Labour

President-elect Joe Biden participates in a meeting with the National Governors Association’s executive committee in Wilmington, Del., Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020. Canada’s biggest private-sector unions are likely to play a starring role when Joe Biden’s proposed Buy American rules take centre stage next year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Andrew Harnik

Canada’s labour unions could play big role in efforts to avert ‘Buy American’ rules

Protectionism is a bigger force in the U.S. than it was even 10 years ago

 

(MigrantRightsCA/Twitter)

B.C. migrant, undocumented workers rally for permanent residency program

Rally is part of the Amnesty for Undocumented Workers Campaign led by the Migrant Workers Centre

 

A construction site in Langley’s Willoughby neighbourhood August 23, 2020. (Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)

How a push for better COVID-19 protection helped the B.C. construction industry keep going

Building Trades Council executive director Andrew Mercier maintains the measures prevented a shutdown

 

Laird Cronk is the president for the BC Federation of Labour. (File photo)

OPINION: Let’s celebrate working people — and work together for a fairer B.C.

‘This year has reminded us all of just how utterly and completely our province relies on working people’

  • Sep 7, 2020
Laird Cronk is the president for the BC Federation of Labour. (File photo)
Canadian Labour Congress President Hassan Yussuff speaks during a news conference about pay equity in Ottawa, Wednesday October 31, 2018. One of the country’s largest labour organizations is launching a campaign to coincide with Labour Day to push the Trudeau Liberals for changes to the federal social safety net. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Workers groups mark Labour Day with push for changes in Liberals’ throne speech

Labour Day itself normally includes marches through major cities, picnics and gatherings,

Canadian Labour Congress President Hassan Yussuff speaks during a news conference about pay equity in Ottawa, Wednesday October 31, 2018. One of the country’s largest labour organizations is launching a campaign to coincide with Labour Day to push the Trudeau Liberals for changes to the federal social safety net. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Rod Mickleburgh. (Photo by Lucie McNeill)

Some surprises in new book about B.C. labour movement

“On the Line” charts history of the union movement back to the 1800s

Rod Mickleburgh. (Photo by Lucie McNeill)
A construction site in Langley’s Willoughby neighbourhood August 23, 2020. (Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)

How a push for better COVID protections helped B.C. construction workers keep going

Building Trades Council executive director Andrew Mercier maintains the measures prevented a shutdown

A construction site in Langley’s Willoughby neighbourhood August 23, 2020. (Dan Ferguson/Langley Advance Times)
The logo of a Metro grocery store is seen Tuesday, January 31, 2012 in Montreal. Union leaders who represents thousands of grocery store workers are telling MPs there is no reason why large chains are cutting pandemic-related pay premiums since the pandemic hasn’t gone away.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson

Unions tell MPs that grocery workers should still have pandemic pay

Chains announced they were ending the pandemic pay bump because the pace of business had eased.

The logo of a Metro grocery store is seen Tuesday, January 31, 2012 in Montreal. Union leaders who represents thousands of grocery store workers are telling MPs there is no reason why large chains are cutting pandemic-related pay premiums since the pandemic hasn’t gone away.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson
Construction workers help build a project in downtown Vancouver, Monday, April 6, 2020. A new report has found a third of Canada’s Indigenous workers are in jobs facing a higher risk of being automated. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

One-third of Indigenous workers in jobs facing automation threat, report says

Those at-risk industries account for approximately $2.43 billion of Indigenous wage revenue

Construction workers help build a project in downtown Vancouver, Monday, April 6, 2020. A new report has found a third of Canada’s Indigenous workers are in jobs facing a higher risk of being automated. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
FILE – B.C. Labour Minister Harry Bains arrives at the start of the debate at B.C. Legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Monday, June 26, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

B.C. extends temporary layoff period to 24 weeks due to COVID-19 pandemic

New limit will closely match CERB timeline

FILE – B.C. Labour Minister Harry Bains arrives at the start of the debate at B.C. Legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Monday, June 26, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
(www.wallpaperflare.com)

Only 20% of B.C. workers feel ‘very comfortable’ returning to work during pandemic: poll

Only 13 per cent of workers would choose to be in the office now, Insights West poll suggested

