H.G. Watson

Jerry Dias reflects on Unifor's first three years

rabble staff — Sun, 28 Aug 2016 18:42:24 +0000

Sunday, August 28, 2016

Unifor completed its second national convention since its founding in 2013. H.G. Watson caught up with President Jerry Dias to reflect on the past three years.

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When Jerry Dias was elected president of Unifor in 2013 at its founding convention, he had an ambitious agenda that included prioritizing organizing of young and precarious workers and pushing $10 million into new organizing efforts.

Four issues driving the CUPW and Canada Post negotiations

rabble staff — Wed, 06 Jul 2016 14:44:30 +0000

Wednesday, July 6, 2016

While pay equity and pensions are front of mind during this round of bargaining, the Canada Post labour dispute has roots that stretch back years.

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In a few short days, Canada Post workers may be locked out by their employer.

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), which represents 50,000 workers, and Canada Post have been negotiating since November over a new collective agreement, without any sign that they are close to ending negotiations.

Saskatchewan's Regina-Lewvan riding a battleground for labour

rabble staff — Fri, 16 Oct 2015 13:02:21 +0000

The Conservatives can be nudged out in Regina-Lewvan, but it's not clear who will be nudged in.

Votes count here: New riding Regina-Lewvan a crucial battle for labour

Votes count here: Tight race forms between NDP and Liberals in Hull-Aylmer

rabble staff — Thu, 15 Oct 2015 22:45:46 +0000

Thursday, October 15, 2015

Are wedge issues like the niqab controversy starting to play a role in key ridings? In Hull-Aylmer that could be the case as the Liberals and NDP battle it out.

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Votes count here: New riding Regina-Lewvan a crucial battle for labour

rabble staff — Thu, 15 Oct 2015 17:15:32 +0000

Thursday, October 15, 2015

Labour is closely watching the race in Regina-Lewvan where NDP candidate Erin Weir closely trails Conservative Trent Fraser.

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Regina-Lewvan candidates: Trent Fraser (CPC), Erin Weir (NDP), Louis Browne (Liberals), Tamela Friesen (Greens)

What's happening in this battleground riding?

Votes count here: Winnipeg's Elmwood-Transcona an NDP vs. CPC battleground

rabble staff — Sun, 11 Oct 2015 17:15:43 +0000

In Winnipeg, your vote matters as the NDP battle it out with the CPC.

Votes count here: In Winnipeg's Elmwood-Transcona it's NDP vs. CPC

rabble staff — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 20:44:46 +0000

Friday, October 9, 2015

In Winnipeg's Elmwood-Transcona riding, the NDP and Conservatives are in a tight race. Last election, the Cons beat the NDP by less than 1,000 votes. What will happen this time around?

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Elmwood-Transcona candidates: Lawrence Toet (CPC), Daniel Blaikie (NDP), Andrea Richardson-Lipon (Liberal), Kim Parke (Green)

What's happening in this battleground riding?

Labour Day 2015: Canada's unions fight back

rabble staff — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 20:27:05 +0000

This year in labour has seen a barrage of attacks on Canadian unions. And, Canadian unions are fighting back.

This year in labour: Canada's unions keep up the fight

rabble staff — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 19:04:39 +0000

Monday, September 7, 2015

Happy Labour Day! It's a time to celebrate, but also a time to remember the many attacks on Canada's labour movement and of course, the fights back.

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Another Labour Day is here and it is time to celebrate. But before you sit around the Labour Day tree with your (union) family and sing your favourite songs about worker solidarity, take a moment to refresh yourself on the battles Canadian unions have fought, are still fighting, and may continue to fight, depending of course on the result of the federal election on Oct 19.

Chris Hedges speaking to HG Watson

meagan perry — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 22:40:05 +0000

Is this show currently playing?

March 17, 2015

rabble.ca reporter H. G. Watson interviews Chris Hedges on the protests against Bill C-51 taking place in 50 cities across Canada.

Photo: Elizabeth Littlejohn

rabble.ca reporter H. G. Watson interviews Chris Hedges on the protests against Bill C-51 taking place in 50 cities across Canada. Hedges was on his way to the Toronto protest, but his flight was diverted to Windsor.

Exclusive: Chris Hedges on Bill C-51 and the corporate state

rabble staff — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 19:38:22 +0000

Sunday, March 15, 2015

Journalist Chris Hedges was to speak at Toronto's protest against C-51. Weather delayed his flight, but rabble.ca caught up with him for an exclusive interview.

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This weekend, protests were held in communities across Canada to protest Bill C-51, a bill that would increase powers for CSIS.

Freelancers fighting full copyright claim by non-profit media company

rabble staff — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 20:50:01 +0000

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

A small group of freelance radio journalists are in a stand-off with a non-profit media company that has asked them to give up full copyright in a new contract.

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A small group of freelance radio journalists are in a stand-off with a non-profit media company that has asked them to give up full copyright in a new contract.

The freelancers allege that AMI Accessible Media Inc., a Toronto-based news organization that produces content for the blind, partially sighted, deaf or hard of hearing, has changed the terms of a new contract so that they will own full copyright to stories -- including raw material like the audio interviews and research notes.

One year in: Jerry Dias on Unifor's first year and its future

rabble staff — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 16:31:33 +0000

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

A year after Unifor's founding convention, Unifor President Jerry Dias reflects on the year, what Unifor can achieve for the workers it represents and the rest of Canada.

It's been just over a year since the formation of Unifor on Labour Day of 2013. Last weekend, the union held the Good Jobs Summit, where the Unifor's first president, Jerry Dias, spoke several times about the importance of reaching out to all sectors to keep and create more good jobs.

Speakers at the summit came from the realms of business and politics. They included prominent Liberal politicians like Wynne and Justin Trudeau, leading some to speculate that Unifor might be breaking their traditional ties with the NDP. But Dias says no.

"I am going to think about the labour movement first," he explained.

Chow, Wynne, in favour of community benefit agreements

rabble staff — Mon, 06 Oct 2014 18:52:37 +0000

Monday, October 6, 2014

Toronto mayoral candidate Olivia Chow tweeted that she and Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne are in agreement on transit, after the Premier's speech at the Good Jobs Summit.

On Oct 4, Wynne addressed the delegates at the summit, a combination conference and convention organized by private sector union Unifor in the hopes of jumpstarting a cross-sectorial discussion about how to ensure there are better jobs available for Canadians in the future.

Wynne spoke at length about the importance of infrastructure projects, like the Eglinton Crosstown LRT line in Toronto, in job creation, noting that along the 19km line are five priority neighbourhoods that have historically low-income and disadvantaged residents.

Strike on hold at The Globe and Mail

rabble staff — Thu, 03 Jul 2014 14:53:58 +0000

Thursday, July 3, 2014

The Globe and Mail and Unifor Local 87-M will return to the bargaining table July 8, after 93 per cent of employees vote in favour of a strike if an agreement cannot be reached.

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A strike at Canada's largest circulating national daily newspaper is on hold for the time being. On July 2, representatives from the The Globe and Mail's management and Unifor 87-M agreed to return to the negotiating table on July 8.

The dispute arose because the new contract proposed by Globe management would require some reporters and editors to write "advertorial" copy in addition to their editorial work. Other issues in the dispute include job security and wages.