The merger of the Canadian Autoworkers (CAW) and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers union (CEP) into a single union called Unifor is taking place August 31-September 1 in Toronto. Unifor will consist of over 300,000 members, creating the largest private sector union in Canada. The convention will be webcast live and a schedule can be Continue readingThe Unifor Convention: A short primer
Archives for August 2013
Dave Bush speaks with Kyle Buott, President of the Halifax-Dartmouth & District Labour Council, about trade unionism and worker activism. Kyle addresses the political importance of local labour councils in regional labour movement struggles and building solidarity between workplace issues and social movements. [audio:https://www.rankandfile.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/kyle_buott_final.mp3|titles=Kyle Buott, Halifax-Dartmouth District Labour Council]
Canada After the longest certification campaign in Saskatchewan’s history, workers at the Weyburn Wal-Mart voted to decertify. The decertification vote took place in 2010, but the ballot box was sealed pending a court challenge and appeal. Wal-Mart was found guilty of numerous unfair labour practices since the union, the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), Continue readingLabour News Update: 19 August 2013
by Peter Hasek Originally published at School Edition! on August 14 2013 Editor’s note: a rally in support of Toronto Plaza Hotel workers is taking place today (August 15) at noon at the Toronto Plaza Hotel on 1677 Wilson Street. The USW brothers and sisters at the Toronto Plaza Hotel have been on the line Continue readingToronto Plaza Hotel Strike: A First Hand Report!
by Doug Nesbitt On June 14 1872, the Trade Union Act, introduced by Prime Minister John A. Macdonald, became law. Unions were now legal in Canada. How did this happen and what did it take for unions to achieve legal recognition? Was it enlightened and benevolent politicians looking out for the masses? Backroom deals between Continue readingThe Nine-Hour Movement: How civil disobedience made unions legal
by David Bush originally published at Rabble.ca, August 6 2013 As the Canadian labour movement stumbles from defeat to defeat in this crisis period it is worth asking why this is the case. What accounts for the trade union movement’s inability to mount an effective political resistance to austerity? Is it the poor and unimaginative Continue readingThe missing piece: The far-left in the workplace
A weekly digest of labour and labour-related news Locked out Nanticoke workers reject U.S. Steel’s latest offer CBC News, August 1 2013 American Fast Food Strikes Catch Fire David Moberg, In These Times, July 29 2013 Quebec brewery workers hold solidarity pickets for striking NAPE members at Labatt NUPGE, August 2 2013 B.C. government proposes Continue readingLabour News Update – August 5 2013