Gap Between the West and Rest of Canada Widening

 

A new report from the Conference Board of Canada highlights the growing economic gap between the western provinces and the rest of Canada.

The report states that while workers in Alberta and Saskatchewan will receive an average pay increase of 4 per cent due to the oil and gas sector. Workers in Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes will receive fewer gains due to the decline in manufacturing and increase in the number of workers in low-paying jobs in the service industry.

See the original story on Global TV Calgary:

http://www.globaltvcalgary.com/salaries+rising+in+the+west+stalling+elsewhere+report/6442807587/story.html

Alberta’s NDP presents: A Celebration with Ray Martin

February 14th, 2013

Join the Alberta NDP for a night of dinner, music, special Guests

The Gala is on Saturday April 6^th, 2013 at the Santa Maria Goretti Centre

Cocktails: 5:30pm

Dinner: 6:30pm

Guests include Don Davies, MP for Vancouver Kingsway, and Canadian Singer-Songwriter Maria Dunn.

For ticket information, contact the Alberta NDP office at 780-474-2415 or email Brian Stokes at bstokes@albertandp.ca

Alberta New Democrats Broken Promises Budget Tour 2013

The Alberta New Democrat MLAs will visit seven Alberta cities over the next three weeks for public hearings on the upcoming provincial budget.

At each hearing, city councils, union locals, post-secondary institutions, cultural groups and school boards will make presentations to the NDP caucus regarding budgetary issues.The meetings will also be open to the public, so this is an opportunity for all Albertans to make their voices heard.

—

We want to hear from you on the budget.  Redford’s Conservatives are slated to break the promises they made that won them the election last year. They have already started cutting services that Albertans depend on. Alberta’s New Democrats know there is a better way: fair taxes and royalties, excellent public services.  Not misleading voters and breaking promises.

We want to know… What are your concerns about service cuts?  What changes do you think should be made to Alberta’s tax structure?  What are the most important services to you and your family?  What can we do to stand up for you and your family in the budget?

Have your say today by visiting our campaign page.  Then, spread the word by telling your friends and family, sharing on social media, and attending a Budget Public Hearing in your community.

Join us today, and help shape a better budget for Albertans.

The dates for the tour are:

• February 11th: Fort McMurray @ 2pm – CEP 707 Union Hall, 201-20020 Franklin Avenue
• February 13th: Red Deer @ 2pm – Red Deer Public Library (Snell Auditorium), 4818 49 Street
• February 19th: Medicine Hat @ 2pm – Medicine Hat Public Library (Honor Currie Room), 414 1 St SE
• February 20th: Lethbridge@ 2pm – Lethbridge Public Library (Community Meeting Room), 810 5 Ave S
• February 21st: Calgary @ 7pm – Kahanoff Centre (Room 201), 105 12 Ave SE
• February 23rd: Grande Prairie @ 2pm – Centre 2000 (Al Robertson Room), 11330 106 St
• February 26th: Edmonton @ 2pm – EDLC Building 10425 Princess Elizabeth Avenue

Interning with the CDLC

Great internship opportunity through the CDLC. Pass this along to that Poli Sci major in your life. See below (via Alex Shevalier)
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STUDENT RESEARCHER
Closing Date: March 1, 2013

The Calgary & District Labour Council (CDLC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering the interests of working people. Chartered in 1905, the Calgary & District Labour Council supports 60 different affiliated unions representing more than 43,000 affiliated members. More than strikes, contracts, and negotiations, we play a key role in our community, working closely with like-minded faith, non-governmental, social justice, and volunteer organizations.

We are currently looking for an energetic and articulate researcher to fill the position of Student Researcher at the CDLC. Reporting to the President of the CDLC, the researcher is responsible for:
• Working with the President to identify important trends, issues, and developments in public policy in Calgary and in Alberta;
• Taking the lead in conducting research on those specific policy areas and others that may be required by the President;
• Make recommendations on current Public policy.

Women, people of colour, aboriginals, workers with disabilities, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender workers are encouraged to apply.

Basic Requirements:
Students pursuing a Masters degree or above in social work, political science, sociology, the social sciences, the humanities or any other relevant field of study.

Must be legally authorized to work in Canada on a full-time basis without restrictions.

Must be knowledgeable on public policy issues affecting labour and workers in Calgary and in Alberta.

Preferred Qualifications:
• Strong writing and communication skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office: Word, Power Point, and Excel
• Attention to detail
• Ability to work with limited supervision

This position shall be a member of the Canadian Office and Professional Employees Union local 397. The position shall be 13 weeks in duration and pays $25.00 per hour and $2.50 per hour in lieu of benefits.

Please submit your resume along with the names, phone number or email address of three references and a sample of your writing to:

Alexander Shevalier, President
Calgary & District Labour Council
321, 3132-26 St. NE, Calgary, AB, T1Y 6Z1
Fax: 403-262-2408
Email: President@thecdlc.ca

Connecting the Constitutional Dots of #IdleNoMore for the White (like me) Layperson

Connecting the Constitutional Dots of #IdleNoMore for the White (like me) Layperson.

