Labour

Unifor has filed an unfair labour practice complaint against Amazon amid a vote by workers at a Delta, B.C. warehouse over whether they want to join the union. Signage at an Amazon fulfilment centre is pictured in Ottawa on Monday, July 11, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Labour practice complaint filed against Amazon in B.C. warehouse hiring

Unifor alleges Amazon ramped up hiring at Delta facility ahead of union vote

 

A WestJet logo is seen in the domestic check-in area at Vancouver International Airport, in Richmond, B.C., on Friday, May 19, 2023. The union representing WestJet Encore pilots says its members rejected a tentative deal reached last month, with just over half voting the agreement down. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Pilots reject WestJet Encore deal; airline says operations as normal

Union says members want to see more action to improve recruitment, retention and morale

 

The federal government is asking a labour tribunal to review whether a strike by rail workers would jeopardize Canadians’ health and safety. Labour and Seniors Ministerr Seamus O’Regan during a news conference, in Ottawa, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Federal safety review could delay massive national railway strike

Feds order Industrial Relations Board probe as concerns mount about clogged supply chain

 

A WestJet passenger jet taxis while a WestJet turbo prop plane sits parked at a departure gate at the Calgary International Airport on Wednesday, May 31, 2023. A statement from the Calgary-based airline says a tentative deal between it and the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association has been agreed to. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

WestJet mechanics lockout averted, tenative deal reached

Terms of deal with Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association not yet available

A WestJet passenger jet taxis while a WestJet turbo prop plane sits parked at a departure gate at the Calgary International Airport on Wednesday, May 31, 2023. A statement from the Calgary-based airline says a tentative deal between it and the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association has been agreed to. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Federal public servants will have to work from their offices at least three days a week as of Sept. 9. President of the Treasury Board Anita Anand rises during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill, in Ottawa, Thursday, April 18, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Patrick Doyle

3-days-in-the-office mandate blindsides federal government workers

Public Service Alliance of Canada outraged about new policies regarding work from home

Federal public servants will have to work from their offices at least three days a week as of Sept. 9. President of the Treasury Board Anita Anand rises during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill, in Ottawa, Thursday, April 18, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Patrick Doyle
B.C. Ferries navigate around luxury passenger vessel MV Isabelle on their routes between downtown Nanaimo and Gabriola Island Thursday morning, Feb. 8. The ship is a luxury floatel waiting off Nanaimo for approval to use as construction workers accommodations for Woodfibre LNG’s export facility in Howe Sound. (Chris Bush/ News Bulletin)

Fearful Squamish rejects ‘floatel’ housing for LNG plant workers

Council votes to reject repurposed cruise ship citing safety and environmental concerns

B.C. Ferries navigate around luxury passenger vessel MV Isabelle on their routes between downtown Nanaimo and Gabriola Island Thursday morning, Feb. 8. The ship is a luxury floatel waiting off Nanaimo for approval to use as construction workers accommodations for Woodfibre LNG’s export facility in Howe Sound. (Chris Bush/ News Bulletin)
Paul Boucher, President, Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) speaks during a press conference to announce the results of strike votes at Canadian National (CN) and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. He is joined by fellow teamsters. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Strike mandate for both major railways puts Canada’s supply train on alert

Union: 9,300 CN and CPKC workers vote 97 per cent in favour of a strike mandate

Paul Boucher, President, Teamsters Canada Rail Conference (TCRC) speaks during a press conference to announce the results of strike votes at Canadian National (CN) and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. He is joined by fellow teamsters. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Marc Miller rises during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Thursday, March 21, 2024. Miller is announcing that starting in September, international students will be able to work 24 hours per week off-campus while pursuing their studies. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

24 hours work a week available for foreign students in September

Former 20-hour cap in Canada was waived during the pandemic

Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Marc Miller rises during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Thursday, March 21, 2024. Miller is announcing that starting in September, international students will be able to work 24 hours per week off-campus while pursuing their studies. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
A Kansas City Southern locomotive is shown in this undated photo. Canadian Pacific Kansas City reported its first-quarter profit fell compared with a year ago.THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Kansas City Southern

Canadian Pacific, union appear on track for spring rail strike

Canadian National also in talks with their workers, setting up a precarious freight scenario

A Kansas City Southern locomotive is shown in this undated photo. Canadian Pacific Kansas City reported its first-quarter profit fell compared with a year ago.THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Kansas City Southern
Federal Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan says he’s appointed an Industrial Inquiry Commission to dig deeper into the underlying causes of B.C.’s port strike last summer. Striking International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada workers march to a rally as gantry cranes used to load and unload cargo containers from ships sit idle at port, in Vancouver, B.C., Thursday, July 6, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Inquiry launched into B.C.’s costly 2023 port strike

Federal Labour Minister appoints Industrial Inquiry Commission to dig into the underlying causes

Federal Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan says he’s appointed an Industrial Inquiry Commission to dig deeper into the underlying causes of B.C.’s port strike last summer. Striking International Longshore and Warehouse Union Canada workers march to a rally as gantry cranes used to load and unload cargo containers from ships sit idle at port, in Vancouver, B.C., Thursday, July 6, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
More than 800 airline food service staff at Toronto’s Pearson airport have gone on strike, potentially leaving thousands of passengers without meals. Travellers make their way through Pearson International Airport in Toronto Monday, Nov. 14, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston

Caterer strike leaves 1,000s of airline passengers via Toronto without food

Multiple airlines are being affected

More than 800 airline food service staff at Toronto’s Pearson airport have gone on strike, potentially leaving thousands of passengers without meals. Travellers make their way through Pearson International Airport in Toronto Monday, Nov. 14, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston
Pilots taxi a WestJet Boeing 737-700 aircraft to the runway for departure from Vancouver International Airport, in Richmond, B.C., on Friday, May 19, 2023. The union representing WestJet Encore pilots says a tentative deal has been struck with their employer, days before the pilots had threatened to go on strike. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

WestJet Encore avoids impending strike, reaches deal with pilots

Tentative agreement must still be approved by the 355 members it covers

Pilots taxi a WestJet Boeing 737-700 aircraft to the runway for departure from Vancouver International Airport, in Richmond, B.C., on Friday, May 19, 2023. The union representing WestJet Encore pilots says a tentative deal has been struck with their employer, days before the pilots had threatened to go on strike. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Ottawa’s corporate-ethics watchdog says a Vancouver-based mining company has allowed forced labour to occur at its gold mine in the Xinjiang region of China, even though the firm lost control of the project before the alleged slavery took place. Sheri Meyerhoffer, the Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise, holds a news conference in Ottawa on Tuesday, July 11, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

B.C. mining firm calls forced labour allegations nonsense

Canada’s corporate-ethics watchdog cites Dynasty Gold Corp. in connection with Chinese gold mine

Ottawa’s corporate-ethics watchdog says a Vancouver-based mining company has allowed forced labour to occur at its gold mine in the Xinjiang region of China, even though the firm lost control of the project before the alleged slavery took place. Sheri Meyerhoffer, the Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise, holds a news conference in Ottawa on Tuesday, July 11, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Pamela Charron, executive director of the Worker Solidarity Network, places a red piece of paper into a giant thermometer Saturday, June 17, as part of a demonstration in front of the B.C. Legislature calling on government to make labour law changes to better protect workers in extreme heat. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

High heat? Law should say get out of the kitchen: B.C. labour advocates

Group wants to see labour laws enforcing maximum safe indoor work temperatures

  • Mar 22, 2024
Pamela Charron, executive director of the Worker Solidarity Network, places a red piece of paper into a giant thermometer Saturday, June 17, as part of a demonstration in front of the B.C. Legislature calling on government to make labour law changes to better protect workers in extreme heat. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Locomotives sit idle in the railyard on Tuesday, November 19, 2019 in Montreal. The United Steelworkers union says it has reached a tentative deal with Canadian National Railway Co. for a new contract covering 3,000 workers in Canada.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

United Steelworkers Local 2004 reaches tentative deal with CN Rail

The three-year deal took months of negotiations

Locomotives sit idle in the railyard on Tuesday, November 19, 2019 in Montreal. The United Steelworkers union says it has reached a tentative deal with Canadian National Railway Co. for a new contract covering 3,000 workers in Canada.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
Minimum wage workers in industries such as food and accommodation will see their hourly earnings rise to $17.40 on June 1. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. tying minimum wage increases to inflation permanently through new law

Minimum wage will rise to 65 cents to $17.40 on June 1 for most eligible workers

Minimum wage workers in industries such as food and accommodation will see their hourly earnings rise to $17.40 on June 1. (Black Press Media file photo)
The British Columbia Sugar Refinery sign is seen outside of Rogers Sugar in Vancouver, on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns

‘Dude of dudes’ Striker the goose hailed as B.C. workers’ sugar strike hero

Feathered companion became symbol for those walking the picket line in drawn-out Rogers dispute

  • Feb 13, 2024
The British Columbia Sugar Refinery sign is seen outside of Rogers Sugar in Vancouver, on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns
B.C. Labour Minister Harry Bains listens to a question in Surrey, B.C., on Monday, March 14, 2022. British Columbia is launching a review of its Labour Relations Code and has appointed a three-member panel to recommend possible amendments. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. to review its Labour Relations Code for first time since 2018

Review will look to make B.C. consistent with ‘rights and protections enjoyed by other Canadians’

B.C. Labour Minister Harry Bains listens to a question in Surrey, B.C., on Monday, March 14, 2022. British Columbia is launching a review of its Labour Relations Code and has appointed a three-member panel to recommend possible amendments. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Buses line the Vancouver Transit Centre as transit workers from the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 4500 strike in Vancouver on Monday, Jan. 22, 2024. The B.C. Labour Relations Board says Metro Vancouver’s regional bus operator breached rules by using replacement workers during last month’s transit strike that paralyzed bus and SeaBus services. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns

Mediated settlement expected to avert Metro Vancouver transit strike

Transit supervisors had previously said they would walk out if new contract not reached by Saturday

Buses line the Vancouver Transit Centre as transit workers from the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 4500 strike in Vancouver on Monday, Jan. 22, 2024. The B.C. Labour Relations Board says Metro Vancouver’s regional bus operator breached rules by using replacement workers during last month’s transit strike that paralyzed bus and SeaBus services. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns
Gig driver Kuljeet Singh supported BC’s new gig driver laws. Now he’s not so sure. Photo for The Tyee by Zak Vescera.

B.C. gig workers concerned pending regulations won’t be enough

Ministry of Labour working on regulations for jobs like DoorDash, Uber — expected sometime this year

  • Feb 1, 2024
Gig driver Kuljeet Singh supported BC’s new gig driver laws. Now he’s not so sure. Photo for The Tyee by Zak Vescera.