Workplaces

Retirement optional

Aug 082012

CARP studies how to engaging older Canadians in the workforce.

from the Canadian Association of Retired People

The right to work and remain engaged is under threat for many older Canadians. Systemic and informal ageism pressures older workers to "make room" for upcoming employees, despite the benefits of their experience, skills, and contributions to society. Government and employers have created barriers to continued employment based on negative attitudes and ageist practices towards older workers.

CEP and CAW prepare for merger

Aug 082012

Workplaces

Result would be Canada's largest private sector union.

from the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union

The blueprint for the creation of what would be Canada's largest industrial union was released on Wednesday August 1 at a press conference in Toronto. Representatives of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada (CEP) and the Canadian Auto Workers union (CAW) launched the final report from the joint committee on the creation of a new union.

New global federation of industrial unions: IndustriALL

Jul 272012

Workplaces

Also: Botswana court orders reinstatement for public sector workers.

by Harry Kelber

With 50 million members, IndustriALL is set for action
A newly-formed global federation of industrial unions will be a force with the muscle to take on giant international corporations on behalf of workers, the president of the United Steelworkers (USW), Leo Gerard, said on June 19. The coalition, known as IndustriALL Global Union, is being formed by a group of 1,200 trade union representatives, meeting this week in Copenhagen, Denmark. It joins together three former global labor groups: the International Metalworkers' Federation (IMF), the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions ((ICEM) and the International Textiles, Garment and Leather Workers' Federation (ITGLWF).

Freeze out at Baskin-Robbins

Jul 242012

Workplaces

Outsourcing production leads to Walmartization of ice cream.

by Armine Yalnizyan

It's been an unusually hot summer, and soaring temperatures have boosted sales of that quintessential summer food, ice cream. But Baskin-Robbins has decided to shut its production facility in Peterborough, Ont, and lay off 80 workers because of… wait for it… increased demand! From the department of "Wait, what?", here's the scoop behind this brain-freeze-inducing decision.

Baskin-Robbins, home of 31 flavours (one for each day of the month), brought in $1.8-billion in sales from its 6,777 outlets around the world last year. Same-store sales rose by an impressive 9.4 percent in the first quarter 2012, and that's before the heat wave.

Contract signed at Rio Tinto

Jul 112012

Workplaces

Steelworkers, global solidarity put end to Rio Tinto six-month lockout in Quebec.

from the United Steelworkers

"It began in the small town of Alma, but it became a defining labour struggle in Quebec, Canada, and around the world. Our members are walking back into the plant as heroes." – USW Local 9490 President Marc Maltais

TORONTO, July 6, 2012 — The United Steelworkers (USW) and its global allies are hailing the end of Rio Tinto's six-month lockout of aluminum smelter workers in Alma, Quebec, as a great victory for the workers and their supporters around the world.

A collective agreement that will run to the end of 2015 was ratified Thursday by USW Local 9490 members by a wide margin. The ratification brings an end to the lockout of 780 Steelworkers imposed by Rio Tinto Alcan in late December.

Domestic steel for international bridge

Jun 202012

Workplaces

from the United Steel Workers

TORONTO/PITTSBURGH, June 15, 2012 — "Today's deal that guarantees Canadian and American steel will be used to build the new Windsor-Detroit bridge is a great victory. Our pressure on the politicians to do the right thing has paid off," says Ken Neumann, United Steelworkers (USW) National Director.

“Open season” on collective bargaining

Jun 122012

Workplaces

ITUC accuses Harper government of attacking worker rights.

from the International Trade Union Congress

OTTAWA, June 7, 2012 — A report released this week in Switzerland by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) accuses the Canadian government of leading an attack on worker rights and for signaling to the country's provinces and territories that it's "open season" on freedom of association and collective bargaining. The ITUC, a confederation of national trade union centres of which the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is a member, released its annual survey of trade union rights at the annual meeting of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and reported on trade union right violations throughout the world.

The report provides a damning analysis of the situation in Canada and is critical of the Canadian government's disregard for the freedom of association, despite Supreme Court rulings that make it a cornerstones of industrial relations in the country.

Job growth feeble everywhere

Jun 062012

Workplaces

UK doctors, Brazilian dockworkers on strike.

by Harry Kelber

Feeble US job growth raises fear of a revived recession
For a third year, the economic recovery in the United States is floundering, raising fears of a global slowdown as the European crisis escalates. Last month, the nation's employers added the lowest number of jobs in a year, and the unemployment rate actually rose a fraction of a point, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The United States gained a net 69,000 jobs in May, for an average of 96,000 over each of the last three months. That is down from an average of 245,000 gain on average for the three month period of December-February. The unemployment rate rose from 8.1 percent to 8.2 percent.

Cell phone tower deaths

May 222012

Workplaces

Workers on cell towers have 10 times the fatality rate of construction workers.

from ProPublica and Frontline

An analysis of every US cell tower-related fatality since 2003 found that tower climbing has a death rate roughly 10 times that of construction, making it one of the most dangerous jobs in America. AT&T, in particular, had the worst track record with more fatalities on its subcontracted jobs than its three closest competitors combined.

ProPublica's Liz Day and PBS Frontline's Ryan Knutson report that tower climber deaths peaked between 2006 and 2008 when AT&T became the exclusive carrier for the iPhone and merged its network with Cingular.

Airport security bottleneck to tighten

May 222012

Workplaces

Front-line security screeners to be cut, management jobs expanding.

from the United Steelworkers

The elimination of hundreds of security screeners at airports throughout Quebec and Atlantic Canada will compromise passenger safety and increase wait times for travellers.

"Airport security screeners already face significant demands and challenges in protecting passenger safety and maintaining customer service," says Ken Neumann, National Director for Canada for the United Steelworkers (USW) union.

"You cannot eliminate hundreds of these front-line security staff without compromising these vital services," Neumann says.

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