R&F.ca Weekly Update
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- Published on Friday, 12 June 2015 03:15
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INTERVIEW WITH LYNDA KITCHIKEESIC: COMMUNITY MAILBOX RESISTER
By Joel Harden
Like many people, my day starts with a cup of coffee and the proverbial smart phone prayer. Typically, this ritual involves checking all manner of messages, most of which are assisted by generous gulps of caffeine.
But yesterday, as I sorted through my various inboxes, one message stood out. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) had occupied a designated community mailbox site in Westboro Beach, an upscale neighbourhood in Ottawa’s west end. This was part of its bid to save home delivery, which has been targeted for removal by Canada Post officials.
When I arrived on the scene Mike Palacek, CUPW’s National President, was occupying the site with several CUPW activists. A tent had been erected beside the spot where Canada Post would like to build its mailbox. Read More!
ARE THE COURTS THE SOLUTION FOR THE BCTF?
By Lisa Descary
At recess time on April 30 of this year, many public school teachers around BC pulled out their smartphones to find out whether or not their union, the BC Teachers Federation, had won their court case. Unfortunately, they were disappointed: in a 4-1 decision, the BC Court of Appeal ruled that the province didnot violate teachers’ constitutional rights when it introduced Bill 22 in 2012 — legislation that temporarily prevented teacher bargaining on class size and composition.
Teachers were understandably upset, especially since the ruling meant the government was under no legal obligation to restore class size limits and ratios stripped out by Bill 28 in 2002 — legislation that has since been deemed unconstitutional. The BCTF executive has decided to appeal this decision to the Supreme Court of Canada. Read More!
BUILDING POWER IN MANY LANGUAGES
By Sonia Singh
How do you organize and build unity among workers who don’t speak the same language?
As members of the Street Vendor Project trickle into their monthly meeting, leaders greet new arrivals in multiple languages: Bienvenido! Ni hao!
Meetings often run in Spanish, Mandarin, Arabic, Bengali, and Tibetan simultaneously—reflecting the diverse backgrounds of the group’s members, who sell chicken and rice, coffee, bagels, hot dogs, and art on street corners around New York City.
Though the organization runs on a shoestring budget, it prioritizes having professional interpreters at meetings, explains senior organizer Elise Goldin. “If you want members to participate in a meaningful way,” she says, “it’s necessary.” Read More!
BCTF'S SANCTUARY SCHOOLS POLICY
By Daniel Tseghay
In recent years, the federal government has made a number of changes to immigration policy that have made it more difficult for migrants to gain permanent status. Refugee claims, and the number of accepted claims, has dropped dramatically. Countries like Mexico are deemed “safe countries” by Canada, making Mexican refugee applicants subject to fast-track deportations.
In April, 70,000 temporary foreign workers were made undocumented by the “four and four” law where they can only work in the country for four years at a time and cannot return on another work permit for at least another four years. Many of these workers have either been deported, left voluntarily, or remain in the country underground.
On May 29th, a part of Bill C-24 was put into effect, immigrants and those with dual citizens can have their citizenship stripped for committing an ever-expanding set of crimes. Read More!
Check out our weekly labour news update every Monday for a summary of the past week's top labour news stories, and our feature labour video every Saturday! @rankandfilca Youtube r53 | r54
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