By Anthony Marco, OSSTF member Here’s why I will be voting AGAINST the upcoming OSSTF proposal to use arbitration as a tactic to prompt more effective bargaining with Ford’s Conservatives. I will be voting against the proposal even though I acknowledge that THIS TIME it could likely result in a better wage deal for OSSTF Continue readingArbitration tactic a mistake, says OSSTF member
Articles
In the early hours of July 6, 2013, a parked Montreal Maine & Atlantic Railway train’s brakes failed. Crewed by a single person, the train was carrying oil cars and derailed in the Quebec town of Lac-Mégantic. The resulting explosion killed 47 people and the downtown was completely destroyed. Three railway workers were dragged through Continue readingRemember Lac-Mégantic!
By Andrew Stevens Sunny ways are back in Saskatchewan. Manufacturing sales are up, exports are growing, oil production and mineral sales have increased,[1] and the provincial government raked in a $1.2 billion surplus.[2] We’re even seeing the population rebound after some years of stagnation. But what does this mean for the average worker? Well that Continue readingAn economic snapshot of Saskatchewan (from labour’s standpoint)
By Deanna Allain Member of the Union of Taxation Employees Local 00014 (PSAC) As a young worker new to the workforce, I never imagined I would be lucky enough to be a union member, and I certainly never expected to experience a strike firsthand, let alone a general strike, 155,000-members strong. I don’t take that Continue reading“Back to the table” says PSAC member
By Lee Gilchrist On October 25, City of Winnipeg workers in CUPE Local 500 ratified a tentative agreement recommended by their bargaining team. The union negotiating committee’s email to members on October 25 announced that the deal was ratified by 75 percent of members, although how many members voted was not disclosed. Some members have Continue readingCost of Living Crisis: Fight or Crawl?
By Doug Nesbitt During the infamous inflation crisis of the 1970s, Pierre Trudeau’s Liberals imposed strict wage controls on workers in late 1975. The federal government created a handpicked corporate-aligned “Anti-Inflation Board” to impose below-inflation wage caps on collective agreements across the private and public sectors. Unions organized a million-strong one-day general strike in October Continue reading1970s Inflation Crisis: When Trudeau hammered workers
By Ben Sichel What gives unions their power? On the surface, the answer is simple: strength in numbers. A single worker has little power to negotiate wages or resolve conflict with an employer, but a united group of workers does. This is the union movement’s foundational and most important principle. But often, it can feel Continue readingBuilding an organizing union
“We’re not in this together” By Ritch Whyman and Lee Gilchrist The new “automated” warehouse opened by Sobeys in Terrebonne, Quebec is shut down for three months by 190 striking workers. They win an immediate wage increase of up to 28%, and an additional 12% wage increase over three years. The contract is ratified by Continue readingThe Pandemic and the Return of Class Struggle
By Doug Nesbitt Coal miner, trade unionist and socialist Albert “Ginger” Goodwin died July 27 1918 after being gunned down by Dan Campbell, a special constable for the Dominion Police. Goodwin’s murder led to the 1918 Vancouver General Strike a week later on August 2, 1918. Yorkshire – Cape Breton – Vancouver Island Goodwin was Continue readingOur History: Albert “Ginger” Goodwin
Editor’s Note: This is a revised version of an earlier article. We’d like to make clear that Scott Doherty, Naureen Rizvi, and Lana Payne are not implicated in the kickback scandal and were not investigated for a breach of Unifor’s Code of Ethics. Unifor documents are available for download here. By Lee Gilchrist On July Continue readingReleased Unifor docs still keeps Dias Scandal under wraps
By Tony Leah There are two important resolutions submitted to the Unifor Constitutional Convention being held in Toronto from August 8-12. One calls for Unifor to fight for Equal Wages and Pensions (R-13), and the other calls for Improved Pensions Now (R-14). Can the companies afford this? The figures here are from General Motors, but Continue readingCan GM afford Equal Pay and Increased Pensions?
By Jeremy Appel After two years without a contract, unionized staff at Canada’s National Observer have reached their first agreement with management, continuing a trend of journalists at new media outlets organizing their workplaces. The five-year contract offers immediate pay increases for most staff, a company-contributed pension plan, equipment and expense allowances, overtime compensation and Continue readingNew media unions gain ground, secure first contracts