Description: An arbitrator has struck down an Ottawa hospital policy that forced employees to cover up tattoos and piercings. Source: The Ottawa Citizen Date: 01/18/2013 Link: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/life/fashion-beauty/Tattoos+piercings+Ottawa+Hospital+staff+arbitrator+rules/7839060/story.html Related links: Earlier story Arbitrator Lorne Slotnick’s decision (pdf) Prof. David Doorey’s blog The Ottawa Hospital Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 4000 Questions for discussion: Summarize the… Read more »
Posts By: Tom Barrett
Nurses, New Brunswick government reach tentative agreement
Description: The New Brunswick government and the province’s nurses union have negotiated a tentative collective agreement. The last contract between the two sides was reached in 2009 after the nurses threatened to strike. Source: CBC Date: 01/14/2012 Link: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/story/2013/01/14/nb-nurses-union-tentative-deal.html Related links: Story from 2009 New Brunswick Human Resources ministry New Brunswick Nurses Union Union YouTube… Read more »
LRB declares teachers’ protest unlawful
Description: The Ontario Labour Relations Board has declared a planned one-day walkout by elementary school teachers illegal. Source: CTV Date: 01/11/2013 Link: http://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/etfo-osstf-cancel-planned-walkouts-1.1109787 Related links: Labour board decision (pdf) Blog post by Prof. David Doorey Statement by the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario Ontario Labour Relations Board Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario Ontario Ministry of… Read more »
CAW seeks to organize Toyota workers
Description: The Canadian Auto Workers union is trying again to organize workers at Toyota plants in Ontario. Source: The Globe and Mail Date: 01/09/2013 Link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/caw-seeks-to-recoup-lost-membership/article7066923/ Related links: Windsor Star blog post Kitchener Waterloo Record story CAW Toyota Canada Earlier update Questions for discussion: What reasons does this story give for the CAW wanting to… Read more »
Ontario government imposes contracts on teachers
Description: The Ontario government has imposed contracts on elementary and secondary school teachers, freezing pay and reducing sick days. Source: The Globe and Mail Date: 01/03/2013 Link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/education/ontario-teachers-imposed-contract-ensures-continued-discord-unions-say/article6932573/ Related links: Video: Education Minister Laurel Broten announces government move Andrew Coyne opinion piece Thomas Walkom opinion piece Ontario education ministry The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario… Read more »
NHL, players reach tentative agreement
Description: The NHL and the NHL Players’ Association have reached a tentative agreement after the second-longest lockout in league history. Source: The Toronto Star Date: 01/06/2013 Link: http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/nhl/article/1311128–nhl-lockout-ends-with-tentative-deal-between-league-nhlpa Related links: Industrial relations expert Mark Thompson offers some advice to negotiators Globe and Mail story Earlier update NHLPA NHL Questions for discussion: Read Mark Thompson’s commentary… Read more »
Buzz Hargrove criticizes “amateur hour” NHL talks
Description: Former Canadian Auto Workers head Buzz Hargrove says the NHL Players’ Association shouldn’t have agreed to meet with team owners without the association’s executive director. Source: CBC Date: 12/06/2012 Link: http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/Canada/ID/2313280372/ Related links: Donald Fehr speaks to the CAW Two sides still in contact after talks break off Earlier update NHL NHLPA Questions for… Read more »
Michigan right-to-work vote may affect Ontario
Description: “Right-to-work” laws in Michigan could affect Ontario workers. Source: The Globe and Mail Date: 12/06/2012 Link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/economy/ontario-casts-wary-eye-on-right-to-work-legislation-in-michigan/article6067165/ Related links: Right-to-work protests CNN: Michigan Senate passes right-to-work measures. A U.S. pro-right-to-work site A Canadian anti-right-to-work opinion piece Statement from Michigan Gov. Rich Snyder Questions for discussion: What are right-to-work laws? What arguments do their proponents… Read more »
TWU to hold merger vote with Steelworkers
Description: Leaders of the Telecommunications Workers Union have voted to begin a merger process with the Steelworkers union. Source: Canadian Labour Reporter Date: 11/28/2012 Link: http://www.labour-reporter.com/articleview/16808-twu-members-to-vote-on-potential-merger-with-united-steelworkers Related links: Telecommunications Workers Union United Steelworkers Union TWU merger update A history of the USW An earlier merger between the USW and the IWA A list of mergers… Read more »
Sinclair re-elected BC Fed president
Description: Jim Sinclair was elected to a record seventh term as head of the B.C. Federation of Labour at the labour body’s convention in Vancouver. Source: The Globe and Mail Date: 11/29/2012 Link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/mulcair-assails-anti-labour-policies-of-federal-tories/article5799723/ Related links: Interview with Jim Sinclair B.C. government workers union endorses Sinclair Statement from Sinclair’s challenger, Michelle Laurie Michelle Laurie’s website Earlier… Read more »
