R&F.ca Weekly Update
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- Published on Friday, 22 January 2016 03:00
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THE STRUGGLE TO ORGANIZE WESTJET FLIGHT ATTENDANTS: AN INTERVIEW WITH THE WPFFA
On Feb. 26, 2014, the WestJet Professional Flight Attendants’ Association (WPFAA) began a certification drive to unionize WestJet flight attendants, amidst resistance from management.
The WPFAA is an in-house representative organization seeking union certification under the Canada Labour Code. It has hundreds of members, and is “organized to empower the flight attendants at WestJet to advocate for industry standard expectations within our workplace,” says the WPFAA.
WestJet has ballooned into a hugely profitable corporation since its founding in 1996. The airline claims to be “one the most profitable airlines in North America,” with total revenue increasing 3.5 per cent last year to $1.045 billion. Meanwhile, flight attendants are facing serious concerns surrounding such issues as fatigue and length of crew rest. Read more!
STRIKE WAVE: THE NEED FOR MANDATORY FIRST CONTRACT ARBITRATION IN CANADA
By Brad Walchuk
A recent strike at Covered Bridge Potato Chips in Hartland, New Brunswick has garnered considerable attention in the popular labour media, and, to a lesser degree, even in the mainstream media. The strike is noteworthy for a number of reasons and provides a compelling look into contemporary labour relations, especially for the fact that company President Ryan Albright told United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) 1288P representative Carl Flanagan, “screw you and your fucking union.” Issues prompting the organizing drive and the strike at Covered Bridge include wages – as many workers are making only the recently increased provincial minimum wage of $10.30 per hour – and also basic provisions such as job security, safety improvements, and water fountains on the factory floor. Read more!
6 REASONS FREELANCERS SHOULD REFUSE WORK FROM THE CHRONICLE HERALD DURING A LOCKOUT
By Rebecca Rose, Canadian Freelance Union member and organizer
The union representing journalists and photographers at the Chronicle Herald (the Halifax Typographical Union) and Herald management have reached an impasse in labour negotiations. Herald management recently filed a notice that gives them the option to lock out its unionized newsroom staff and it has recently come to light that the Herald is soliciting freelancers and journalism students to act as replacement labour. The HTU has asked freelancers not to accept work from the Herald during a lockout.
The basics
A lockout is when an employer does not allow its unionized employees to come to work, enter the premises, or collect pay. Read more!
UNIONS COULD SAVE GOODWILL TORONTO FROM INCOMPETENT MANAGEMENT
By Nora Loreto
Earlier this week, Goodwill announced that they were closing their Toronto-area stores. Sixteen stores and 10 donation centres stocked full of donated clothing and household items were apparently no longer profitable.
The workers have expressed the most shock. Despite business as usual, as deliveries continued and people dropped off their impulse buys, maternity clothes and too-small pants, the board voted to cease operations. The workers have been consistent in media reports: they are shocked.
Workers might not even be paid for their last pay period.
The decision was blamed on a structural deficit caused by two main factors: the cost of rent in Toronto and “the union.” As a charity that literally pays nothing for the stock that it sells, the claim sounds far-fetched. 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 | r54This email was sent to s6
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