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A Collective Community Voice
The history of the struggle of working people emphasizes the point that in unity there is strength. Through collective action, workers formed unions so they could have a voice in deciding wages, working conditions and addressing the many problems and issues that arise in the workplace. But just as workers use collective strength in the workplace to achieve their goals, so should they use collective action to improve the quality of life in the communities in which they live. |
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No More Unfair Drug Testing at Work
The Supreme Court of Canada just upheld important restrictions on management rights in an appeal by the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union (CEP) against Irving Pulp and Paper and reinforced the importance of collective bargaining in balancing the interests of workers and their employers.
A union grievance had challenged the employer's unilateral, mandatory and random alcohol testing policy. Under the policy, 1 in every 10 employees in select positions were to be randomly chosen for breathalyser testing.
A union grievance had challenged the employer's unilateral, mandatory and random alcohol testing policy. Under the policy, 1 in every 10 employees in select positions were to be randomly chosen for breathalyser testing.
Investment firms alarmed about Bill C-377: Anti-union Bill will have costly consequences
OTTAWA ― Canadian investment and insurance firms are expressing alarm over the consequences that will flow from Bill C-377, legislation of the Conservative government that is aimed mainly at labour unions.
Officials from the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association Inc. and the Investment Funds Institute of Canada appeared yesterday before the Senate banking committee, which is holding hearings on Bill C-377. The proposed bill would force every labour organization in Canada to file detailed financial information about individuals and also companies doing business with unions, to be posted publicly on a Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) website.
Officials from the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association Inc. and the Investment Funds Institute of Canada appeared yesterday before the Senate banking committee, which is holding hearings on Bill C-377. The proposed bill would force every labour organization in Canada to file detailed financial information about individuals and also companies doing business with unions, to be posted publicly on a Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) website.
Georgetti comments on Statistics Canada job numbers: Says government fails to consult labour on job plans
OTTAWA ― The President of the Canadian Labour Congress says that the federal government consistently fails to consult workers and their representatives when creating policies about jobs and training.
Georgetti was commenting on the release by Statistics Canada of its Labour Force Survey for May 2013. There were 1,347,600 unemployed Canadians in May, and the overall unemployment rate was 7.1%. In the 15-to-24 age group, unemployment stood at 13.6%, and 46.1% of young workers are employed only part-time. Of particular note, Canada has lost nearly 100,000 manufacturing jobs over the past twelve months.
Georgetti was commenting on the release by Statistics Canada of its Labour Force Survey for May 2013. There were 1,347,600 unemployed Canadians in May, and the overall unemployment rate was 7.1%. In the 15-to-24 age group, unemployment stood at 13.6%, and 46.1% of young workers are employed only part-time. Of particular note, Canada has lost nearly 100,000 manufacturing jobs over the past twelve months.
Ask a union member to list the personal benefits that come with his or her membership card, and it's doubtful you'll have to wait long for answers
Top of mind will probably be the union’s ability to negotiate better wages and benefits, ensuring that workers are rewarded for their skills and dedication with a decent standard of living and a dignified life, safety legislation – and ensuring that those standards are respected in the workplace – is another core part of what unions do.
Labour rights trailblazer gets Armstrong Award
As a teenager nearly four decades ago, Malvern Collegiate Institute student council president, Fred Upshaw, started a revolt when his high school imposed mandatory uniforms.
Feeling that the council should have been consulted before making it
compulsory for girls and boys to wear blue tunics and grey flannel pants
respectively, Upshaw urged students to remain outside their classrooms to show their disapproval.
The students adhered and the school administration backed down.
Feeling that the council should have been consulted before making it
compulsory for girls and boys to wear blue tunics and grey flannel pants
respectively, Upshaw urged students to remain outside their classrooms to show their disapproval.
The students adhered and the school administration backed down.
CLC says government failing young workers: Only 13% of unemployed youth qualify for EI benefits
OTTAWA ― The President of the Canadian Labour Congress says that the federal government’s labour market policy is failing young Canadian workers.
“Unemployment remains unacceptably high for younger Canadians and only a small fraction of those without work are able to gain access to Employment Insurance benefits,” says CLC President Ken Georgetti. “The government is abandoning these young workers.”
“Unemployment remains unacceptably high for younger Canadians and only a small fraction of those without work are able to gain access to Employment Insurance benefits,” says CLC President Ken Georgetti. “The government is abandoning these young workers.”
Georgetti to Prime Minister: Don't interfere in Crown Corporation collective bargaining
CLC President Ken Georgetti has written to Prime Minister Stephen Harper to protest against the government’s plan to interfere in the free collective bargaining process for Crown Corporations, including CBC, the Canada Council for the Arts, VIA Rail, the Bank of Canada, and Canada Post. Georgetti says the Budget Bill will give the government “unprecedented power to override and interfere in the collective bargaining process for Crown Corporations...”
Modest Improvements Offer Little Relief in Austerity Budget: OFL Calls on Parties to Make Fairness the Focus of Budget Negotiations
(TORONTO, ON) ─ Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) President Sid Ryan welcomed modest measures in today’s Budget that responded to concerns
identified in the People’s Budget but said the continuation of McGuinty’s
austerity approach will fail to spur economic growth.
“Premier Wynne is holding the line on a one percent cap on public sector
spending growth that is imposing real dollar cuts to hospitals, schools and
vital public services,” said Ryan. “The province’s deficit reduction is taking
place on the backs of working people while bankers and CEOs aren’t paying their fair share.”
identified in the People’s Budget but said the continuation of McGuinty’s
austerity approach will fail to spur economic growth.
“Premier Wynne is holding the line on a one percent cap on public sector
spending growth that is imposing real dollar cuts to hospitals, schools and
vital public services,” said Ryan. “The province’s deficit reduction is taking
place on the backs of working people while bankers and CEOs aren’t paying their fair share.”
OFL releases People’s Budget plan for Ontario: affordable measures to
alleviate poverty, new infrastructure investment, and tax fairness
OFL President talks with Finance Minister
The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) released a white paper today, A People’s Budget – Towards a Fair Ontario, which proposes recommendations that will create good jobs, alleviate poverty, support workers and their families, give young people a fair chance, and promote tax fairness. These recommendations are based on extensive feedback from citizens and groups and builds on a discussion paper the OFL released in February of this year calling for a change in the conversation on austerity.
CLC Analysis of the 2013 Federal Budget
The major economic problem faced by Canadians today is not government deficits, or balancing the budget by the next federal election for electoral goals. The most pressing problems faced by Canadians are a sluggish economic recovery, a stalling job market, stagnant wages, record high levels of household debt, along with inadequate employment insurance coverage and lack of retirement security. Canadians expected their federal government to tackle these problems in the 2013 federal budget.
CLC says seasonal unemployment a fact of life: Georgetti calls for better
training programs
OTTAWA ― The President of the Canadian Labour Congress says Ottawa should admit that seasonal unemployment is a reality in Canada and design the Employment Insurance system accordingly.
“We all know that seasonal work is a fact of life in Canada, not only in fisheries and agriculture but among people who work for provinces, cities, towns and municipalities,” says Ken Georgetti. “Let’s stop denying this and have an open conversation about how best to deal with it.”
Tories Attack Rand Formula to Silence Workers
The way that Conservative Members of Parliament like Pierre Poilievre go on
about unions dues, you'd think they are familiar with the struggle of the
average working person. However, unlike the millions of workers in Canada who
are striving to make ends meet, Poilievre is only 33 years old and already has a
full pension that he clearly doesn't think other workers deserve.
So why are well-to-do Conservative politicians so vigorously trying to prevent vulnerable workers from advocating for a better life? The answer is simple: because they see worker-led unions as the strongest opposition to their plans to convert Canada into a low-wage economy.
about unions dues, you'd think they are familiar with the struggle of the
average working person. However, unlike the millions of workers in Canada who
are striving to make ends meet, Poilievre is only 33 years old and already has a
full pension that he clearly doesn't think other workers deserve.
So why are well-to-do Conservative politicians so vigorously trying to prevent vulnerable workers from advocating for a better life? The answer is simple: because they see worker-led unions as the strongest opposition to their plans to convert Canada into a low-wage economy.
