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 »

Labour facing tough year

Posted by & filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 13 - Future Issues, Chapter 9 - Strikes and Lockouts.

Description: Employers facing tough economic conditions are increasingly taking a tough line with organized labour. Source: The Globe and Mail Date: 01/07/2011 Link: http://investdb1.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/GAM.20120107.RBCOVERLABOURCLASHES0107ATL/GIStory/ Related links: Earlier Globe story Caterpillar Inc. Rio Tinto Alcan Canadian Auto Workers Questions for discussion: Summarize Caterpillar Inc.’s actions at its London, Ont. subsidiary. Why do you think the company… Read more »

Get tough with unions, columnist urges

Posted by & filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 13 - Future Issues, Chapter 2 - Theories of Industrial Relations, Chapter 3 - HIstory of the Canadian Union Movement, Chapter 8 - The Collective Bargaining Process, Chapter 9 - Strikes and Lockouts.

Description: Howard Levitt, a labour lawyer and columnist for the National Post, urges public sector employers to lock out unions until they capitulate. Source: The National Post Date: 12/07/2011 Link: http://business.financialpost.com/2011/12/07/prescription-for-year-of-public-sector-unrest/ Related links: The Conference Board of Canada’s 2012 Industrial Relations Outlook City of Toronto collective agreements Toronto municipal workers’ union, Canadian Union of Public… Read more »

Brandon profs return to work

Posted by & filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 13 - Future Issues, Chapter 9 - Strikes and Lockouts.

Description: Students are heading back to class after professors at Brandon University accepted a tentative agreement. Source: Winnipeg Free Press Date: 11/28/2011 Link: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/bu-students-set-for-their-return-134579833.html Related links: Manitoba government orders profs to vote on final offer Dr. David Doorey on the strike CBC story Brandon University Brandon University Faculty Association Questions for discussion: What did the… Read more »

Air Canada claims bad faith bargaining

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 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

Posted by & filed under Chapter 13 - Future Issues, Chapter 8 - The Collective Bargaining Process, Chapter 9 - Strikes and Lockouts.

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 »

Postal workers’ union ordered to pay $50,000 damages

Posted by & filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 4 - The Structure of Canadian Unions, Chapter 9 - Strikes and Lockouts.

Description: An arbitrator has ruled the Canadian Union of Postal Workers must pay $50,000 in damages for walkouts in 2008. Source: Doorey’s Workplace Law Blog Date: 10/11/2011 Link: http://www.yorku.ca/ddoorey/lawblog/?p=3953 Related links: The arbitrator’s decision The Canadian Union of Postal Workers Canada Post Questions for discussion: Why was the union ordered to pay damages? Why was… 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 »

Illegal replacement workers at McGill: report

Posted by & filed under Chapter 8 - The Collective Bargaining Process, Chapter 9 - Strikes and Lockouts.

Description: A report to the Quebec government says McGill University is using illegal replacement workers in a dispute with its non-academic staff. Source: The Montreal Gazette Date: 09/24/2011 Link: http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/Scabs+working+McGill+report/5451963/story.html Related links: Canadian Labour Reporter story McGill Daily story Statement from the McGill administration Press release from the Public Service Alliance of Canada in Quebec… Read more »

Ottawa and the right to 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: 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 »