B.C. teachers walk out

Posted by & filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 10 - Third-Party Intervention, Chapter 8 - The Collective Bargaining Process, Chapter 9 - Strikes and Lockouts.

Description: B.C. teachers have begun a three-day strike as MLAs debate legislation to end the dispute. Source: CBC Date: 03/05/2012 Link: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2012/03/05/bc-teachers-strike.html?cmp=rss Related links: Earlier update Prof. Fiona McQuarrie discusses the dispute on CBC Radio (March 1 show: begins at 1:21) Vancouver Sun column Bill 22, the Education Improvement Act B.C. Ministry of Education B.C…. Read more »

Union says employer failed to act on mine safety

Posted by & filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction.

Description: United Steelworkers Local 6500 has released a report into the deaths of two Sudbury miners and is complaining that management at the Vale mine failed to act on safety concerns. Source: CBC Date: 03/02/2012 Link: http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/story/2012/03/02/sudbury-vale-mine-probe.html Related links: Postmedia story Earlier story Local 6500 website, with report Vale Mines Questions for discussion: What is… Read more »

B.C. teachers plan ‘day of action’

Posted by & filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 10 - Third-Party Intervention, Chapter 8 - The Collective Bargaining Process, Chapter 9 - Strikes and Lockouts.

Description: Teachers in B.C. are planning protests in the face of a provincial government plan to legislate an end to their job action. Source: CTV Date: 02/27/2012 Link: http://www.ctvbc.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20120227/bc_teachers_federation_day_of_action_120227/20120227/?hub=BritishColumbiaHome Related links: Victoria Times-Colonist story Vancouver Sun column Earlier update B.C. Teachers’ Federation B.C. Ministry of Education B.C. Public School Employers’ Association Questions for discussion: What… Read more »

Ontario Zellers workers ratify contract

Posted by & filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 12 - Changes to the Union or the Employer, Chapter 13 - Future Issues.

Description: Unionized workers at Ontario Zellers stores have ratified a three-year contract that provides increased severance pay as the company’s stores are sold to non-union retailers from the U.S. Source: CBC Date: 02/20/2012 Link: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2012/02/20/toronto-ontario-zellers-workers-union.html Related links: Canadian Labour Reporter story United Food and Commercial Workers Local 175 Zellers Target Wal-Mart Canada Questions for discussion:… Read more »

Air Canada, pilots agree to mediation

Posted by & filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 10 - Third-Party Intervention, Chapter 13 - Future Issues, Chapter 8 - The Collective Bargaining Process, Chapter 9 - Strikes and Lockouts.

Description: Air Canada and the Air Canada Pilots Association have agreed to a six-month mediation process after the pilots voted overwhelmingly to approve strike action. Source: The Financial Post Date: 02/15/2012 Link: http://business.financialpost.com/2012/02/15/air-canada-union-agree-to-extend-mediation-process/ Related links: Earlier Air Canada update CTV story Air Canada Air Canada Pilots Association Questions for discussion: Refer to your text and… Read more »

Alberta hospital workers walk off job

Posted by & filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 10 - Third-Party Intervention, Chapter 9 - Strikes and Lockouts.

Description: The Alberta health authority and the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees have agreed to binding arbitration after a one-day illegal walkout by hospital support staff. Source: The Edmonton Journal Date: 02/17/2012 Link: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/health/Hospital+support+workers+return+work+Thursday+evening+Calgary+after/6167433/story.html Related links: CBC story Alberta Health Services Alberta Union of Provincial Employees Questions for discussion: Why was this strike illegal? What… Read more »

Air Canada, mechanics reach tentative deal

Posted by & filed under Chapter 10 - Third-Party Intervention, Chapter 13 - Future Issues, Chapter 8 - The Collective Bargaining Process.

Description: Air Canada and the union representing mechanics and ground crews have reached a tentative settlement that the union says includes the retention of a defined-benefit pension plan. Source: Canada.com Date: 02/10/2012 Link: http://www.canada.com/business/Canada+gets+tentative+deal+with+mechanics+ground+crew/6133341/story.html Related links: Air Canada records $60 million loss, pilots call strike vote Earlier update Air Canada International Association of Machinists and… Read more »

Government hints at legislated end to B.C. teachers’ dispute

Posted by & filed under Chapter 10 - Third-Party Intervention, Chapter 8 - The Collective Bargaining Process, Chapter 9 - Strikes and Lockouts.

Description: B.C. Education Minister George Abbott says B.C. teachers and their employer are “oceans apart” and suggests the dispute won’t be “settled happily.” Source: The Victoria Times-Colonist Date: 02/10/2012 Link: http://www.timescolonist.com/business/Teachers+bosses+ocean+apart/6132362/story.html Related links: B.C. government appoints fact finder Press releases from government, B.C. Teachers’ Federation Earlier update B.C. Public School Employers’ Association B.C. Teachers’ Federation… Read more »

Caterpillar to close locomotive plant

Posted by & filed under Chapter 13 - Future Issues, Chapter 2 - Theories of Industrial Relations, Chapter 9 - Strikes and Lockouts.

Description: Caterpillar Inc. has announced it will close its London, Ont. Electro-Motive locomotive plant, where workers have been locked out since the beginning of the year. Source: The Montreal Gazette Date: 02/03/2011 Link: http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/Caterpillar+Electro+Motive+plant+London+close/6099000/story.html Related links: Toronto Star column Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak on the closure Globe and Mail column National Post column… Read more »

Social media and collective bargaining

Posted by & filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 13 - Future Issues.

Description: Social media carry both risks and benefits for unionized workplaces. Source: The Calgary Herald Date: 01/28/2012 Link: http://www.calgaryherald.com/jobs/Navigating+social+media+maze/6066665/story.html Related links: Len Polsky Dan Furst Wayne Benedict Annual conference of the Alberta branch of the Canadian Bar Association 2011 Cisco Connected World Tech Report Questions for discussion: What does Wayne Benedict mean when he describes… Read more »