Description: For many Canadians, Labour Day may not have the same significance it once did. Source: The Globe and Mail Date: 09/01/2014 Link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/evolving-work-force-presents-new-challenges-to-unions/article20290383/ Related links: Dr. Nelson Wiseman The Canadian Labour Congress A profile of Hassan Yussuff Unifor The Canadian Freelance Union Questions for discussion: What does the article describe as the aims of… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Chapter 3 – HIstory of the Canadian Union Movement
Tory leader backs away from ‘right-to-work’
Description: Ontario Progressive Conservative leader Tim Hudak is no longer calling for “right-to-work” laws. Source: The Toronto Star Date: 02/21/2014 Link: http://www.thestar.com/news/queenspark/2014/02/21/tim_hudak_renounces_antiunion_righttowork_plan.html Related links: News story: Liberals pounce on Hudak Earlier story Earlier update A U.S. organization that favours “right to work” The AFL-CIO on “right to work” Questions for discussion: What is “right to… Read more »
New foreign worker rules anger UFCW
Description: The general counsel for the United Food and Commercial Workers Canada union is calling changes to the federal government’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program a “smokescreen” and adds that one provision is “absolutely unconscionable.” Source: The Toronto Star Date: 01/03/2014 Link: http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2014/01/03/new_regulations_to_temporary_foreign_worker_program_called_a_smokescreen.html Related links: Globe and Mail story Global TV story UFCW The Temporary Foreign… Read more »
Ontario Liberals, NDP attack ‘right-to-work’ promise
Description: Ontario Liberals and New Democrats are hitting back at a Conservative pledge to make the province a “right-to-work” jurisdiction. Source: Canadian Labour Reporter Date: 11/29/2013 Link: http://www.labour-reporter.com/articleview/19565-ontario-right-to-work-legislation-would-kill-jobs-lower-wages-liberals Related links: Tim Hudak promises “right-to-work” Tories say “right-to-work” creates manufacturing jobs A U.S. organization that favours “right-to-work” The AFL-CIO’s view on “right-to-work” Questions for discussion: What… Read more »
BC forest union leader dies
Description: Jack Munro, the legendary former IWA Canada official, has died at age 82. Source: The Vancouver Sun Date: 11/15/2013 Link: http://www.vancouversun.com/business/forest+labour+icon+Jack+Munro+dies/9171250/story.html Related links: Vancouver Sun column CBC story The IWA-Steelworkers merger CBC story about the merger The B.C. Solidarity movement Questions for discussion: Why was Jack Munro a significant person in Canadian history? What… Read more »
Federal government seeks concessions from unions
Description: The federal government has promised in its throne speech to cut union jobs and roll back sick leave provisions. Source: The Ottawa Citizen Date: 10/17/2013 Link: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/business/Government+vows+broad+changes+public+service+throne+speech/9045182/story.html Related links: Globe and Mail story Throne speech Public Service Labour Relations Act The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada The Public Service Alliance of… Read more »
Unifor leader says it’s time to ‘stop playing defence’
Description: Jerry Dias, the new leader of Unifor, says it is time for unions to go on the offensive. He promises to spend 10 per cent of the newly merged union’s revenues on organizing and increasing membership. Source: The Globe and Mail Date: 08/31/2013 Link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/newly-elected-unifor-leader-says-he-is-taking-labour-movement-on-the-offensive/article14063604/ Related links: Unifor Canadian Press story Globe story on… Read more »
Steelworkers, TWU to merge
Description: The United Steelworkers union, which represents 225,000 Canadian workers, and the Telecommunications Workers Union, which represents 13,000, have tentatively agreed to merge – the second large private-sector union merger of the year. Source: CBC Date: 08/30/2013 Link: http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/story/2013/08/30/steelworkers-telecommunications-union-merger.html Related links: Union media release Canadian Press story Canadian Labour Reporter story The United Steelworkers The… Read more »
Unions good for local economies, CLC report argues
Description: A Canadian Labour Congress report says unionized workers earn an average of almost $5 an hour more than their non-union counterparts, pumping more than $78 million a week into local economies. Source: Ottawa Citizen Date: 08/21/2013 Link: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/business/Higher+union+wages+pump+extra+money+into+local+economy+labour+congress+says/8818168/story.html Related links: The CLC report CBC story Winnipeg Free Press story Dr. Ian Lee Windsor lawyer… Read more »
Unions merge in hopes of reversing decline
Description: With organized labour on the defensive across the country, the Canadian Auto Workers and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada are merging to create a 300,000-member union called Unifor. Source: The Globe and Mail Date: 08/08/2013 Link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/unions-political-calculus-with-numbers-come-power/article13678660/ Related links: Unifor CAW CEP Financial Post story CTV story Questions for discussion: Who… Read more »
