Ainsworth Announces New Labour Agreement With Unionized Workers at Barwick, Ontario Mill VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, Aug 20, 2010 MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- Ainsworth Lumber Co. Ltd. /quotes/comstock/11t!e:ans (CA:ANS 2.50, +0.11, +4.60%) /quotes/comstock/11t!w:ans.wt (CA:ANS.WT 0.26, 0.00, 0.00%) announced today that it has reached a new 4 year labour agreement with unionized workers at its Barwick, Ontario mill. Members of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada (CEP),...

Your existing membership is your best source of organizing leads. But it takes more than one line in your newsletter that says, “if you know anyone who wants to join a union please contact xyz in organizing” (Infact that’s probably the least effective way to get a referral) Here...

… The Labour Day issue of the Vancouver Courier. It even had a story I was interested in, a lead article on local food, and another on the sustainability of fisheries. Good on small-scale independent journalism, I thought, until the moment I took off its rubber band to reveal an inch-thick pile of glossy inserts. Sure, [...]

Linda McQuaig puts the heat on Ontario’s public-sector compensation freeze in today’s Toronto Star. Her excellent column begins by noting that the federal government has fended off proposed financial-sector taxes on the grounds that Canadian banks did not cause the global financial crisis. But Canadian public-sector workers, who are even less responsible for the crisis, are [...]

I’ve already begun with A Back-To-School Wishlist for Society and now that school is finally starting this morning it’s time to talk about parental advocacy and activism. Parents: you are the most fundamental advocate for your students. The BC Minister of Education, for instance, is not. Do not forget that this year, and not just [...]

How come there is no talk about what the union ( CEP ) did to make this happen? With stations having issues across the country you would think that Communications part of the CEP union would be all over this. CHEK TV marks year of rebirth Employee-owned station could be model for future, professor says By Ian Shelton, Times Colonist September 7, 2010 The employee-owners of CHEK TV celebrated their first year of independence yesterday, a year in which, some say, they started to find...

Imtiaz Popat and I celebrated Labour Day on “The Rational” last night. The video podcast is below. We discussed: Labour Day my Labour Day article today: “Labour Day, Dignity and Doubling the CPP” volunteer labour dignity for seniors doubling the CPP because $11,000/year is unacceptable BC’s pathetic minimum wage a fall federal election could lead [...]

We already know the National Post is aimed at the right wing, American republican-loving, conservative, anti-progressive markets in Canada. On the weekend we saw a shining example of the kind of delusion and hyperbole that is fit for the front page [albeit, below the fold] in a story about pregnant “illegal” Mexicans invading the USA: [...]

Tabling in the community is a great way to generate organizing leads – fast. Take names rather than give business cardsYour goal is to get a commitment – not to hand out a leaflet. Look for ways to further your relationship. Stand in front of...

Premier Danny Williams pleased with AbitibiBowater deal Forestry talk blogn Aug 26, 2010 | In Financial News Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams is pleased with the recently announced deal that will see Canada pay AbitibiBowater $130 million to settle the pending trade war over the province's action to seize the company's assets. Premier Williams said his provincial government will not be on the hook to pay any of the $130 million. "We're very, very pleased," Williams said, "If...

Here is a good piece by Tom Palley in the FT Economists Forum on where the Obama Administration should be moving in terms of economic (though I am not holding my breath until the economic team is dumped) http://blogs.ft.com/economistsforum/2010/09/plan-b-for-obama-on-the-economy/#more-11616

The final minutes for our May 2010 and the provisional minutes for July 2010 are now posted.  Just click on the “minutes” link in the left side toolbar.

Thanks to Lauel Ritchie for this data on Canadian Unionization. Our work in challenging precarious employment, domestic workers and addressing ILO conventions which our country refuses to ratify means there is alot of mobilization for Canadian workers and some good campaigns across the country for working families to become engaged with. Happy Labour Day to [...]

http://linchpin.ca/content/Work-workplace/It%E2%80%99s-class-struggle-stupid Organized labour’s confused response to the McGuinty Liberals’ attack on Ontario’s working-class By Ajamu Nangwaya and Alex Diceanu Organized labour in Ontario will continue to put forth a weak and ineffective response to attacks from the ruling class as long as it continues to ignore the reality of class struggle. A perfect example is [...]

Tentative Agreement Reached Submitted by Webmaster on Tue, 08/31/2010 - 5:22pm Suncor and CEP Local 707 have reached a Tentative Agreement Special Membership Meetings have been called for and will take place at: the Quality Hotel and Conference Centre in Gregoire Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2010 9:30am and 9:30pm and Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2010 9:30am and 9:30pm Voting will take place after the meetings and will continue each day thereafter at the Union Hall...

This Labour Day, working people once again reflect upon our standing in society. Wealth continues to concentrate among the hyper-rich. The middle class is under attack, the proportion of Canadians living one paycheque away from homelessness is daunting, and the National Post noted Labour Day with an unhinged anti-union editorial. Meanwhile, this weekend’s Labour Day [...]

Labour pains Unions prepare to battle for all they hold near and dear Hamilton Spectator 2010-09-04 The Hamilton and District Labour Council celebrates the organized labour movement and worker solidarity every year on Labour Day with a parade. THE HAMILTON SPECTATOR (Sep 4, 2010) On May 15, 1872 more than 1,500 workers took to the streets of Hamilton in a peaceful protest. Their march, led by an immigrant machinist named James Ryan, was a call for something truly radical in those days --...

A marketing company wouldn’t start an advertising campaign without a marketing plan. A new business wouldn’t open shop without a business plan. A political party wouldn’t enter an election without an election plan. It’s surprising how many unions are trying to organize without a written...

Replacement workers keeping Genpak going Lauren Gilchrist | Sep 03, 2010 - 7:54 AM | Genpak workers have been locked out of their plant since Aug. 26 but on Aug. 30 the employer brought in replacement workers to keep the plant going (PETERBOROUGH) As Genpak workers continued to be locked out of their plant on Aylmer Street the company has brought in replacement workers to keep operations going. Employees with food packaging manufacturer's Genpak, represented by the Communications Energy...

One thing I find a bit annoying over at Statscan is that detailed tables related to a release sometimes appear on the web site a few days after headline numbers are released in the Daily. I was phoned by a couple of reporters seeking comment following the release of wage data (from the Survey of Employment, [...]