RAINFOREST CAFE WORKERS STRIKE AGAINST FORD'S RACE TO THE BOTTOM
By Leanne Pearce-Graham & Ryan Hayes
A pitched battle is currently taking place in Niagara Falls with implications for the future of decent work in Ontario. On Clifton Hill, the heart of Niagara’s tourist district, a courageous group of nearly 100 restaurant workers are on strike against one of the region’s largest employers: Canadian Niagara Hotels Inc.
The predominantly female workers at the Rainforest Cafe have been seeking a contract for over a year and have been out on strike since April 7. They said “enough is enough” and formed a union in early 2018 when their employer responded to the $14 minimum wage increase by forcing them to give back more of their tips and include their managers in the tip-out. Read more!
FIGHTING BACK IN JASON KENNEY'S ALBERTA
Chloe Rockarts reflects on conversations with public sector labour leaders in Alberta for a RankandFile.ca article called The Past, Present and Future of Workers’ Power in Alberta. We reflect on tangible steps needed to build worker capacity to fight public sector cuts and privatization, build solidarity between unionized & non-unionized workers, and fight white supremacy.
Emma Jackson from Climate Justice Edmonton reacts to Jason Kenney’s 30 million dollar “war room” to fight “lies and misinformation” about Alberta’s oil sands. CJE is fundraising to resist Kenney’s attacks and build capacity among young organizers. Read more!
JUSTICE FOR JANITORS MOVEMENT WINS BIG IN TORONTO
By Ritch Whyman
In the last week of March thousands of workers in the janitorial industry made a historic breakthrough by winning a pension plan in their recent round of collective bargaining.
For the last decade members of SEIU (Service Employees International Union) Local 2’s Justice for Janitors movement have been fighting against an industry rife with abuse and sub-contracting schemes. Over the past 10 years nearly 4,000 workers have joined the union in Toronto. Read more!
IMPRESSIONS OF LABOUR AND INDUSTRY
By Navjeet Sidhu
In February, the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) launched its latest exhibit: “Impressionism in the Age of Industry”. The exhibit features a collection of over 120 pieces of artwork by a number of Impressionist artists including Claude Monet, Vincent Van Gogh, Georges Seurat, James Tissot, and Mary Cassatt.
Impressionism invariably conjures up tranquil images of water lilies and sunsets, and at first glance, the pieces on display seem to take viewers on a casual journey through Parisian streets and the French countryside. Read more!