, 2014
There is a mutual media blackout around negotiations at Tembec where 650 workers walked out of the Temiscaming, Quebec mill on Nov. 26, striking over discipline, concessions, respecting the union contract and job security. Discipline is a major concern. Unifor Local 233 says Tembec has fired more employees in 20 months than they have in 39 years. The three picket lines surrounding site remain staffed 24 hours per day.
Sexual misconduct complaints mostly ignored by employers, surveys says
CBC News
December 5, 2014
The Angus Reid Institute survey found 30 per cent of workers have experienced sexual harassment at work. Upwards of 80 percent of incidents are not reported while 60 percent of incidents reported to employers resulted in not action taken or the issue being dismissed.
Special RankandFile.ca WSIB investigation
Part One: How the WSIB is failing the injured workers of Ontario
Part Two: The WSIB’s Austerity Agenda: Deporting injured migrant workers
Samantha Ponting, RankandFile.ca
December 3-4, 2014
RankandFile.ca’s Samantha Ponting investigates the enormous limitations, failures and unjust policies of Ontario’s Workplace Safety Insurance Board.
Fighting Fatigue: Rail, Road & Air
Jenny Brown, Labor Notes
December 3, 2014
On both sides of the border, rail engineers, pilots, and bus drivers are still looking for relief from fatigue as work rules and legislation are transformed by corporations seeking profits ahead of safety.
Labour leaders promise “unprecedented battle” if BC, AB & SK weaken workplace safety rules
Alberta Federation of Labour
December 1, 2014
The top labour leaders in BC, Alberta and Saskatchewan are putting provincial governments on notice: if they are planning to engage in a race-to-the-bottom on workplace health and safety rules, they should be prepared for an unprecedented political battle. The warning was issued by Gil McGowan and Larry Hubich, presidents of the Federations of Labour in Alberta and Saskatchewan, and Lee Loftus, a ranking officer of the BC Federation of Labour and president of the BC Building Trades Council. The three leaders were in Edmonton today as provincial bureaucrats gather to begin the latest round of negotiations on a so-called New West Partnership.
Paccar locks out 850 workers in Ste-Ste-Thérèse
CBC News
November 30, 2014
Paccar, a Ste-Thérèse truck manufacturing plant, has locked out its 850 employees amid stalled negotiations with the workers’ union, Unifor. The company tabled its final offer on Saturday afternoon, according to The Canadian Press. The union’s negotiating committee called for an assembly on Sunday morning to deliberate on it. However, Paccar did not move the lockout deadline to allow the union to consider the offer. Seventy-six per cent of employees voted on Sunday to reject the offer.
Public sector union to take muzzled science issue to bargaining table
Globe and Mail
December 3, 2014
The union representing government scientists, engineers and professionals says its next contract demands will include an integrity policy to free up muzzled researchers and promote evidence-based policy making. The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC), which represents 55,000 federal employees, says a scientific-integrity policy is needed to ensure innovation and to protect public health, safety and the environment.
Green energy sector jobs surpasses total tar sands employments
Richard Blackwell, Globe and Mail
December 2, 2014
Canada’s green energy sector has grown so quickly and has become such an important part of the economy that it now employs more people than the oil sands. About $25-billion has been invested in Canada’s clean-energy sector in the past five years, and employment is up 37 per cent, according to a new report from climate think tank Clean Energy Canada to be released Tuesday. That means the 23,700 people who work in green energy organizations outnumber the 22,340 whose work relates to the oil sands, the report says.
So I am business owner panyig WCIB and working tools , now I get hurt and I am collecting benefits. Am I allowed to manage my company( 2 employees) and collect the benefits at the same time . There is no answers anywhere just threats to comply.Now another tax grab is thisOntario trade college .From $60 for 3 years for the trade licence it is now 120 a year.They will never stop until we stop them.