“Strikes are only one measure of unrest.” Todd Vachon, an assistant professor and director of labor education at Rutgers University. Did you catch it, that shift in the balance of power? Last Wednesday Finance Minister Travis Toews issued a statement announcing the government and the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees
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Susan on the Soapbox: Prentice Takes a Pay Cut and You Should Too. Um, What???
“The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread.” – Anatole France “Burden-sharing” When Mr Prentice announced the 5% cut in MLA pay he sanctimoniously declared: “The term I’ve used is ‘burden-sharing’…no
Continue readingAlberta Diary: The government blinked: Defiant Alberta jail guards have every right to declare victory
The picket line during the five-day strike by Alberta Correctional Peace Officers, which ended last night. Below: Another scene from the strike; Deputy Premier Thomas Lukaszuk; AUPE President Guy Smith. Even without last night’s deal with the Alberta government, Alberta’s defiant jail guards would have been entitled to declare a
Continue readingAlberta Diary: This just in: Deal reached, victory and vindication for striking Alberta jail guards
Supporters and striking Alberta jail guards on the picket line yesterday. Illegally striking Alberta Union of Provincial Employees jail guards have reached an agreement with the government of Premier Alison Redford in “discussions” that Deputy Minister Thomas Lukaszuk said would never happen. AUPE announced five minutes ago that it had
Continue readingAlberta Diary: Budget crisis? Civil service raises? Go pop a Valium, Smith!
Hey Marge! Danielle Smith says there’s a budget crisis and this is no time to be giving raises to civil servants! Marge? Typical Albertans may not be exactly as illustrated this summer. Below: Danielle Smith. It’s hard to imagine all that many Albertans getting their knickers in a twist at
Continue readingMolly'sBlog: Molly’sBlog 2012-02-17 01:16:00
CANADIAN LABOUR EDMONTON: HOSPITAL WORKERS WILDCAT IN EDMONTON: Sometimes some people such as bosses need a little wake-up call before they move at all. Such seemed to be the case recently in Edmonton hospitals where contract negotiations have been stalled for almost a year. Here’s a little item from the
Continue readingDavid Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: What – and who – is behind last week’s University of Calgary public sector pay fairy tale?
Ken Boessenkool and Ben Eisen consider their latest fairy tale. Alberta public policy commentators may not appear exactly as illustrated. Below: Tom Flanagan directs the Wildrose Party’s campaign while the Alberta media looks on. A similar caveat applies to this image. Below that: Mr. Eisen and Mr. Boessenkool as they
Continue readingDavid Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: Redford Tories have good news and bad news for government union’s president
AUPE President Guy Smith with some of the approximately 1,000 demonstrators who gathered at the Alberta Legislature yesterday afternoon to protest against privatization talk by Premier Alison Redford. Below: Former AUPE President Dan MacLennan talking …
Continue readingDavid Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: Creepy Wildrose attack ads set the tone as Alison Redford prepares to be sworn in as Alberta premier
Wildrose Integrity? The Wildrose Party’s creepy video attack on premier-designate Alison Redford.Honeymoon? What honeymoon?Alison Redford was elected leader of Alberta’s governing Progressive Conservative Party in a vote announced in the wee hours …
Continue readingDavid Climenhaga's Alberta Diary: Labour Day warning: If you want your union and your rights in the workplace, you’d better be prepared to fight to keep them
Ideal workers, as seen by the Canadian corporate right. Below: Juan Peron, Catherine Swift.
This Labour Day in Canada, unions and the fundamental right of working people to be represented by them face an existential threat. Elected union leaders seem …
Continue readingWildrose Alliance Continues Their Attack on Working People
The Wildrose Alliance continued their attack on working people in Alberta today following the announcement that the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE) had reached a tentative deal with the provincial government for a new contract. The new contract will provide government workers a 4% raise in 2012, a lump
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