The people who have been occupying financial districts in Canadian and American cities are motivated by anger over the glaring economic unfairness that exists in our society. The labour movement welcomes what these young people camping outdoors in tents are saying -- because we have said the very same thing for many years.
canadian labour congress
Why NUPGE is at odds with the Canadian Labour Congress
As you may know, the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is currently in a dispute with the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) over the fundamental issue of raiding (when one union tries to take members away from another union).
Raiding is destructive to solidarity, doesn't advance the interests of workers and wastes precious resources that should be used to service members and organize non-union workers. Unfortunately, some CLC affiliated unions continue to raid other CLC affiliates. NUPGE has never subscribed to the position that some other CLC affiliates have taken: "if you are raided, then you should just raid back."
Battle looms over public pension expansion
Mayor-elect Rob Ford famously painted the city's garbage collectors as a pampered elite enjoying a "gravy train." Appealing as it must be to pick up Toronto's garbage, that's one gravy train I don't mind missing out on.
Similarly misleading attempts to portray public-sector workers as overindulged have come from business spokesperson Catherine Swift, who implies that relatively generous public-sector pensions -- for workers cleaning schools and emptying hospital bedpans -- are imposing a huge burden on Canadian taxpayers. (Swift omits to mention that public-sector workers pay into their pensions, both as workers and taxpayers.)
2.jpg "David Climenhaga, author of the Alberta Diary blog, is a journalist, author, journalism teacher, poet and trade union communicator who has worked in senior writing and editing positions with the Toronto Globe and Mail and the Calgary Herald. His 1995 book, A Poke in the Public Eye, explores the relationships among Canadian journalists, public relations people and politicians. He left journalism after the strike at the Calgary Herald in 1999 and 2000 to work as Communications Director of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees, which with more than 73,000 members is Alberta’s largest union and Canada’s 10th largest. Alberta Diary focuses on Alberta politics and social issues. Contact: albertadiary @ gmail.com")
Labour law in Alberta: If you want better policies, you're just going to have to elect better politicians
| August 29, 2011Is today the day you die at work?
The National Day of Mourning was established in Canada at the urging of the Canadian Labour Congress in 1984, and is now recognized in over 80 countries around the world. The 28th of April is the day that workers and unions mourn for the dead and fight for the living. On this day, we find inspiration to redouble our efforts to keep workers both safe and healthy.
Unfortunately, the annual observance of this day has not made Canada safer for workers. Over the past decades, successive governments have pledged their support to workers and their unions. They have announced new workplace health and safety laws and regulations -- some of the best in the world. Regrettably, the resources needed to enforce those laws have not always been provided.
The people vs. U.S. Steel
Jan 29 2011 - 1:00pm
Jan 29 2011 - 8:00pm
Location
Hamilton City Hall
71 Main Street West
HamiltonCanada
43° 15' 23.3172" N, 79° 52' 27.5988" W
See map: Google Maps
Thousands of union activists will be going to Hamilton on January 29 to show support for 900 steelworkers locked out by U.S. Steel since early November. The Toronto & York Region Labour Council is helping to co-ordinate the turnout, along with the Ontario Federation of Labour and Canadian Labour Congress.
This struggle has a number of key dimensions that relate to all Canadians like, de-indexing pensions, two-tier benefits, New Canadian Benefit and exposing the culprits of callous company tactics.
For more information:
Preethy Sivakumar: (416) 441-3663 x 228
John Cartwright: (416) 441-3663 x 226
Contact name:
Local 1005
Contact email:
