Labour

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh joins PSAC workers on a picket line in Ottawa, Wednesday, April 19, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Federal public-service strike lands in middle of political battle for working class

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has often been followed by crowds of people…

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh joins PSAC workers on a picket line in Ottawa, Wednesday, April 19, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
A PSAC worker holds a flag on a picket line in Ottawa, Wednesday, April 19, 2023. Canada’s largest federal public-service union and the federal government remain at the bargaining table as workers strike and service disruptions begin to be felt across the country. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Both union, government warn of major service disruptions as a result of strike

Strike involving 155,000 federal public servants one of the largest in Canadian history

A PSAC worker holds a flag on a picket line in Ottawa, Wednesday, April 19, 2023. Canada’s largest federal public-service union and the federal government remain at the bargaining table as workers strike and service disruptions begin to be felt across the country. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
PSAC workers and supporters walk a picket line in Halifax on Wednesday, April 19, 2023. Federal departments and agencies have released a list of services that may be disrupted now that workers are on strike. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese

Federal workers are now on strike, here are the services that may be affected

More than 155,000 public servants across the country launched a strike Wednesday morning

PSAC workers and supporters walk a picket line in Halifax on Wednesday, April 19, 2023. Federal departments and agencies have released a list of services that may be disrupted now that workers are on strike. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese
Members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) demonstrate outside the Treasury Board building in Ottawa on Friday, March 31, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle

No deal at union deadline; federal workers hit the picket lines as talks continue

Pickets expected to be set up this morning at more than 250 locations

Members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) demonstrate outside the Treasury Board building in Ottawa on Friday, March 31, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle
FILE - Striking writers walk the picket line outside Paramount Studios on Dec. 13, 2007, in Los Angeles. In an email to members Monday, April 17, 2023, leaders of the Writers Guild of America said nearly 98% of voters said yes to a strike authorization if a new contract agreement is not reached with producers. (AP Photo/Nick Ut, File)

U.S. TV and film writers authorize strike over pay, other issues

Writers Guild of America has 98% strike mandate, last strike happened in 2007

FILE - Striking writers walk the picket line outside Paramount Studios on Dec. 13, 2007, in Los Angeles. In an email to members Monday, April 17, 2023, leaders of the Writers Guild of America said nearly 98% of voters said yes to a strike authorization if a new contract agreement is not reached with producers. (AP Photo/Nick Ut, File)
Members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) demonstrate outside the Treasury Board building in Ottawa on Friday, March 31, 2023. Canada’s largest federal public service union is expected to announce the next steps in the drawn out contract negotiations with the government, after members voted for a mandate to launch the largest strike against a single employer in Canada’s history. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle

PSAC says strike will begin Wednesday if no deal reached with federal government

155,000 employees are prepared to walk off the job

Members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) demonstrate outside the Treasury Board building in Ottawa on Friday, March 31, 2023. Canada’s largest federal public service union is expected to announce the next steps in the drawn out contract negotiations with the government, after members voted for a mandate to launch the largest strike against a single employer in Canada’s history. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle
Members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) demonstrate outside the Treasury Board building in Ottawa on Friday, March 31, 2023. On Wednesday the union representing the largest number of federal public servants announced a nation-wide strike mandate after final votes were cast on Tuesday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle

Here’s what happens to government services if federal public servants go on strike

The union representing the largest number of federal public servants announced a…

Members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) demonstrate outside the Treasury Board building in Ottawa on Friday, March 31, 2023. On Wednesday the union representing the largest number of federal public servants announced a nation-wide strike mandate after final votes were cast on Tuesday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle
Members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) demonstrate outside the Treasury Board building in Ottawa on Friday, March 31, 2023. The union that represents over 120,000 public servants has voted in favour of a national strike mandate. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle

Members of public service union vote in favour of federal strike mandate

Public Service Alliance of Canada represents more than 120,000 workers, about 1/4 deemed essential

Members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) demonstrate outside the Treasury Board building in Ottawa on Friday, March 31, 2023. The union that represents over 120,000 public servants has voted in favour of a national strike mandate. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle
Grocery clerks and food service staff will be among the 150,000 British Columbians getting a pay raise when the minimum wage increases on June 1 to to $16.75 from $15.65. (Contributed)

B.C.’s minimum wage going up by $1.10 to $16.75 on June 1

Minister of Labour Harry Bains announced the increase Wednesday at a coffee shop in Victoria

Grocery clerks and food service staff will be among the 150,000 British Columbians getting a pay raise when the minimum wage increases on June 1 to to $16.75 from $15.65. (Contributed)
Transit commuter Jamie O'Neill and his son Greyson, might have to move out of Chilliwack if the transit strike in the Fraser Valley persists. (Jamie O'Neill photo)

Transit strike in eastern Fraser Valley could end up costing man his job in Vancouver

‘I am looking at moving out of Chilliwack now because I am screwed,’ says commuter dad

Transit commuter Jamie O'Neill and his son Greyson, might have to move out of Chilliwack if the transit strike in the Fraser Valley persists. (Jamie O'Neill photo)
B.C. is facing a growing labour shortage. But it’s more complicated than simply a lack of people to hire. In this October 2021 file photo, carpenters work on new home in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

B.C. employers are struggling to hire. But there’s more than just a labour shortage at play.

