Labour

The MV Quinsam is now on the Crofton-Vesuvius ferry route. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Long lineups certain at Crofton ferry terminal again

With more people travelling and no immediate fix, summer promises traffic gridlock

The MV Quinsam is now on the Crofton-Vesuvius ferry route. (Photo by Don Bodger)
Jenn MacPherson, Nanaimo Duncan and District Labour Council president, addresses the crowd at a Day of Mourning ceremony at Bastion Square Park on April 28. (Karl Yu/News Bulletin)

Day of Mourning ceremony held amidst increased workplace deaths

Nanaimo Duncan and District Labour Council president says 161 workplace deaths in 2021

Jenn MacPherson, Nanaimo Duncan and District Labour Council president, addresses the crowd at a Day of Mourning ceremony at Bastion Square Park on April 28. (Karl Yu/News Bulletin)
FILE - This aerial photo shows the Bonanza Creek Ranch in Santa Fe, N.M., on Oct. 23, 2021. On Wednesday, April 20, 2022, New Mexico workplace safety regulators issued the maximum possible fine against a film production company for firearms safety failures on the set of “Rust” where a cinematographer was fatally shot in October 2021 by actor and producer Alec Baldwin. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

New Mexico fines film company over Alec Baldwin shooting

At least five lawsuits have been filed over the shooting on the set of the movie Rust

FILE - This aerial photo shows the Bonanza Creek Ranch in Santa Fe, N.M., on Oct. 23, 2021. On Wednesday, April 20, 2022, New Mexico workplace safety regulators issued the maximum possible fine against a film production company for firearms safety failures on the set of “Rust” where a cinematographer was fatally shot in October 2021 by actor and producer Alec Baldwin. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
Seamus O’Regan, Minister of Labour and MP for St. John’s South-Mount Pearl speaks at the Confederation Building in St. John’s on Monday February 14, 2022. Ottawa and the Newfoundland and Labrador government have signed terms for two key pieces of a $5.2-billion financing agreement aimed at staving off a spike in provincewide electricity rates due to the beleaguered Muskrat Falls hydroelectric project. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Daly

Law combating modern slavery and child labour a priority: minister

Bill would make Canadian firms make sure none of their products or components are made in sweatshops

Seamus O’Regan, Minister of Labour and MP for St. John’s South-Mount Pearl speaks at the Confederation Building in St. John’s on Monday February 14, 2022. Ottawa and the Newfoundland and Labrador government have signed terms for two key pieces of a $5.2-billion financing agreement aimed at staving off a spike in provincewide electricity rates due to the beleaguered Muskrat Falls hydroelectric project. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Daly
The B.C. General Employees Union announced Tuesday that it has reached tentative agreement with the Vancouver Island Regional Library to end the current labour dispute. (Black Press Media file photo).

BCGEU announces tentative agreement with Vancouver Island Regional Library

Announcement comes after resumption of mediation between the two parties

The B.C. General Employees Union announced Tuesday that it has reached tentative agreement with the Vancouver Island Regional Library to end the current labour dispute. (Black Press Media file photo).
VIRL announced Saturday afternoon that it has re-engaged the assigned mediator in its labour dispute with librarians represented by BCGEU. The Sidney/North Saanich branch of VIRL was the site of pickets as late as April 8. (Black Press Media file photo)

VIRL announces it is going back to the table with a mediator in library strike

Announcement came Saturday afternoon following job escalation in dispute with BCGEU librarians

VIRL announced Saturday afternoon that it has re-engaged the assigned mediator in its labour dispute with librarians represented by BCGEU. The Sidney/North Saanich branch of VIRL was the site of pickets as late as April 8. (Black Press Media file photo)
People walk by a Resto-Bar in Old Montreal, Monday, January 31, 2022, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues in Canada. Businesses across Canada are struggling to cope with the sixth wave of COVID-19, as staffing shortages hamper sectors from health care to retail and restaurants.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Sixth wave prompts renewed labour crunch in restaurants, retail and food processing

The food supply chain continues to feel pandemic pinch

People walk by a Resto-Bar in Old Montreal, Monday, January 31, 2022, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues in Canada. Businesses across Canada are struggling to cope with the sixth wave of COVID-19, as staffing shortages hamper sectors from health care to retail and restaurants.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
Second-year medical student Nina Hadzimustafic delivers a COVID-19 booster shots at Jabapalooza, a pop up vaccine clinic, in Ottawa, on Monday, Dec. 20, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Feds consider definition of ‘fully vaccinated’ in review of federal worker mandate

Public Service Alliance of Canada says it expects a renewed policy on April 6

Second-year medical student Nina Hadzimustafic delivers a COVID-19 booster shots at Jabapalooza, a pop up vaccine clinic, in Ottawa, on Monday, Dec. 20, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Temporary foreign workers from Mexico plant strawberries on a farm in Mirabel, Que., on May 6, 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues in Canada and around the world. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Facing labour shortages, Liberals loosen rules on foreign workers ahead of budget

Changes announced Monday will allow employers to hire foreign workers for more low-wage jobs

Temporary foreign workers from Mexico plant strawberries on a farm in Mirabel, Que., on May 6, 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues in Canada and around the world. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
Alberta’s education minister says Alberta is the only province where disciplining teachers isn’t hived off from the union’s advocacy function .(Pixabay photo)

Alberta proposes legislation to remove disciplinary powers from teachers union

Instead, independent commissioner would handle matters to avoid conflict of interest

