Description: A Federal Court judge has ruled that a case involving temporary Chinese workers at a northern B.C. mine can go ahead. Source: CTV Date: 11/22/2012 Link: http://bc.ctvnews.ca/unions-have-right-to-challenge-mine-s-temporary-foreign-worker-permits-judge-1.1050130 Related links: Union safety complaint The Temporary Foreign Worker Program The International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 115 The Construction and Specialized Workers’ Union (Labourers), Local 1611… Read more »
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Saskatchewan plans changes to labour laws
Description: Saskatchewan Labour Minister Don Morgan has angered unions by announcing planned labour law changes to a business audience. Source: CBC Date: 11/18/2012 Link: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/story/2012/11/18/sk-labour-laws.html Related links: Regina Leader-Post story Global TV story Saskatchewan Federation of Labour Saskatchewan Labour Ministry North Saskatoon Business Association Questions for discussion: What is the labour minister proposing? What effect… Read more »
York Region elementary teachers poised for job action
Description: Elementary school teachers in Ontario’s York Region appear ready to take job action. Source: CBC Date: 11/18/2012 Link: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2012/11/18/toronto-york-region-elementary-teachers-strike-action.html Related links: Globe and Mail story Toronto Star story The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario York Region District School Board The Putting Students First Act Questions for discussion: What is an “escalating withdrawal of administrative… Read more »
Temporary Chinese miners underpaid, court told
Description: A lawyer representing two unions told the Federal Court that Chinese workers brought to northern B.C. appear to make as much as $17 an hour less than Canadian workers. Source: CBC Date: 11/16/2012 Link: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2012/11/16/bc-coal-miners-union-court.html Related links: Earlier CBC story Globe and Mail story Federal government to review foreign worker program Prof. David Doorey… Read more »
Federal commissioner says union bill intrudes on privacy
Description: Federal Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart has told the Commons finance committee that a private member’s bill to increase disclosure of union finances “is a significant privacy intrusion.” Source: Canadian Labour Reporter Date: 11/08/2012 Link: http://www.labour-reporter.com/articleview/16665-union-accountability-bill-raises-serious-privacy-concerns-privacy-commissioner Related links: Pro-C-377 opinion piece from the Toronto Star Anti-C-377 opinion piece from the Toronto Star Office of the privacy… Read more »
Electricians’ union official runs for BC Fed leadership
Description: Michelle Laurie, president of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 258, is challenging incumbent president Jim Sinclair for the leadership of the B.C. Federation of Labour. Source: The Province (Vancouver) Date: 11/10/2012 Link: http://www.theprovince.com/business/Sinclair+challenged+Federation+Labour/7530828/story.html Related links: Statement from Michelle Laurie The B.C. Federation of Labour “Renew the Fed” Renew the Fed Facebook page… Read more »
Why Canadian companies are holding on to so much cash?
Description: In this video, Mark Carney (Governor, Bank of Canada) is urging Canadian corporations not to hold on to excess money. At present corporations in Canada are sitting on money equivalent to 30% of Canada’s GDP. Source: BNN Date: August 24 2012 Link: http://watch.bnn.ca/business-day/august-2012/business-day-august-24-2012/#clip747051 Questions for Discussion: Should Canadian corporations be holding on to cash… Read more »
Should We Be Worried About Canada’s Banks Getting Too Big
Description: Recent announcement by Bank of Nova Scotia’s chief executive Rick Waugh to purchase the Canadian assets of ING Groep NV for $3.13-billion, raises an interesting dilemma. This will be Scotia’s biggest acquisition. It will increase its customer base by nearly 2 million. However, by acquiring assets of a bank (Amsterdam-based ING) troubled by the… Read more »
The FDIC and failing banks
TOPIC: Control ARTICLE SUMMARY: When the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) took over Georgian Bank, it became the 95th bank to fail in 2009. Banks are failing largely because of bad real estate loans. The FDIC’s insurance fund is rapidly dwindling, reaching its lowest point in nearly two decades, while industry analysts are predicting many… Read more »
Chronically unemployed
ARTICLE SUMMARY: With the economy in a recession, unemployment is high. Despite efforts to stimulate the economy, unemployment numbers continue to rise. This leaves many unemployed for long periods. Congress has had to reauthorize unemployment benefits and extend eligibility for some that used up their benefits. This article describes the plight of the chronically unemployed… Read more »
