Canada
Strike at Canadian nickel mine enters its 12th week
After months of unresolved bargaining a strike began on July 13th at the Sudbury mine in northern Ontario, Canada, after employers Vale Inco refused to alter its original demands for concessions. United Steel Workers union members (USW Local 6500) in Sudbury and Port Colburne in Ontario and Voisey Bay in Labrador responded by voting 85% in favor of strike action.
The strike affects 3,073 employees at Vale's integrated mining, milling, smelting and refining operations in Sudbury, 116 employees at the Port Colborne refinery and over 200 at Voisey Bay. The concessions demanded by the company include a drastic change in pension benefits for new hires (the pension Fund is $725 million in deficit), changes to seniority rights and a cap on the "Nickel Bonus".
Reflections on work, legal aid and the welfare state
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A legal aid worker's analysis of legal aid, and its role in preserving social peace in capitalist society.
Introduction
Unions Narrowly Avert General Strike In B.C., Canada - Wage Slave X
Article looking at the near-General Strike in 2004 in Canada. The strike was stopped at the last minute by the unions.
In the week from April 25 to May 2, 2004, what began as a legal strike by 43,000 hospital workers in British Columbia (B.C.), Canada nearly developed into an illegal 'general strike' by upwards of 200,000 workers against the provincial government (which funds the hospitals and the health-care system generally), and potentially involving perhaps another 100,000 to 150,000 unionized workers.
The politics of protest - Red and Black Notes
Red and Black Notes analysis on OCAP and Canadian unions against the Tory government.
When Conservative Premier Mike Harris was elected in 1995, trade unions and their supporters chanted "Hey Mike, Hey Mike, What do you think of a General Strike?" Harris wryly commented that there was no need for a general strike. He knew what the unions could do, but more importantly he knew what they would do. Nothing.
On workplace organisation - Red and Black Notes
A look at the exchange between Stan Weir and Sam Friedman on workplace organisation. The following article, which has been slightly edited for publication, was written in 1997 as a comment on an exchange in the US publication Against the Current dating to 1981/82. This article has been archived on libcom.org from the Red and Black Notes website.
The exchange between Stan Weir and Sam Friedman in the pages of Against the Current poses several important questions:
The organization of workplace groups and culture
The relationship of workplace activists to workplace groups
The role of organizations in class struggle
Crawling from the wreckage - Red and Black Notes
Crawling from the Wreckage - Thoughts on the Rebuilding the Left Project. First published in Red & Black Notes #13, Spring 2001, This article has been archived on libcom.org from the Red and Black Notes website.
In October of 2000 hundreds of activists and radicals gathered in Toronto, Ontario for a conference entitled "Rebuilding the Left, " a conference billed as a small first step in creating a structured movement against capitalism.
Anti-poverty in Ontario - Red and Black Notes
The Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP) is one of the best known anti-poverty organizations in Ontario. It has acquired a reputation for militant direct action tactics on such issues as affordable housing, welfare, homelessness, and immigrant and refugee rights. In a political climate where powerful politicians and vested interests wish the poor would just quietly die, OCAP has proven to be a vocal critic.
In 1989 three Ontario cities, Windsor, Ottawa and Sudbury, held marches against poverty which converged in Toronto. After the marches it was decided to create a provincial body in order to try and raise the issue of poverty in the face of indifference from politicians. OCAP was the result. While OCAP does have organisational affiliates across the province, the group is based in Toronto.
Review of Review of Labour of Love by Buzz Hargrove - Red and Black Notes
Review of Labour of Love by Buzz Hargrove with Wayne Skene, McFarland, Walter & Ross. Buzz Hargrove is one of the best-known trade unionists in Canada, and was at the time head of the Canadian Auto Workers.
Buzz Hargrove is one of the best-known trade unionists in Canada. As the head of the 215,000- strong Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) he is often presented by the media as the unrepentant face of trade unionism today.
Cab drivers wildcat against management racism
At least 25 taxi drivers in Saskatoon, Canada, have been suspended by United Cabs after raising allegations of racism and discrimination by their employer at a demonstration Wednesday. The company denies the allegations and says it moved to lock out the employees for a wildcat strike.
Around 50 drivers, mostly of Pakistani descent, gathered Wednesday night at a parking lot near the airport to raise concerns about alleged verbal abuse by company managers and to protest the firing of a co-worker.
Canadian auto-workers occupy factory
A group of disgruntled workers at a recently closed auto parts supply company in Windsor, Ontario have taken over the plant.
In the latest twist in a saga that has been brewing since two auto plants in the area shut down early last week, about a dozen workers occupied the Aradco plant Tuesday night. They have welded the doors shut from the inside and say they will not leave until they get what they are owed.