Alberta’s education minister says Alberta is the only province where disciplining teachers isn’t hived off from the union’s advocacy function .(Pixabay photo)
Seaspan’s Victoria Shipyards operates within the federally-owned Esquimalt Graving Dock, the largest solid bottom commercial drydock on the West Coast of the Americas. (File photo Seaspan)

Union appears ready to take job action at Victoria Shipyards

72-hour strike notice ends just after 9 a.m. Friday, job action could begin Saturday

Seaspan’s Victoria Shipyards operates within the federally-owned Esquimalt Graving Dock, the largest solid bottom commercial drydock on the West Coast of the Americas. (File photo Seaspan)
The City of Duncan and its CUPE Local 358 workers have signed a new four-year contract. (File photo)

CUPE workers for City of Duncan sign new collective agreement

Contract ends on Dec. 31, 2024

The City of Duncan and its CUPE Local 358 workers have signed a new four-year contract. (File photo)
Librarian Sharon Walker greets passing motorists Thursday while on picket duty outside the Sidney-North Saanich branch of Vancouver Island Regional Library, which is closed for a third straight day. Negotiations held Wednesday failed to produce an agreement between BCGEU representing librarians and VIRL. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Vancouver Island Regional Library strike to ramp up after talks fail to produce deal

Sidney/North Saanich branch closed again; Sooke, four other branches shut Thursday

Librarian Sharon Walker greets passing motorists Thursday while on picket duty outside the Sidney-North Saanich branch of Vancouver Island Regional Library, which is closed for a third straight day. Negotiations held Wednesday failed to produce an agreement between BCGEU representing librarians and VIRL. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Members of BCGEU on strike outside the Sidney/North Saanich branch of VIRL last week. The facility also closed Tuesday and Wednesday as part of labour actions with negotiations set to resume Wednesday evening. (Black Press Media file photo)

Vancouver Island Regional Library strike shuts down Sidney branch for second day

Wednesday evening sees resumption of negotiations between VIRL and BCGEU

Members of BCGEU on strike outside the Sidney/North Saanich branch of VIRL last week. The facility also closed Tuesday and Wednesday as part of labour actions with negotiations set to resume Wednesday evening. (Black Press Media file photo)
Unifor National President Jerry Dias and the Unifor Bargaining Committee representatives announced a new tentative agreement with GM on behalf of 1700 members who work in St. Catharines, Oshawa and Woodstock in advance of tonight 11:59 pm strike deadline on Thursday, November 5, 2020 in Toronto. Unifor will provide an update this afternoon on the complaint filed that former Unifor National President Jerry Dias breached the Unifor Constitution. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Carlos Osorio

Former union boss Jerry Dias accepted money from supplier, Unifor alleges

Union’s executive board will now hold ethics code hearing

Unifor National President Jerry Dias and the Unifor Bargaining Committee representatives announced a new tentative agreement with GM on behalf of 1700 members who work in St. Catharines, Oshawa and Woodstock in advance of tonight 11:59 pm strike deadline on Thursday, November 5, 2020 in Toronto. Unifor will provide an update this afternoon on the complaint filed that former Unifor National President Jerry Dias breached the Unifor Constitution. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Carlos Osorio
CUPE’s Lisa Wilson (left) and Jennifer Collison (right) were among the union members showing solidarity with BCGEU member Sharon Walker in front of the Sidney/North Saanich branch of the Vancouver Island Regional Library, which was closed due to job action on Tuesday (March 22). Branches in Nanaimo and Campbell River were also the site of rotating job action. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Job action affecting Island library system hits Sidney, Campbell River, Nanaimo

BCGEU, Vancouver Island Regional Library set to resume negotiations Tuesday evening

CUPE’s Lisa Wilson (left) and Jennifer Collison (right) were among the union members showing solidarity with BCGEU member Sharon Walker in front of the Sidney/North Saanich branch of the Vancouver Island Regional Library, which was closed due to job action on Tuesday (March 22). Branches in Nanaimo and Campbell River were also the site of rotating job action. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
The new Sooke branch of the Vancouver Island Regional Library was set to have a grand opening celebration this Saturday (March 26), but strike actions by librarians around the system have postponed the event. (Facebook/VI Regional Library Sooke)

Grand opening of new Sooke library postponed as rotating strikes impact VIRL system

Unionized librarians demanding higher wages, better working conditions

The new Sooke branch of the Vancouver Island Regional Library was set to have a grand opening celebration this Saturday (March 26), but strike actions by librarians around the system have postponed the event. (Facebook/VI Regional Library Sooke)
Locked-out CP Rail workers protest outside the Lachine Intermodal facility in Montreal, Sunday, March 20, 2022. The pressure is on in Ottawa today as a CP Rail work stoppage enters its second day. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Ottawa under pressure as CP Rail stoppage enters second day, talks continue

Industry leaders and politicians have urged the federal government to end labour dispute

Locked-out CP Rail workers protest outside the Lachine Intermodal facility in Montreal, Sunday, March 20, 2022. The pressure is on in Ottawa today as a CP Rail work stoppage enters its second day. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
A woman walks through Toronto’s financial district on Monday, July 30, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graeme Roy

Report finds pockets of jobs weakness in rebound for Canadian women

Female employment almost 1 per cent lower than where it could have been if pandemic hadn’t happened

A woman walks through Toronto’s financial district on Monday, July 30, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graeme Roy
Canadian Pacific Railway locomotives are shuffled around a marshalling yard in Calgary, Wednesday, May 16, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Canadian Pacific Railway issues 72-hour lockout notice on Teamsters Canada

Teamsters Canada said in a release that the company’s move was expected

Canadian Pacific Railway locomotives are shuffled around a marshalling yard in Calgary, Wednesday, May 16, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh