Twenty-two Porter Airlines fuel technicians have been on strike in Toronto since January 10, while the St. Francis Xavier university teachers have been on strike since January 28. The Porter workers are represented by COPE local 343 and the teachers by the St.FX Association of University Teachers.
The striking workers at Porter have been getting picket line support. With their union, the workers are inviting all supporters to attend a neighbourhood grill on Sunday February 10 from 3-6pm at Bathurst and Queens Quay. The fuel technicians are striking for better wages (average annual salaries are only $28,000) and, critically, improving health in safety in what is described as “atrocious working conditions.” They are also calling upon all supporters NOT to fly Porter Airlines.
Meanwhile, posts on Facebook and Twitter report inspiring acts of solidarity by other workers in Antigonish. The building trades unions have refused to cross picket lines, leaving a campus construction site idle. Postal workers also refused to cross one picket line to deliver the Globe and Mail and Chronicle Herald newspapers. Meanwhile, a significant number of staff also called in sick today.
With these strikes and solidarity actions, as with any other, Rankandfile.ca welcomes readers to send in reports for publication.
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