Some say a lack of training opportunities, part-time hours are keeping workers out of market

  • Mar 12, 2023
B.C. is facing a growing labour shortage. But it’s more complicated than simply a lack of people to hire. In this October 2021 file photo, carpenters work on new home in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
CN rail trains are shown at a train yard in Vaughan, Ont., on Monday, June 20, 2022. CN workers have backed a strike vote with negotiations set to resume on a contract for around 3,000 Canadian employees.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

CN workers back union strike mandate as contract talks for 3,000 employees continue

Another round of talks set for next week in Unifor contract negotiations

CN rail trains are shown at a train yard in Vaughan, Ont., on Monday, June 20, 2022. CN workers have backed a strike vote with negotiations set to resume on a contract for around 3,000 Canadian employees.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Global Container Terminals said Deltaport is their third biggest container terminal in North America. (Grace Kennedy photo)

Union fears robots will kill jobs in controversial B.C. port expansion

International Longshore and Warehouse Union urging rejection of Roberts Bank Terminal 2 by Deltaport

  • Feb 18, 2023
Global Container Terminals said Deltaport is their third biggest container terminal in North America. (Grace Kennedy photo)
FILE - Labor Secretary Marty Walsh speaks during a briefing at the White House in Washington, May 16, 2022. Walsh is among those on the shortlist to succeed White House chief of staff Ron Klain, who is preparing to leave his job in the coming weeks, according to a person familiar with Klain’s plans.(AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

NHLPA names US Labor Secretary Marty Walsh executive director

Walsh to take over from Donald Fehr who has led the pro hockey players’ union for more than a decade

FILE - Labor Secretary Marty Walsh speaks during a briefing at the White House in Washington, May 16, 2022. Walsh is among those on the shortlist to succeed White House chief of staff Ron Klain, who is preparing to leave his job in the coming weeks, according to a person familiar with Klain’s plans.(AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)
Jon Coleman (right) and other members of the Cowichan Tribes-owned Khowutzun Development Corporation, here seen blocking work at the site of the new Cowichan District Hospital on Bell McKinnon Road over union issues, has called on the provincial government to abolish an agreement that he says prevents him and other Indigenous contractors from working on the site. (Robert Barron/Citizen)

Indigenous contractor won’t represent ‘token Indians’ in B.C. hospital dispute

Builder wants community benefits agreement abolished despite exception allowing him to work on site

Jon Coleman (right) and other members of the Cowichan Tribes-owned Khowutzun Development Corporation, here seen blocking work at the site of the new Cowichan District Hospital on Bell McKinnon Road over union issues, has called on the provincial government to abolish an agreement that he says prevents him and other Indigenous contractors from working on the site. (Robert Barron/Citizen)
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) headquarters Connaught Building is pictured in Ottawa on Monday, Aug. 17, 2020. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has filed an unfair labour practices complaint against the union representing taxation employees, claiming it is not bargaining in good faith. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

CRA files labour complaint against union amid bargaining impasse ahead of tax season

Union’s move toward strike position would affect the tax filing season, revenue agency says

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) headquarters Connaught Building is pictured in Ottawa on Monday, Aug. 17, 2020. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has filed an unfair labour practices complaint against the union representing taxation employees, claiming it is not bargaining in good faith. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Today, federal public servants are beginning the transition to return to in-person work. Pedestrians make their way along Sparks Street Mall in Ottawa on Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

As federal workers return to the office, some decry lack of direction, long commutes

Purpose of new hybrid work model is to increase collaboration between colleagues

Today, federal public servants are beginning the transition to return to in-person work. Pedestrians make their way along Sparks Street Mall in Ottawa on Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Vessels are seen docked at Seaspan Shipyards in North Vancouver, B.C., Friday, Oct. 9, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C.’s labour board rules workers can’t refuse to cross some picket lines

Decision relates to last fall’s North Vancouver Seaspan shipyard strike

  • Jan 9, 2023
Vessels are seen docked at Seaspan Shipyards in North Vancouver, B.C., Friday, Oct. 9, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry speaks in the press theatre at the legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Thursday, March 10, 2022. The British Columbia government is extending its COVID-19 wage top-ups for staff at seniors facilities, but the restriction that limited those workers to one work site has been lifted. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

B.C. government continues the pandemic wage top-up for care home workers

Province renewing its commitment to ‘temporarily fund the increases’

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry speaks in the press theatre at the legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Thursday, March 10, 2022. The British Columbia government is extending its COVID-19 wage top-ups for staff at seniors facilities, but the restriction that limited those workers to one work site has been lifted. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
President of the Treasury Board Mona Fortier makes an announcement on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022. Fortier will be announcing a return-to-office plan for federal public servants today. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Federal public servants to start returning to office next month with hybrid system

Employees subject to a ‘phased introduction’ of the return-to-office plan starting Jan. 16

President of the Treasury Board Mona Fortier makes an announcement on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022. Fortier will be announcing a return-to-office plan for federal public servants today. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick