Labour

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.
Rogers Sugar Inc. says unionized workers at its Vancouver refinery have ratified a new collective agreement. 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. Rogers Sugar refinery workers ratify 5-year deal

About 140 workers at Vancouver plant had been off the job since September

Rogers Sugar Inc. says unionized workers at its Vancouver refinery have ratified a new collective agreement. The British Columbia Sugar Refinery sign is seen outside of Rogers Sugar in Vancouver, on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns
A Rogers Sugar worker rides his bicycle near the refinery while on strike in Vancouver, on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns

Sweet deal? Tentative agreement reached in prolonged B.C. Rogers Sugar strike

About 140 workers at Vancouver refinery have been off the job since late September

A Rogers Sugar worker rides his bicycle near the refinery while on strike in Vancouver, on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns
Buses line the Vancouver Transit Centre as transit workers from the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 4500 strike in Vancouver, B.C., Monday, Jan. 22, 2024. Bus and SeaBus services in Metro Vancouver are set to resume this morning after the end of a 48-hour strike by supervisors that ground Coast Mountain Bus Company routes to a standstill. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns

72-hour Metro Vancouver bus strike promised next week if deal not reached

Union warns of renewed action as province assigns Vince Ready to mediate transit dispute

Buses line the Vancouver Transit Centre as transit workers from the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 4500 strike in Vancouver, B.C., Monday, Jan. 22, 2024. Bus and SeaBus services in Metro Vancouver are set to resume this morning after the end of a 48-hour strike by supervisors that ground Coast Mountain Bus Company routes to a standstill. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns
Buses line the Vancouver Transit Centre as transit workers from the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 4500 strike in Vancouver, B.C., Monday, Jan. 22, 2024. Bus and SeaBus services in Metro Vancouver are set to resume this morning after the end of a 48-hour strike by supervisors that ground Coast Mountain Bus Company routes to a standstill. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns

Transit service returns to Metro Vancouver as 48-hour job action ends

Regular service resumed at about 4 a.m. but dispute not yet settled

Buses line the Vancouver Transit Centre as transit workers from the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 4500 strike in Vancouver, B.C., Monday, Jan. 22, 2024. Bus and SeaBus services in Metro Vancouver are set to resume this morning after the end of a 48-hour strike by supervisors that ground Coast Mountain Bus Company routes to a standstill. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns
Labour Minister Harry Bains said the province is prepared to appoint a special meditator, possibly Vince Ready, to resolve the current labour dispute between transit supervisors and Coast Mountain Bus Company, a subsidiary of TransLink, the regional transit authority for Metro Vancouver. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward)

B.C. is prepared to appoint special mediator in transit strike

Labour Minister reacts as job action impacts large parts of Metro Vancouver’s public transit system

Labour Minister Harry Bains said the province is prepared to appoint a special meditator, possibly Vince Ready, to resolve the current labour dispute between transit supervisors and Coast Mountain Bus Company, a subsidiary of TransLink, the regional transit authority for Metro Vancouver. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward)
A SkyTrain is pictured in downtown Vancouver, Saturday, March 14, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

1,000s stranded, sides trade barbs as transit stalled in Metro Vancouver

Shutdown due to contract dispute affecting 96 per cent of the region’s bus services

A SkyTrain is pictured in downtown Vancouver, Saturday, March 14, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
A potential strike by more than 180 transit supervisors seeking a new contract in British Columbia’s Lower Mainland could have a major effect on commuters next week, with the bus drivers’ union saying it would back such action. A bus is pictured in downtown Vancouver, Friday, November, 1, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

B.C. Lower Mainland bus drivers won’t cross picket line if action occurs

Supervisors threatening to walk off the job Monday morning due to contract impasse

A potential strike by more than 180 transit supervisors seeking a new contract in British Columbia’s Lower Mainland could have a major effect on commuters next week, with the bus drivers’ union saying it would back such action. A bus is pictured in downtown Vancouver, Friday, November, 1, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
Lower Mainland transit supervisors say it will be “withdrawing all services” on Monday if an agreement with Coast Mountain Bus company is not made. A bus is pictured in downtown Vancouver, Friday, November, 1, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Union threatens Monday BC Transit service withdrawal in Lower Mainland

CUPE Local 4500 in contract talks with Coast Mountain Bus Company

Lower Mainland transit supervisors say it will be “withdrawing all services” on Monday if an agreement with Coast Mountain Bus company is not made. A bus is pictured in downtown Vancouver, Friday, November, 1, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
WorkSafeBC has fined BC Hydro more than $700,000, stemming from a July 2022 inspection at a Site C dam powerhouse in Fort St. John. (BC Hydro/Screencap)

BC Hydro facing $710K fine for damaged ventilation equipment at Site C Dam

There were also deficiencies with steps to address welding fume hazards: WorkSafeBC

WorkSafeBC has fined BC Hydro more than $700,000, stemming from a July 2022 inspection at a Site C dam powerhouse in Fort St. John. (BC Hydro/Screencap)
A bus is pictured in downtown Vancouver, on November, 1, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Union warns of possible B.C. bus disruptions in January as sides begin mediation

Members voted 100% in favour of a strike

A bus is pictured in downtown Vancouver, on November, 1, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward