Rank & File Radio - Prairie Edition

Dan Darrah joins the show to talk about the 2020 Newfoundland grocery strike and how grocery jobs went from good to bad in the 1980s and 1990s. Check out the two-part series Grocery's Long War: https://canadiandimension.com/series/grocerys-long-war Interview with historian Scott Price about 1987 Westfair strike https://www.rankandfile.ca/fighting-for-survival-manitobas-1987-westfair-strike/

A wide-ranging conversation with Emily Leedham touching on the Stella's Café strike in Winnipeg, the Saskatchewan election and corporate money, and the tactics of union-busting. Guest host: Doug Nesbitt, editor of Rankandfile.ca.

Labour lawyer Joshua Mandryk provides a short overview of Jason Kenney's Bill 32: The Restoring Balance in Alberta's Workplaces Act Follow Joshua at Twitter.com/JMandryk Union picketing and political campaigning curbed under proposed Alberta bill | CBC News https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-bill-32-workplace-unions-1.5640952 Alberta labour needs the UCP's union busting bill | The Progress Report https://www.theprogressreport.ca/alberta_labour_needs_the_ucp_s_union_busting_bill

To learn more visit https://www.cncmanitoba.ca/

Bashir Mohamed and Dr. Bob Barnetson discuss the COVID-19 outbreaks in Alberta's Cargill and JBS meatpacking plants. Government representatives and health officials, including Chief Medical Officer Dr. Deena Hinshaw told Cargill workers their plant was safe, citing an OH&S inspection. Two days later, a worker died and the plant shut down April 20. Meanwhile some JBS workers have taken job action, reducing the plant's operating capacity. JBS remains open. Meatpacking Plant Outbreaks are a Disaster and Dr. Hinshaw Shares Responsibility https://www.theprogressreport.ca/opinion_meatpacking_plant_outbreaks_are_a_disaster_and_dr_hinshaw_shares_responsibility Cargill, Covid and the Failure of Alberta OH&S Policy https://www.parklandinstitute.ca/cargill_covid_and_the_failure_of_alberta_ohs_policy Full Cargill Townhall Transcript https://www.rankandfile.ca/cargill-workers-town-hall/ Timeline: What we know about the Cargill outbreak https://www.theprogressreport.ca/timeline_what_we_know_about_the_cargill_outbreak

UFCW 401 President Thomas Hesse discusses the COVID-19 outbreak in the Cargill meatpacking plant, as well as steps needed to protect food workers in grocery stores. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/cargill-meat-plant-union-covid-19-1.5530836 Also, the Migrants Right Network hosts a press conference with demands from undocumented workers to access healthcare and federal income supports. MigrantRights.ca https://www.rankandfile.ca/undocumented-cerb-status/ Support RankandFile.ca - Help us raise 15K! https://www.gofundme.com/f/rankandfileca-fundraiser

Deb Hopkins discusses an open letter calling for the release of Saskatchewan inmates to limit the spread of COVID-19. Open Letter to Saskatchewan Minister of Corrections and Policing Christine Tell https://www.facebook.com/glen.luther.3/posts/10156955075456053 Sean Tucker, OH&S researcher at the University of Regina, discusses whether the Co-op Refinery's scab camp's health and safety response to limit COVID-19 spread is effective. RankandFile.ca Unifor 594 lockout video https://www.facebook.com/rankandfile.ca/posts/3125681507476406 SHA Report on the Co-op Refinery Scab Camp https://www.facebook.com/AndrewStevensWard3/posts/2928799830566646

Debbie Boissonneault, President of CUPE 204, discusses the state of Manitoba's health care system & response to COVID-19. https://www.cupe204.ca/who_are_manitoba_s_health_care_heroes Jennifer Whiteside, secretary-treasurer of British Columbia's Hospital Employees Union, discusses the BC gov'ts positive move to mend the fractured long-term care system. https://thetyee.ca/News/2020/04/01/Long-Term-Care-Worker-Pay-Boosted/ Rory Gill, President of CUPE Alberta, discusses Jason Kenney's massive layoff of twenty-five thousand educational assistant and support staff. https://jobkillerkenney.ca/kenneys-cuts/

Compassion: A Global History of Social Policy by Alvin Finkel https://www.macmillanihe.com/page/detail/compassion-alvin-finkel/?sf1=barcode&st1=9781352003093 Tenants Rights Provincial Factsheets *please note these may not be updated with gov't responses to COVID-19 but can develop a baseline knowledge for how the system functions* http://tenantrights.ca/facts West Broadway Community Organization http://www.westbroadway.mb.ca/wbco-programs/housing-2 West Broadway Tenants Committee https://www.facebook.com/wbtenants/ Renters Action Movement - Calgary https://www.facebook.com/RAMCalgary/

What do the prairie budgets say about the values of our provincial leaders? In a time of such uncertainty, how can we formulate a vision of a society that values people over profits? Joel French, Simon Enoch, and Lynne Fernandez discuss the Prairie budgets and what they mean for the future of workers. AUPE asks for immediate expansion of public healthcare https://www.aupe.org/news/news-and-updates/media-release-aupe-asks-immediate-expansion-public-health-care Public Interest Alberta https://www.pialberta.org/ CCPA - Saskatchewan https://www.policyalternatives.ca/offices/saskatchewan CCPA - Manitoba https://www.policyalternatives.ca/offices/manitoba

Decent Work & Health Network https://www.decentworkandhealth.org/ Budget 4 All Winnipeg https://budgetforall.org/ The Shock Doctrine Documentary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbF9M3_IF8c

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney tabled Bill 1: The Critical Infrastructure Defense Act on February 25, 2020. The bill would crack down on Indigenous land defenders supporting Wet'suwet'en sovereignty, but also have implications for labour and other social movements - especially in light of Kenney's recent austerity budget. Read more about Alberta's 2020 budget here: https://www.aupe.org/news/news-and-updates/alberta-budget-attacks-our-jobs-and-public-services

John K Samson performs a live sing-a-long of Millennium for All at Winnipeg's Millennium Library, protesting one year of invasive library security screening. Recorded February 25, 2020. Learn more here: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/millennium-library-security-anniversary-1.5467241

Rally Against Library Security Tuesday, Feb 25, 4:30 PM at the Millennium Library Lobby Twitter.com/Millennium4All Listen to John K Samson's song Millennium for All https://exclaim.ca/music/article/john_k_samson_fights_for_your_right_to_libraries_on_new_song_millennium_for_all Free Transit Edmonton FreeTransitYEG.ca Co-op Copter Scabs coopcopterscabs.app spek.work

Ivan Drury from Red Braid Alliance for Decolonial Socialism Twitter.com/StopDisplacement RedBraid.org Wet'suwet'en Supporter Toolkit https://www.ienearth.org/wetsuweten-supporter-toolkit-2020/ Sean Carleton https://twitter.com/SeanCarleton Putting the RCMP raid on the Wet’suwet’en in historical perspective https://www.thestar.com/opinion/contributors/2020/02/11/putting-the-rcmp-raid-on-the-wetsuweten-in-historical-perspective.html Inside a protest movement: How climate activists are taking Wet’suwet’en fight from B.C. to Yonge Street https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2020/02/11/wetsuweten-shutcanadadown-supporters-vow-to-block-bc-throne-speech.html

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Today on the show, an on the ground report from the Unifor 594 lockout at the Co-op Refinery in Regina, Saskatchewan Previous coverage: Dance Parties, Personal Growth, and Police: Three Days with Locked Out Regina Oil Workers https://www.rankandfile.ca/dance-parties-personal-growth-and-police-three-days-with-locked-out-regina-oil-workers/ Labour unites around Unifor 594 after arrests at refinery lockout https://www.rankandfile.ca/labour-unites-around-unifor-594/ https://www.rankandfile.ca/unifor-594-lockout-at-co-op-refinery-enters-second-month/ https://www.rankandfile.ca/local-594-history/ https://www.rankandfile.ca/regina-refinery-lockout-is-no-tea-party/ https://www.rankandfile.ca/the-regina-co-op-refinery-lockout-lowdown/

Simon Black, professor at Brock University, discusses labour's role in the anti-war movement and opposing Canada's arms trade with Saudi Arabia, and a just transition for arms manufacturing workers. Read about the Lucas Plan https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/oct/14/lucas-aerospace-1970s-plan-documentary-eco-pioneers?CMP=share_btn_tw Sign the petition https://www.change.org/p/hassan-yussuff-open-letter-to-clc-president-hassan-yussuff-on-labour-opposition-to-canada-saudi-arms-deal-63275f35-e753-40c7-977d-e0f22a759e61?recruiter=973939154&recruited_by_id=9f85e210-92dd-11e9-8819-b75298ea9494 If you would like a draft resolution to oppose the arms deal to bring to your labour council, please email labouragainstarmstrade@gmail.com. Twitter.com/LAATCanada Audio from Winnipeg's anti-war rally provided by Paul S. Graham. Unifor 594 escalates action against Co-op during lockout. https://www.boycottco-op.ca/ Winnipeg Tim Hortons ends lockout of workers fighting for 10 cents. https://www.rankandfile.ca/winnipeg-tim-hortons-workers-locked-out-over-10-cent-pay-dispute/ Round Dance to Support Wet'suwet'en https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/portage-and-main-round-dance-wet-suwet-en-clayton-swan-1.5422837

Today on the show, an update on Unifor 594 lockout at the Co-op Refinery in Regina, which is entering its second month. The workers were on the picket line throughout Christmas and New Year’s. First, we’ll talk to Sean Tucker, an occupational health & safety researcher at the University of Regina who will discuss safety concerns leading up to an injunction granted to the Co-op which limits Unifor 594’s picketing activity. Then, we’ll hear from Charles Smith, co-author of Unions in Court: Organized Labour and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, who will provide some historical context for this injunction. Then we’ll hear from Andrew Stevens, a business professor at the University of Regina who has has written several pieces on the lockout for RankandFile.ca exploring Unifor’s struggle in the context of the Co-op’s history and 594’s organizing throughout the decades. https://www.rankandfile.ca/local-594-history/ https://www.rankandfile.ca/regina-refinery-lockout-is-no-tea-party/

Folks from the RankandFile.ca crew review two holiday classics - Love Actually & Scrooged. Editor's note: Unifor 594 is locked out, not on strike. #SupportUnifor594 and Boycott Co-op http://www.unifor594.com/ Check out our 2019 Scumbags of the Year https://www.rankandfile.ca/2019-scumbags-of-the-year/

Unifor launches a Canada-wide boycott of Co-op products & services. Local 594 President Kevin Bittman & Regina & District Labour Council member Darren Milo provide picket line reports from the lockout. Sean Tucker, an Occupational Health & Safety Researcher at the University of Regina discusses public safety concerns with scab workers running the refinery. Local 594 & the Lost History of Oil Worker Unionism https://www.rankandfile.ca/local-594-history/

Nora Loreto discusses the state of the feminist movement in Canada 30 years after the mass shooting that killed 14 women at École Polytechnique. Il y en 30 https://www.nationalobserver.com/2019/12/05/opinion/il-y-en-30 SandyandNora.com #SupportUnifor594 http://www.unifor594.com/ AUPE Fight Back aupe.org/FightBack

The National Farmers Union celebrated its 50th annioversary in Winnipeg, Manitoba at their annual convention from November 24-27, 2019. Stuart Oke, the Youth President of the National Farmers Union, and Avi Lewis, Co-Founder and Strategic Director of the Leap, discuss climate change and what a Green New Deal could mean for the future of farming. www.nfu.ca www.theleap.org

Chicago Teachers Union https://www.ctulocal1.org/ Twitter.com/CTULocal1 Twitter.com/KenzoShibata How to Jumpstart Your Union https://www.labornotes.org/store/jump-start-your-union Secrets of a Successful Organizer https://www.labornotes.org/secrets No Shortcuts: Organizing for Power in the New Guilded Age https://janemcalevey.com/no-shortcuts/ Class Action: An Activist Teachers Handbook https://www.jacobinmag.com/2014/02/class-action-an-activist-teachers-handbook/ Support Our Students Alberta https://www.supportourstudents.ca/ Support the Teamsters on Strike! TeamstersRail.ca Doug Ford's Student Choice Initiative struck down https://thevarsity.ca/2019/11/21/divisional-court-strikes-down-ford-governments-student-choice-initiative/ Police Board Presentations from Winnipeg Police Cause Harm https://twitter.com/WpgPoliceHarm/status/1198354269239427073

Read the Community Services Budget https://winnipeg.ca/interhom/Budget/2020Budget/pdfs/2020-Multi-year-Budget-Presentation_Community-Services_20191116.pdf Stop the Cuts to Winnipeg Transit - Community Forum https://www.facebook.com/events/567333177358988/ Sign Up to Speak Nov 27 & 28 https://winnipeg.ca/clerks/council/delegation.stm Winnipeg Police Cause Harm https://www.facebook.com/pg/winnipegpolicecauseharm/ Transit Users Solidarity Coalition Winnipeg Twitter.com/TUSCWinnipeg Bolivia Solidarity Draft Resolution http://rankandfile.ca/no-to-the-coup-in-bolivia-draft-resolution/ Climate Justice Edmonton climatejusticeedmonton.com Bar None Winnipeg https://barnonewpg.org/

We’ll talk to Allen from Yellow Vests Canada Exposed, a group which documents and exposes the white nationalist and neo-nazi elements in Canada’s Yellow Vest movement. We’ll talk about how this movement conflates the interests of massive oil corporations with the interests of the working class - and how the media has often conflated the two as well. Twitter.com/VestsCanada Patreon.com/YVCE Then we’ll talk to Tannara Yelland, a student and freelance journalist who moved from Saskatchewan to Toronto and landed a job at Vice Canada in 2015, and subsequently kicked off the successful union drive at Vice Canada. We’ll talk about some of the barriers journalists face in participating in any sort of open quote political activity, including anti-fascist organizing, and why more journalists need to see themselves as part of the working class. Twitter.com/Tyelland SLAPP Suits: Chilling Public Protest https://briarpatchmagazine.com/articles/view/chilling-public-protest-rooster-town-slapp

Alberta's Bill 20 & 21 & Wage Freeze https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-government-plans-sweeping-changes-through-2-omnibus-bills-1.5338632 https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/ucp-alberta-wage-rollbacks-1.5340132 -Sign the ATU Canada Pledge for a National Public Intercity Transit Service- https://www.atucanada.ca/pledge-support-national-public-intercity-transit-0 (seriously, sign it! thank you!) - Chicago Teachers Strike - https://www.vox.com/identities/2019/11/1/20943464/chicago-teachers-strike-deal - Unifor Crown Strike - https://www.cjme.com/2019/10/31/573974/ -After the GM Strike - now what?- https://www.dissentmagazine.org/blog/belabored-podcast-187-after-the-gm-strike-now-what Organizing for Power - Jane McAlevey webinar http://www.rosalux-nyc.org/organizing-for-power-with-jane-mcalevey/ CUPW Local 730 http://www.cupwedm.net/

Alison McIntosh, research manager at the Parkland Institute breaks down Alberta's new austerity budget. A short excerpt from the Chicago Teachers Union podcast CTU Speaks with CTU Chief of Staff Jennifer Johnson explaining the core issues 25,000 Chicago teachers are out on strike for. https://www.ctulocal1.org/ctu-speaks/ Lori Bossaer from SGEU explains why the Saskatchewan Employment Act handcuffs workers right to strike. https://www.sgeu.org/latest-news/news-releases/sgeu-calls-on-sask-party-government-to-amend-employment-act-and-provide-long-term-funding-for-community-based-organizations Barb Silva provides context for the protests in Chile and shares how Canadians can help support the Chilean people. https://www.change.org/p/justin-trudeau-canadian-government-to-denounce-chilean-president-piñeras-human-rights-violations

Kevin Bittman from Unifor 594 in Regina, Saskatchewan discusses impending lockout for Co-op refinery workers. http://www.unifor594.com/ Mike Espenell, from IBEW 2034 discusses how Brian Pallister’s cuts to Manitoba Hydro have impacted Hydro’s ability to respond to last week’s snow storm, which knocked out power for nearly 50,000 Manitobans. https://www.ibew2034.com/ Jeff Traeger, President of UFCW Local 832 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, provides an update on the long saga of workers at Winnipeg’s popular restaurant chain Stella’s fighting to improve toxic workplace conditions. http://ufcw832.com/node/8346 Joel French, Executive Director of Public Interest Alberta, discusses Jason Kenney’s minimum wage freeze, effective October 1. https://www.pialberta.org/ Also: Edmonton' Climate Strike organizer Emma Jackson sends message to oil & gas workers, Unifor Crown Corporations reach a tentative agreement with the Province of Saskatchewan after 5,000 went on a 17 day strike, and Canadian Labour Congress Staffers strike over pensions, wages, and changes to anti-harassment policy. Support CLC Workers on Strike http://iamdl78.org/clcstrike/