(www.wallpaperflare.com)
In this Jan. 9, 2019, file photo, Facebook employees sit at their stations during a tour of its new 130,000-square-foot offices in Cambridge, Mass. Facebook, Open Text and Shopify are transitioning to permanent work from home, but that will likely mean changes to compensation and salaries if you live or move somewhere not in the vicinity of your current office. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Elise Amendola, File

Canadians working from home permanently should expect salary changes: experts

Some companies, like Facebook, have already announced changes

In this Jan. 9, 2019, file photo, Facebook employees sit at their stations during a tour of its new 130,000-square-foot offices in Cambridge, Mass. Facebook, Open Text and Shopify are transitioning to permanent work from home, but that will likely mean changes to compensation and salaries if you live or move somewhere not in the vicinity of your current office. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Elise Amendola, File
(Pxhere)

Pandemic reveals inequalities in who can work from home: Statistics Canada

More education and higher income increases chances of working from home successfully

(Pxhere)
Federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh. (The Canadian Press)

NDP calls for universal sick-leave benefits as people return to work

Without sick leave, Leader Jagmeet Singh says people could bring the virus to work

Federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh. (The Canadian Press)
The Western Forest Products mills in Cowichan Bay and Ladysmith are still not in operation after the lengthy strike ended earlier this month, with the company citing log supplies and markets as the main reasons. (File photo)

WFP Mills in Cowichan Bay, Ladysmith still idle after strike

Western Forest Products claims log supply, markets to blame

The Western Forest Products mills in Cowichan Bay and Ladysmith are still not in operation after the lengthy strike ended earlier this month, with the company citing log supplies and markets as the main reasons. (File photo)
Striking workers at Western Forest Product’s mill in Cowichan Bay are cautiously optimistic that the long strike is over now that a tentative agreement has been reached. Pictured, from left, are Luis Fernandez, Curtis Spencer and Kam Baines on the picket line on Feb. 10. (Robert Barron/Citizen)

Cowichan workers optimistic, but cautious, over deal to end strike at Western Forest Products

Steelworkers must still ratify tentative agreement

Striking workers at Western Forest Product’s mill in Cowichan Bay are cautiously optimistic that the long strike is over now that a tentative agreement has been reached. Pictured, from left, are Luis Fernandez, Curtis Spencer and Kam Baines on the picket line on Feb. 10. (Robert Barron/Citizen)
North Cowichan Mayor Al Siebring is opposed to sending a letter to Premier John Horgan requesting the province not intervene in the ongoing strike at Western Forest Products. (File photo)

North Cowichan rejects involvement in labour dispute

Council won’t send letter to premier asking province not to intervene in forestry strike

North Cowichan Mayor Al Siebring is opposed to sending a letter to Premier John Horgan requesting the province not intervene in the ongoing strike at Western Forest Products. (File photo)
Pictured here, striking workers from a November rally in Nanaimo. (Black Press file)

Province appoints special mediators in bid to end coastal forest strike

Amanda Rogers and Vince Ready given powers to craft recommended deal to break eight-month impasse

Pictured here, striking workers from a November rally in Nanaimo. (Black Press file)
Mediators assisting in the United Steelworkers 1-1937 and Western Forest Products strike have withdrawn from the mediation process, according to the forest company, Pictured here, striking workers from a November rally in Nanaimo. (Black Press file)

Mediators withdraw from talks in Western Forest Products strike

Vince Ready, Amanda Rogers say they see no basis for negotiated settlement

Mediators assisting in the United Steelworkers 1-1937 and Western Forest Products strike have withdrawn from the mediation process, according to the forest company, Pictured here, striking workers from a November rally in Nanaimo. (Black Press file)
B.C. Labour Minister Harry Bains and Premier John Horgan announce a series of minimum wage increases to bring the rate to more than $15 an hour, February 2018. (Black Press files)

B.C. NDP prepares to move on labour, employment standards

‘Frightening time for business,’ B.C. Liberal John Martin says

B.C. Labour Minister Harry Bains and Premier John Horgan announce a series of minimum wage increases to bring the rate to more than $15 an hour, February 2018. (Black Press files)