Ottawa blocks Air Canada shutdown

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: The federal government has introduced legislation that would block strikes or lockouts at Air Canada. Source: Montreal Gazette Date: 03/12/2012 Link: http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/Canada+keep+flying+Tories+move+block+work+stoppage/6290406/story.html Related links: Reuters story Earlier update on pilots’ bargaining Earlier update on Ottawa and the right to strike International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers District 140 Air Canada Pilots Association Air… Read more »

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 »

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 »

Employers ‘have warmed to work stoppages’

Posted by & filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 13 - Future Issues, Chapter 3 - HIstory of the Canadian Union Movement, Chapter 9 - Strikes and Lockouts.

Description: Jim Stanford, an economist with the Canadian Auto Workers union, writes that employers, who once opposed work stoppages, are now eager to lock out unions. Source: The Globe and Mail Date: 01/20/2012 Link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/opinion/management-has-warmed-to-work-stoppages/article2308417/print/ Related links: Federal government strike and lockout database Major work stoppages in Canada, 2011 Conference Board of Canada expects more… Read more »

Speaker stops union disclosure bill

Posted by & filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 13 - Future Issues, Chapter 4 - The Structure of Canadian Unions.

Description: The Speaker of the House of Commons has ruled that a private member’s bill that would have forced unions to disclose financial information was improperly introduced. Source: Ottawa Citizen Date: 11/05/2011 Link: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Commons+speaker+derails+bill+that+sought+more+financial+information/5661040/story.html Related links: Canadian Labour Reporter story Blog post by the law firm Heenan Blaikie The Professional Institute of the Public Service… Read more »

Law prof starts ‘bad boss’ list

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

Description: York University law prof David Doorey is posting what he calls the Bad Employer Sunshine List, saying Canadian employers often ignore employment standards law with impunity. Source: Doorey’s Workplace Law Blog Date: 11/08/2011 Link: http://www.yorku.ca/ddoorey/lawblog/?p=4172 Related links: The Ontario government’s list of convicted employers for August, 2011 The Ontario Employment Standards Act The Ontario Ministry… Read more »

N.S. opposition says first contract arbitration unfair

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

Description: A proposal to use arbitration in first contract negotiations has the Nova Scotia opposition warning of job losses. Source: Canadian Business Date: 11/02/2011 Link: http://www.canadianbusiness.com/article/55287–nova-scotia-premier-plays-down-labour-law-threat-to-jobs-and-investment Related links: CBC story Halifax Metro opinion piece Halifax Metro news story Restaurant employers group site Questions for discussion: What is first contract arbitration? Why do unions seem to… Read more »

Court finds B.C. ‘gag law’ unconstitutional

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

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 »

Air Canada flight attendants promise strike

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 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

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.

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 »