Recording of Emma Jackson's interview on Charles Adler Tonight on 770 CHQR Global News Radio, October 18, 2019. Emma Jackson is an organizer with Climate Justice Edmonton, a group who organized a Climate Strike with Greta Thunburg as a speaker, bringing out 10-12,000 people, possibly the largest rally in Alberta since the 90s.

Listen to the full audio documentary at Soundcloud.com/ATUCanada Sign the pledge: https://www.atucanada.ca/pledge-support-national-public-intercity-transit-0

Today on the show, Simon Enoch, Executive Director of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives in Saskatchewan. He’ll talk about the 5,000 workers for 6 Crown corporations and one Crown agency, who are all members of Unifor, who just walked off the job on Friday, October 4th. He’ll discuss why this strike is significant, and why Crown corporations matter not only for Saskatchewan, but the rest of the country. Unifor employees at SaskTel, SecureTek, DirectWest, SaskEnergy, SaskPower, SaskWater and the Water Security Agency all walked off the job over wage freezes in the first two years. All of the Crown contracts expired in March. Unifor National president Jerry Dias has become a frequent figure in Saskatchewan, flying in back in January for a Unifor rally to kick off negotiations. Dias has been at the table with the Crowns alongside the local presidents throughout bargaining. On September 30th, Crown workers instated a work-to-rule job action, banning overtime work. On Friday, October 4th, the workers walked off the job. At 4 PM on Friday, Unifor members rallied outside of the Saskatchewan Party convention in Regina.

On Friday, September 27th, an estimated 12,000 people met in front of the Manitoba Legislature in Winnipeg to participate in a global climate strike, organized by Indigenous youth and students. According to some local leftists, this number was likely double the turnout of Winnipeg’s 2003 anti-war protests, making it possibly the largest political mobilization in the city since the 80s. But where was organized labour? After the rousing conference and events marking the 1919 General Strike Centenary earlier this year, is labour leadership more interested in performativity of working class power than actually building it? https://www.mbyouthforclimateaction.org/

Guest: Jamie Kirkpatrick, Program Manager, BlueGreen Canada BlueGreenCanada.ca Blue Green Canada is an alliance between Canadian labour unions, environmental and civil society organizations to advocate for working people and the environment by promoting solutions to environmental issues that have positive employment and economic impacts. Student Climate Strikes Are Structure Tests https://briarpatchmagazine.com/articles/view/student-climate-strikes-are-structure-tests - Help RankandFile.ca get a new website!- www.gofundme.com/f/rankandfile -Support the show on Patreon- www.patreon.com/rfradioprairie -Social Media- Twitter.com/Emily_Leedham_ Twitter.com/RFRadioPrairie Twitter.com/RankandFile.ca

-Library should serve entire community- https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/editorials/library-should-serve-entire-community-560167062.html - Watch the full committee meeting - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nU8oPwK2B_0 -Millennium for All Report- https://osf.io/preprints/lissa/vfu6h Previous Episode on Library Security | Harm reduction activist Garth Mullins & author Owen Toews https://soundcloud.com/rfradio-prairie/library-security-harm-reduction-in-the-workplace-garth-mullins-crackdown-owen-toews-bar-none

--Putting Climate Justice on the Bargaining Table Webinar-- https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_yAeiUN3jTnmkIX6KK0MdPQ?fbclid=IwAR0wZjSGf5GLcxvQL4Y11YgSkaADPC1ilWiDD35R8STZC1WzmNVYKigLttI ---Bill 9--- http://rankandfile.ca/battling-kenneys-bill-9/ AUPE.org/fightback ---Millennium Library Shush-In--- Monday, September 9, 9:30 AM, Winnipeg City Hall https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/serious-incidents-down-65-since-library-security-screening-started-but-so-is-attendance-559293952.html https://twitter.com/akohan/status/1168949405208256513 https://twitter.com/astrobri/status/1169275104980684800 https://twitter.com/learnsolidarity/status/1169991603085295617 --Support the show on Patreon-- Patreon.com/rfradioprairie --Follow on Social Media-- Twitter.com/Emily_Leedham_ Twitter.com/RFRadioPrairie --More Labour News-- www.rankandfile.ca

