Description: Air Canada and the Canadian Union of Public Employees, representing 6,800 flight attendants, have reached a tentative agreement just hours before a strike deadline. Source: Montreal Gazette Date: 09/21/2011 Link: http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/Canada+flight+attendants+reach+tentative+deal/5433573/story.html Related links: Company sends letter to employees outlining “facts of life” Union members take their dispute to Facebook CBC.ca readers respond to the… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Chapter 1 – Introduction
Labour Day nothing to celebrate, paper argues
Description: An editorial argues that unions’ “unwillingness to put the public’s good at the forefront” means Labour Day is no longer something to be celebrated. Source: The Toronto Sun Date: 09/04/2011 Link: http://www.torontosun.com/2011/09/02/its-labour-day-by-george Related links: A business group says public sector unions should be banned A union representative responds The Canadian Federation of Independent Business… Read more »
Ontario nurses get lump-sum award
Description: An arbitrator has granted members of the Ontario Nurses’ Association lump-sum bonuses, despite a provincial government wage freeze policy. Source: The Toronto Star Date: 06/03/2011 Link: http://www.thestar.com/news/ontario/article/1002549–nurses-get-bonuses-despite-wage-freeze Related links: Ontario Nurses’ Association Ontario Hospital Association Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-term Care Globe and Mail story Toronto Sun story Canadian Press story Questions for… Read more »
Nova Scotia appoints chair of reorganized labour board
Description: The Nova Scotia government has named a former provincial ombudsman to head up its reorganized labour board. Source: The Canadian Press Date: 05/31/2011 Link: http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5jnEoaXtmWm6OKoZuDVbHw8OkFqPg?docId=7011036 Related links: Government press release Nova Scotia Labour Board Summary of board activity (pdf) Nova Scotia “Plain Language Guide” to industrial relations (pdf) Questions for discussion: What is the… Read more »
Union claims activist blacklisted
Description: The United Food and Commercial Workers union has filed a complaint with the B.C. Labour Relations Board claiming that the Mexican government and a B.C. farm have blocked a pro-union seasonal worker from returning to this country. Source: Macleans.ca Date: 05/24/2011 Link: http://www2.macleans.ca/2011/05/24/what-happened-down-on-the-farm/ Related links: B.C. Labour Relations Board United Food and Commercial Workers… Read more »
Supreme Court restricts farm workers’ bargaining rights
Description: In a complex judgement, the Supreme Court of Canada has upheld an Ontario law that limits the bargaining rights of farm workers. The court ruled that the Charter of Rights and Freedoms gives workers the right to bargain with their employers, but that “it does not guarantee a legislated dispute resolution mechanism in the… Read more »
Workers mark national day of mourning
The Canadian labour movement observed a National Day of Mourning Apr. 28 for workers killed on the job. Source: CBC News Date: 04/28/2011 Link: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2011/04/28/nl-mourning-workers-428.html Related Links: Statement from the Canadian Labour Congress CLC radio ad Toronto Star article Winnipeg Free Press article Hamilton Spectator article Questions for discussion: Why would the Canadian Labour Congress… Read more »
B.C. court rules teachers’ bargaining law unconstitutional
Description: The B.C. Supreme Court has ruled that the B.C. government violated teachers’ Charter rights in 2002 when it passed a law that removed clauses that included limits on class size from the B.C. Teachers’ Federation’s collective agreement. Source: The Vancouver Sun Date: 04/14/2011 Link: http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Teachers+regain+right+bargain+class+size/4613527/story.html Questions for discussion: Which Charter rights did the court… Read more »
