Canadian unions stand on a precipice

James Clancy, President of Canadian public services union federation NUPGE, reflects on the stark challenges facing trade unions in Canada: 'we stand now on a precipice. What happens over the next two years will likely seal labour's fate for decades to come. We will emerge either stronger than ever or broken almost beyond repair. It is an exciting but also terrifying moment. If there's ever been a time for us to speak up loudly about why unions matter - and to actively support politicians who do the same - it is now. If we don't, we will doom our children, grandchildren and perhaps even our great grandchildren to more poverty, discrimination, and authoritarianism'
http://nupge.ca/content/11392/presidents-commentary-we-stand-precipice-we-must-speak-and-loudly-about-why-unions
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=theM-xmR_yI

Unions are only barrier to the overwhelming supremacy of capitalism

The attack on union rights is currently the number one priority for public sector unions in every part of the world. That was the message from Rosa Pavanelli, General Secretary of Public Services International (PSI) to this week’s convention of CUPE, the Canadian public services union. Pavanelli told delegates that the recent financial crisis created by bankers and speculators led to attacks on public services and the union movement. “I firmly believe that we are confronted with a deliberate attack that has been planned to get rid of the only barrier still opposing the overwhelming supremacy of capitalism. We are not only the witnesses of such an attack; we all are the target of this attack.” Watch the speech on line at: http://cupe50.ca/the-fight-for-union-rights-is-in-front-of-us-pavanelli/

Tories the same the world over - Canada’s public sector unions under the cosh

A pay dispute between Canada’s Professional Association of Foreign Service Officers (PAFSO) and the Conservative led Canadian Federal Government is an important yardstick of what’s at stake in the period ahead of the country’s next general election in 2015. The 1350 workers at Canadian embassies around the globe have been attacked for their 'diplomatic perks and benefits' and the Government is refusing to enter into binding arbitration.

Working for the rebirth of Canada's labour movement

The pattern of union membership in Canada is a mirror image of the UK’s. Since the 1970’s a sharp fall in private sector membership has been offset by growth in unionisation of public sector workers, which in turn is being undermined by outsourcing and privatisation. An interesting feature article in the Globe and Mail examines efforts to revive Canada’s trade union movement which, according to an internal union report, ‘faces an enormous and historic moment of truth. If unions do not change, and quickly, we will steadily follow U.S. unions into continuing decline’
http://m.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rob-magazine/do-unions-have-a-future/article10310754/?service=mobile

Final Offer - the art of collective bargaining

An award winning 'fly on the wall' film made in 1985, Final Offer takes an inside look into the 1984 contract negotiations between the Canadian branch of the UAW and General Motors. It is a unique insight into corporate power, the dynamics of negotiations, solidarity and union governance. It captures the tense events which led to the birth of the Canadian Auto Workers Union - by parting company with the US based international union:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjJp63qwm8A

Go UNISON!‏

Great #N30 solidarity video from UNISON’s Canadian sister union NUPGE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqnHu5Giqd4&feature=player_embedded

For more on NUPGE’s public service campaign go to: http://alltogethernow.nupge.ca/

UNISON President tells Canadian health care workers: Beware of privatisation!

Eleanor Smith, UNISON President addressed the health care sector conference of CUPE, Canada's largest public service union, yesterday in Vancouver.

NUPGE makes a stand over membership raiding‏

UNISON sister union NUPGE is in conflict with the Canadian Labor Congress (CLC) over the latter's failure to deal effectively with the practice of raiding (poaching) of one union's members by another.

Solidarity in cuts fight from Canadian public service union CUPE‏

CUPE National President Paul Moist and National Secretary-Treasurer Claude Généreux sent a letter of support to UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentice and UNISON President Angela Lynes expressing their solidarity and concern over last week’s CSR announcement that 450,000 UK public sector jobs are earmarked for the chop: http://cupe.ca/communications/support-half-million-public-workers

Suggestions from Canada‏ - a response‏

The review of the Gindin and Hurley article was an excellent analysis. The characterisation of Canadian unionism fits very much with my impressions from a working visit to Ontario, meeting with Canadian visitors to UNISON and reading news from CUPE and NUPGE.

Public Sector - Searching for a Focus?' Suggestions from Canada‏

Only recently Canadian public sector cuts were being presented to the British people as an example of how far and how swift the Coalition Government might have to be in shutting down services, hospital and schools. Interesting then to read about strategies being discussed in the Canadian movement about fighting these cuts.

Canada and Cameron

Headlines yesterday concentrated on the Cameron speech that warned of years of austerity ahead to ensure that we cut the deficit, the “worst in British History”. But less well publicised were the proposals for a Canadian-style “star chamber” type exercise.

Shell resolution Canadian Tar sands - UNISON staff pension fund demonstrates environmental responsibility‏

UNISON staff pension fund has signed up to a shareholder campaign to get Shell and BP to explain their continued exploration of Canada’s ‘oil sands’. This is the first major campaign the fund has taken up.

Canada’s public service unions – alive and kicking‏

It is not uncommon for The Economist magazine to overstate its case. But even by its usual standards of hubris, in this week’s edition a critique of the Canadian trade unions, ‘all struck out’, is very wide of the mark. http://www.economist.com/world/americas/displaystory.cfm?story_id=14660479&fsrc=rss

ITUC says - G20: Progress in Pittsburgh, but Still Far to Go

The ITUC has described the results of the Pittsburgh G20 Summit as representing progress on the outcome of the April Summit in London, but has warned against complacency and highlighted crucial areas where little or no progress has been made.