Description: The B.C. Appeal Court has agreed with a number of unions that a B.C. government attempt to restrict third-party election advertising is unconstitutional. Source: The Vancouver Sun Date: 10/20/2011 Link: http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Union+hails+ruling/5578606/story.html Related links: CBC story The Appeal Court ruling Statements from the B.C. Teachers’ Federation Statement from the B.C. Nurses’ Union The B.C. Election… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Chapter 13 – Future Issues
Air Canada claims bad faith bargaining
Description: Air Canada has complained to the Canadian Industrial Relations Board that the Canadian Union of Public Employees bargained in bad faith. Source: The Globe and Mail Date: 10/14/2011 Link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/air-canada-bypasses-contract-talks-launches-seat-sale/article2201969/ Related links: CBC story Canadian Industrial Relations Board Statement from CUPE Statement from Air Canada Earlier update Questions for discussion: What did the government… Read more »
Steelworkers, U.S. Steel settle in Hamilton
Description: Workers at the U.S. Steel plant in Hamilton have ratified a tentative agreement after an 11-month lockout. Source: The Hamilton Spectator Date: 10/16/2011 Link: http://www.thespec.com/news/business/article/610128–hamilton-s-1005-votes-yes-but-nobody-liked-it Related links: Canadian Labour Reporter story CTV story U.S. Steel Canada United Steelworkers Union, Local 1005 Questions for discussion: Summarize the issues in this dispute. How does this contract… Read more »
Air Canada flight attendants promise strike
Description: Air Canada flight attendants have rejected a tentative contract and have given strike notice. The federal government has promised back-to-work legislation. Source: The Toronto Star. Date: 10/11/2011 Link: http://www.thestar.com/business/article/1067829–air-canada-flight-attendants-seem-poised-for-at-least-short-strike Related links: Bloomberg story CBC story Earlier update on Ottawa’s use of back-to-work legislation Earlier update on the tentative agreement Statement from Air Canada Statement… Read more »
Bill would force unions to make finances public
Description: A Conservative backbench MP’s private member’s bill would force unions to open their books. Source: The Globe and Mail Date: 10/02/2011 Link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/conservatives-set-to-table-bill-forcing-unions-to-open-books/article2188247/?from=sec368 Related links: Windsor Star story, with union reaction Opinion piece by the Fraser Institute Global News story CBC blog post Text of the bill Questions for discussion: Private members’ bills rarely… Read more »
Ottawa and the right to strike
Description: A Globe and Mail writer wonders what the threat of back-to-work legislation in the Air Canada dispute means for Canadian workers’ right to strike. Source: The Globe and Mail Date: 09/20/2011 Link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/economy/economy-lab/daily-mix/is-ottawa-putting-the-right-to-strike-at-risk/article2172887/ Related links: Labour minister promises back-to-work legislation if attendants strike Air Canada tentative agreement includes hybrid pension scheme Tentative agreement complicates… Read more »
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 »
NDP debates union ties
Description: As the New Democratic Party prepares to choose a successor to the late Jack Layton, senior party members disagree over whether to maintain the party’s historical affiliation with organized labour. Source: The Globe and Mail Date: 09/04/2011 Link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ndp-does-some-soul-searching-on-the-role-of-labour-in-the-party/article2153445/ Related links: A second Globe and Mail story on the debate Conservatives complain to Elections… Read more »
Ottawa moves to end Canada Post lockout
Description: Federal Labour Minister Lisa Raitt has announced she will introduce legislation to end the Canada Post lockout. Source: Canadian Business Date: 06/20/2011 Link: http://www.canadianbusiness.com/article/30532–ottawa-tables-bill-ordering-locked-out-postal-workers-back-to-work Related links: Globe and Mail profile of Lisa Raitt Postmedia story CBC story The Canadian Union of Postal Workers Canada Post Earlier update Questions for discussion: What arguments can you… Read more »
Air Canada workers vote on new contract
Description: Striking Air Canada workers will be voting on a new contract after the federal government introduced back-to-work legislation in the Commons. Source: The Windsor Star Date: 06/20/2011 Link: http://www.windsorstar.com/business/leaders+Canada+deal/4973375/story.html Related links: Postmedia story Globe and Mail story about bargaining and pensions CBC story CAW Airline Local 2002 Earlier update Air Canada Questions for discussion:… Read more »
