CEO pay soars | Storms ahead for Quebec labour | Ontario mental health staff cuts | Castlegar agreement ratified | Corner Brook firefighters | Ontario public service bargaining | Migrant workers in Lebanon
From RankandFile.ca: In case you missed them during the holidays!
- Happy New Year from RankandFile.ca
- 2014: The Canadian Labour Movement in Review
- Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil: 2014 Scumbag of the Year
Glory Days: CEO pay in Canada soaring to pre-recession levels
Hugh Mackenzie, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
January 2, 2015
Before lunch on January 2, Canada’s highest paid CEOs will pocket what most Canadians work all year to earn. Compensation levels for Canada’s highest paid 100 CEOs is on average $9.2 million—compared to the average Canadian income of $47,358. The last time CEO pay was this high was in 2007, when the average for the highest paid 100 CEOs was $10 million.
CAMH nurse assaults result of staffing cuts, says Ontario Nurses’ Association
CBC News
January 2, 2015
The union says assaults against nurses and mental health facilities can largely be blamed on a provincial funding freeze that has resulted in cuts to nursing and security staff. “There’s an escalation of the numbers of significant violent situations taking place in mental health facilities across Ontario,” Linda Haslam-Stroud, president of the Ontario Nurses’ Association, said in an interview.
Castlegar finally votes to end first ever civic strike
CUPE-BC
December 31, 2014
The City of Castlegar has finally ratified a new collective agreement with its civic workers – members of CUPE Local 2262. CUPE members found out through local media that the mayor and council had voted to ratify the deal this morning, nine days after the union voted overwhelmingly to accept the collective agreement.
CSQ predicts stormy winter in labour relations with Quebec
Monique Muise, Montreal Gazette
January 2, 2015
The head of one of Quebec’s largest labour federations says Philippe Couillard’s Liberals lied to voters during the last provincial election campaign, and should expect a rocky few months ahead as they roll out new austerity measures.
Centrale des syndicats du Québec president Louise Chabot provided a frank and scathing assessment on Friday of the government’s cost-cutting plan, saying the Liberals are inflating a $3-billion deficit estimate and making Quebec’s financial situation seem worse than it is.
OPSEU frets over Ontario’s pursuit of contract concessions
CBC News
December 31, 2014
The union that represents Ontario Public Service workers says it’s concerned the Liberals are reviewing programs with an eye to privatizing some services. The Wynne government has promised to eliminate the deficit by 2017-2018, but it also has to agree on a new contract with its public service workers in the new year.
Corner Brook, firefighters can’t reach deal
Cory Hurley, The Advertiser
January 2, 2015
Negotiations between the City of Corner Brook and its firefighters have gone to conciliation. The city’s negotiating team and Local 1222 of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) started discussions in April 2014, at the request of the city.
Lebanon’s migrant workers set to form union
Maeva Bambuck, Toronto Star
January 2, 2015
The Labour Ministry said Monday they received a proposal from the National Federation of Labour Unions to form the syndicate in Lebanon. Migrant workers in Lebanon — mostly from Ethiopia, Sri Lanka and the Philippines — have fallen victim to unpaid wages, forced labour and even physical and sexual abuse.