Another great backgrounder on #idlenomore

Harper Government Deals Another Blow to Vulnerable Migrant Workers

This release was issued by UFCW Canada. The original file can be viewed here.

TORONTO, ONTARIO–(Marketwire – Dec. 10, 2012) –

Some of the most vulnerable workers in Canada have been once again viciously attacked by the Harper government which summarily announced that seasonal migrant workers will no longer have key coverage under Employment Insurance (EI), in spite of the fact that migrant agriculture workers alone pay approximately $25 million annually into the EI fund.

Diane Finely, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development buried the announcement of the change in regulations in a somewhat clandestine press release; stripping away parental leave – a core EI benefit for seasonal migrant workers that other workers receive.

“This is the Great Tory Ripoff of migrant workers. It is blatant discrimination and an abuse of some of the most vulnerable workers in Canada,” says Wayne Hanley, the National President of UFCW Canada. “The Tory Regime in Ottawa has again taken advantage of migrant workers simply because they think they can. With no notice of these changes to migrant workers and no right to appeal, this is an act of preying on the vulnerable and erasing their right to benefits that they continue to pay for through a ransom of millions in EI premiums.”

With the new change in EI regulations, migrant workers will continue to be forced to pay into program at the same rate as Canadian workers and permanent residents, but will now been almost completely barred from receiving benefits from the same program.

“The federal government is taking advantage of temporary foreign workers simply because it can,” says Hanley, the leader of Canada’s largest-private sector union. “Migrant workers have paid hundreds of millions of dollars, like working Canadians, into the EI fund for decades and are now being excluded from receiving core EI parental benefits. It’s like being forced to buy mandatory auto insurance, but you are excluded from coverage.”

“It is grossly unfair, not in keeping with Canadian values, and the latest chapter to the Harper government’s shameful hammering of temporary foreign workers – the same government that allows companies to pay temporary foreign workers 15% less than Canadians, and continues to turn a blind eye to the unsafe working and housing conditions that many of these workers are dropped into,” says the UFCW Canada leader.

UFCW Canada is Canada’s largest private-sector union with more than 250,000 members across Canada. For more than two decades has led the campaign for enhanced labour, workplace and safety rights for migrant workers. In association with the Agriculture Workers Alliance (AWA), UFCW Canada also operates ten AWA centres across the country to serve domestic and seasonal agriculture workers.

This story brings the income gap into stark relief. An excellent piece.

Walmart Global Day of Action – Rallies in Calgary and Edmonton to happen on December 14th

 

Walmart Global Day of Action – Friday, December 14^th 12pm – 2pm

Calgary and Edmonton

On Black Friday, Walmart workers made history by staging over 1000 protests across the United States. These protests brought the plight of retail workers front and centre in the media and the public mind. While this was a huge step forward for worker’s rights, there is still more work to be done.

To keep up the fight for fair wages, the organizers behind the Walmart strikes have called a Global Day of Action against the world’s largest retailer. Taking place on December 14^th, 2012, this worldwide campaign will target every part of the chain, from factories in China that manufacture the goods to the stores that sell them.  UFCW Local 401, along with a number of other unions and activist groups will join the protests at various locations across the province.

Walmart workers are fighting for fair wages, improved benefits, and protections in the workplace against bullying and intimidation. Though the retail giant has a long history of opposing the organizing efforts of its workers, the wave of protests across the United States on Black Friday proved that together they can make their voices heard.  Local 401 stands with these brave workers and urges everyone to do the same.

Calgary

Location #1                                                                         Location #2

36 Street NE (Near Marlborough LRT)                       7979 – 11 St. SE (Deerfoot Trail & Heritage Meadows)

Edmonton

Location #1                                                                         Location #2

137 Ave & 40 St.                                                                 1203 Parsons Road NW

 

Red Deer

6375 – 50th Avenue, 50 Ave & 63 St N (Parkland Mall)

Brooks

917 3rd Street West, Upland Blvd & 3rd St W

 

Update on timetable of Bill C-377 (via the federal NDP)

We have just learned that the Conservatives have traded up to get one hour of debate on C-377 at third reading for this Friday 13:30.

What does this mean?

Procedurally, a private members’ bill must have 2 hours of separate debate at third reading with a minimum of 48 hours between the two debates.

The Conservatives can thus bring bill C-377 for a second hour of debate as early as this Tuesday (This is not done yet. They have until Friday to do so). If this is the case, they will ask for a vote before the end of the session.

Point of order by Alexandre Boulerice

Alexandre made ​​a point of order asking the Speaker to rule on the admissibility of the bill. Indeed, according to the rules of the House, a private member’s bill can not have cost. We know that this bill will cost between $ 10.6 million and $ 150 million. The Speaker should provide a decision tomorrow.

Finally, I would be remiss if I did not thank you for widely circulating our petition on C-377. For those who have not signed yet, here is the link: http://chn.ge/TKdISI

In solidarity,

Eric Demers
Parliamentary Assistant to Alexandre Boulerice
NDP MP for Rosemont – La Petite-Patrie
Critical labor

Sign the petition to stop anti-labour legislation

Sign the petition to stop anti-labour legislation

The petition to stop Bill C-377. Sign it, share it, do what you you can to stop this absurd bill.