Labour in the News – Page 2 – ASPA (Administrative and Supervisory Personnel Association)

Union workers get higher pay, if they can join

Disclaimer – The views in this article are not necessarily the views of, nor express our reality in, ASPA. The purpose of highlighting this article is to provide members with varying viewpoints and information about Labour and the happenings around campus, provincially, nationally and internationally.

Written by Hassan Kanu July 12, 20211:52 PM CST Last Updated 3 days ago

Hassen Kanu: https://www.reuters.com/authors/hassan-kanu/

(Reuters) – A Reuters analysis of two decades of wages for retail workers found that the pay advantage union workers have enjoyed over non-union employees in that sector is increasing.

The weekly pay differential between union and nonunion workers widened from $20 in 2013 to more than $50 in 2019, according to the July 9 report.

Sask. union says Crown-owned marketing firm’s rejection of planned billboard campaign amounts to ‘censorship’

Carla Shynkaruk Video journalist

Josh Lynn Digital News Editor

Published Monday, July 12, 2021 2:37PM CST Last Updated Monday, July 12, 2021 6:52PM

SASKATOON — The president of a union representing Saskatchewan service workers says Directwest’s refusal to run a marketing campaign critical of the Scott Moe government amounts to “censorship.”

Government of Canada reaches first collective agreement for RCMP members and reservists

NEWS PROVIDED BY Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada

Jun 28, 2021, 14:22 ET

OTTAWA, ON, June 28, 2021 /CNW/ – The Government of Canada is committed to establishing a modern labour relations regime for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and is pleased to have reached a tentative agreement with the National Police Federation (NPF) to establish a first collective agreement for RCMP members and reservists. This agreement follows legislation passed in 2017 allowing RCMP regular members and reservists to unionize and bargain collectively for the first time.

THE COVID-19 UNION WAVE

Organizing Retail Workers from Coast to Coast

BY SARAH NAFISA SHAHID AND DAN DARRAH JUNE 10, 2021

The story of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada — now over a year in its writing — has also inevitably become a story about work. Overnight, “essential” entered day-to-day vocabulary to describe those workers whose in-person jobs our society couldn’t function without. Many workers temporarily enjoyed fanfare and public appreciation. Others even briefly received hazard pay.

UNBC faculty signs collective agreement ending lengthy labour dispute with university

The 4-year contract raises annual salaries by 2 per cent, retroactive to July 2019.

The faculty association of the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) has reached its first collective agreement with the university administration since 2014, putting an end to unrest that has led to two strikes and closed classrooms.

Coronavirus Crisis Poses Risks and Opportunities for Unions

The COVID-19 pandemic and its economic fallout pose serious challenges for Canada’s workers.

Naomi Klein’s 2007 bestseller, The Shock Doctrine, documented how political and economic elites have exploited crises to advance an agenda of privatization and austerity.

University of Manitoba Faculty Association’s bargaining unit to hold strike vote

By Shane Gibson Global NewsPosted October 29, 2020 5:49 pm Updated October 29, 2020 5:52 pm

The union representing faculty at the University of Manitoba is moving one step closer to a strike at the province’s largest post-secondary institution.

Indigenous Professors Cite Racism, Lack of Reform in University of Saskatchewan Exodus

Jason Warick · CBC News · Posted: Aug 30, 2020 2:00 AM CT | Last Updated: August 30

A group of Indigenous professors and staff say they’ve been forced to leave the University of Saskatchewan because of racism, a hostile work environment and the slow pace of reforms.

It’s Going to Take More Than The Courts to Stop Kenney’s Bill 32

Written by Cole Rockarts – Rank and File.ca – August 19, 2020

On Wednesday, July 29, Alberta’s United Conservative Party government passed the Restoring Balance in Alberta’s Workplaces Act, which aims to control how union dues can finance political activities and legislate restrictions on where unions can picket. The bill claims it will save employers $100 million dollars per year by “reducing red tape”, and enhancing worker “choice” and “promote fairness and productivity”.

SEIU – West Worksite Actions

Hello ASPA,

I write to you today on behalf of our 12,000 members who provide health care within the Sask Health Authority, as they are in need of support. This group of members provide a variety of valuable services on the health care team: they are continuing care assistants, licensed practical nurses, diagnostic and therapeutic technologists, maintenance personnel, sterile processing workers, administration, food services and environmental services among others. They have been without a contract since March 31, 2017 and they are done waiting. Understandably, in the context of COVID, these members are on the front line – they are faced daily with staff shortages – crushing workloads – far too many overtime demands – denied vacation – and the list goes on. All the while they are still be paid 2016 rates of pay. It is entirely unfair – and it is a result of our government stubbornly refusing to provide any added resources (beyond their horrible mandate of 0/0/1/2/2) to resolve our contract.