Supreme Court rules B.C. teachers’ rights violated

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

Description: The Supreme of Canada has upheld a lower court ruling that found the B.C. government bargained in bad faith with the province’s teachers and violated their Charter rights. Source: The Vancouver Sun Date: 11/10/2016 Link: http://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/b-c-teachers-win-landmark-supreme-court-of-canada-victory Related links: • Story on the impact of the decision • The Supreme Court of Canada decision •… Read more »

Supreme Court to hear BC teachers case

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

Description: The Supreme Court of Canada has agreed to hear a case involving the B.C. Teachers’ Federation and the provincial government. Source: The Vancouver Sun Date: 01/14/2016 Link: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Supreme+Court+Canada+hear+Teachers+Federation+appeal/11651654/story.html Related links: • CBC story • The BCTF • B.C. education ministry • The B.C. Supreme Court decision • The B.C. Appeal Court decision • Earlier… Read more »

BC Federation of Labour elects new leader

Posted by & filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 13 - Future Issues, Chapter 3 - HIstory of the Canadian Union Movement, Chapter 4 - The Structure of Canadian Unions, Industrial Relations.

Description: Irene Lanzinger, the former head of the B.C. teachers union, has narrowly defeated Canadian Labour Congress official Amber Hockin to become the first female head of the B.C. Labour Federation. Source: The Globe and Mail Date: 11/27/2014 Link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/new-bc-labour-head-will-try-to-find-commom-ground-with-liberals/article21822722/ Related links: Irene Lanzinger Amber Hockin The B.C. Federation of Labour CBC story Former federation… Read more »

BC teachers back at work

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

Description: After a long and bitter dispute, the B.C. government and the B.C. Teachers’ Federation have reached a six-year contract with the help of mediator Vince Ready. Source: The Vancouver Sun Date: 09/20/2014 Link: http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Vaughn+Palmer+Remarkably+clean+ending+bitter+dispute/10219679/story.html Related links: Column about mediator Vince Ready Profile of BCTF president Jim Iker B.C. Public School Employers’ Association BCTF Blog… Read more »

BC government fined $2 million in teachers dispute

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: A B.C. Supreme Court justice has ruled that the B.C. government did not act in good faith in its dealings with the B.C. Teachers’ Federation and has fined the government $2 million. Source: The Globe and Mail Date: 01/27/2014 Link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/bc-teachers-win-legal-fight-to-bargain-class-sizes/article16525448/ Related links: BCTF B.C. ministry of education Court decision Vancouver Sun column Globe… Read more »

BC forest union leader dies

Posted by & filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 13 - Future Issues, Chapter 3 - HIstory of the Canadian Union Movement.

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 »

Arbitrator upholds flu shot requirement

Posted by & filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 11 - The Grievance Arbitration Process.

Description: An arbitrator has ruled that members of the B.C. Health Sciences Association must get a flu shot or wear masks during flu season. Source: CBC Date: 10/24/2013 Link: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/b-c-health-care-workers-must-wear-mask-or-have-flu-shot-1.2223888 Related links: CTV story Globe and Mail story Column from the Tyee online magazine Earlier story HSA news release Questions for discussion: Briefly summarize the… Read more »

Temporary foreign worker case opens in Federal Court

Posted by & filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 13 - Future Issues, Chapter 3 - HIstory of the Canadian Union Movement.

Description: A Federal Court in Vancouver is hearing arguments concerning the hiring of more than 200 temporary Chinese workers for a mine in northeastern B.C. Source: CBC Date: 04/09/2013 Link: http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/story/2013/04/09/bc-mine-foreign-temporary-workers-chinese-hd-mining.html Related links: RBC apologizes in foreign worker controversy Earlier update Union safety complaint The Temporary Foreign Worker Program The International Union of Operating Engineers,… Read more »

After four years, foreign workers receive settlement

Posted by & filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 13 - Future Issues, Chapter 3 - HIstory of the Canadian Union Movement.

Description: Latin American workers who helped build a Vancouver rapid transit line have finally received the money awarded to them in a 2008 human rights ruling. Source: Canadian Press/Globe and Mail Date: 04/02/2013 Link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/foreign-workers-who-helped-build-vancouvers-canada-line-win-wage-fight/article10701631/ Related links: Story from November, 2012 Story from 2008 The Construction and Specialized Workers’ Union Local 1611 SNC-Lavalin B.C. Human… Read more »

BC NDP leader avoids speaking to nurses union

Posted by & filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 13 - Future Issues, Chapter 6 - Establishing Union Recognition.

Description: B.C. New Democratic Party leader Adrian Dix has refused to speak to the B.C. Nurses’ Union, which has been condemned for raiding by the B.C. Federation of Labour and the Canadian Labour Congress. Source: The Vancouver Sun Date: 03/12/2013 Link: http://www.vancouversun.com/health/shunning+nurses+earns+kudos+from+union+movement/8082932/story.html Related links: B.C. Nurses’ Union Hospital Employees’ Union Earlier news story News story… Read more »