By Jeremy Appel Workers at numerous Amazon warehouses in Canada are aiming to build on the momentum of the first successful Amazon union drive in Staten Island. On Staten Island, the independent Amazon Labour Union (ALU) successfully built a grassroots organization at the JFK8 “fulfillment centre” culminating in a 10-percentage point victory over the anti-union Continue readingAmazon targeted by Teamsters Canada & CSN
Articles
By Lee Gilchrist After a five-month strike ending on March 29, unionized workers at the Lennox & Addington Interval House in Napanee, Ontario thought the long, grueling battle was over. Management and the union’s lawyer hammered out a return-to-work protocol, and the six strikers returned to work on April 29. Then, management fired each one Continue readingUnion-busting escalates at Napanee women’s shelter
By Andrew Stevens For the first time since the mid-1990s Saskatchewan’s population growth has tapered off, advancing a trend that began around 2018. That’s what makes the federal government’s recent, ambitious immigration targets so important for our province. By 2024 around 1.3 million permanent resident admissions have been planned for at the national level. It’s Continue readingOp-ed: Saskatchewan’s migrant future
By Jeremy Appel CP Rail workers and management entered binding arbitration to resolve their labour dispute on March 22 — three days after workers were locked out by the employer. Binding arbitration means the new contract will be decided by a third-party arbitrator rather than through negotiations between employer CP Rail and Teamsters Canada Rail Continue readingCP lockout ends but business propaganda continues
Editor’s introduction As the housing crisis deepens in Canada, tenant unionism has re-emerged in many cities across Canada. In British Columbia, where the housing crisis is enormous, collective bargaining for tenants has become a central demand of Rent Strike Bargain (RSB). RSB is an organization coming from the new tenant unionism in British Columbia. Rankandfile.ca Continue readingThe challenges of tenant unionism in British Columbia
By Jeremy Appel A wave of post-secondary job action is sweeping across the country, with the faculty at Acadia University, University of Lethbridge and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology striking for improved working conditions. Other faculty associations, from those at major universities such as York University and the University of Alberta to the Continue readingFaculty strikes take on deteriorating conditions at universities
The Ocean Ranger was the world’s biggest offshore oil rig. Located in the North Atlantic over 250 kilometres east of Newfoundland, the rig went online in November 1981. On the evening of February 14 1982, the platform was battered by a storm. By the time rescuers arrived in the early hours of February 15, all Continue readingRemember the Ocean Ranger
By Peter Votsch “You don’t have a grievance” and “our members are apathetic” are two seemingly disconnected complaints heard at various times in unionized workplaces. A union executive delivers the first one to members seeking relief from an abusive manager or change in work rules. The other is muttered by local executives in frustration with Continue readingBuilding a strong union in the workplace: a few thoughts
“The opposite of everything the labour movement should be doing” By Dan Darrah and Doug Nesbitt On January 27, Uber Canada and the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) announced they reached a “landmark agreement” covering 100,000 Uber workers in Canada. As the press release states, “UFCW Canada can provide representation if requested by drivers Continue readingUFCW signs controversial closed-door deal with Uber
By Tony Leah Pensions for retirees from GM, Ford and Chrysler/Stellantis were last increased in December 2007. There have been zero increases in the past 14 years. There will be no increases in the next two years. The CAW/Unifor agreed to 5 contracts in a row with no increases for past, present or future retirees. Continue readingAuto retirees fall behind as two-tier “cancer” spreads
By Ben Sichel A worker approaches a union staffer to discuss a problem in the workplace. The staffer has heard about this problem before. “We’ve brought this to the labour-management committee,” they sigh. “We can try to bring it up again.” The worker is disappointed. Is there something else we could do? Can the workers Continue readingBuilding a caucus to rebuild union power
By Doug Nesbitt Editor of Rankandfile.ca If you want a union in your workplace, it’s hard to know where to start. Talking union on the job will get you shushed by co-workers, or worse, fired my management. The fear of retaliation is real. So here’s some basic advice on how to get things started. The Continue readingCrash course: Starting a union in your workplace