It's time to Unite Against Racism. Sign the pledge and keep up with the campaign at www.MigrantRights.ca. Follow the campaign at Twitter.com/MigrantRightsCA. -Support the show on Patreon- Patreon.com/RFRadioPrairie -Follow the show on social media- Twitter.com/Emily_Leedham_ Twitter.com/RFRadioPrairie -More Labour News- www.RankandFile.ca

Manitoba Health Care Votes https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/manitoba-health-care-workers-union-vote-1.5256771 Moms Stop the Harm https://www.momsstoptheharm.com/ Lethbridge council votes down motion to cut ARCHES Funding https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/lethbridge-supervised-consumption-site-funding-1.5252803 Safe Consumption Services Review https://www.alberta.ca/supervised-consumption-services-review.aspx - Support the show on Patreon - patreon.com/rfradioprairie - Social Media - Twitter.com/RFRadioPrairie Twitter.com/Emily_Leedham_ -More Labour News - www.rankandfile.ca

First, an update on the state of Rank & File Radio, reflecting on its past and future. Then labour historian Scott Price joins for a discussion on the media's role in grassroots and labour organizing, the need to build and fund new institutions on the left. -Support the show!- Patreon.com/RFRadioPrairie -Follow the show on social media- twitter.com/RFradioprairie twitter.com/emily_leedham_ -More labour news- www.rankandfile.ca

David Camfield, author of Canadian Labour in Crisis, explores Canada's labour law, the Rand Formula, and how this framework impacts labour organizing today. https://fernwoodpublishing.ca/book/canadian-labour-in-crisis

On August 7, 2019, at 10:30 am ATU Local 1505 and Fight for $15 & Fairness Manitoba hosted a solidarity rally demanding the City give Winnipeg Transit workers a fair deal. The union has been without a contract since January. About 400 people showed up to the rally, including transit workers, members from other unions, and community supporters. This was the first time a rally was held at the new streetcar monument, officially unveiled in June 2019 to mark the 100th year anniversary of the Winnipeg General Strike. After the speeches, the crowd marched across the street and chanted in front of City Hall. Speakers in order of appearance: Zach Fleischer, ATU 1505 Communications Aleem Chaudhary, ATU 1505 President John Callahan, ATU International Vice President Emily Leedham, Fight for $15 & Fairness Manitoba John DeNino, ATU Canada President

What is an "essential service" anyway? How does this designation impact a public sector union's ability to strike? This has been a point of contention in Saskatchewan for over a decade under the Saskatchewan Party government. First, we'll hear from CUPE 1975 President Craig Hannah, representing 2,000 workers at the University of Saskatchewan who work in food services, technician services, trades, security, clerical support, the library, grounds keeping and landscaping, caretaking, and many other areas. In late June, CUPE 1975 finally reached a collective agreement after nearly 4 years of bargaining with the University over wages and pensions. The bargaining process was prolonged because, after CUPE attained a strike mandate, the union and the employer did not agree on how many positions were considered "essential services" - or positions that would not be able to go on strike - and thus had to wait for a tribunal ruling. This was the first time the new essential services legislation had been tested out since being implemented in 2015 - after the Supreme Court determined the Sask Party's previous essential services legislation violated workers’ right to strike. After the ruling determined only 41.5 out of over 2,000 CUPE 1975 positions were essential services, the university came back to the table the following day, reaching an agreement. Then we'll hear from Charles Smith, co-author of Unions in Court: Organized Labour and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, who provides some historical context for this legislation and what it means for labour organizing in Saskatchewan going forward.

Drew Brown, EIC of TheIndependent.ca, explores what lessons Green New Deal organizers can learn from Newfoundland's 1992 cod moratorium. Twitter.com/Drewfoundland Twitter.com/TheIndependentNL Cod and the Fishery: Down, but Not Out https://theindependent.ca/2019/07/02/cod-and-the-fishery-down-but-not-out/ CBC Archives: The Cod Moratorium https://www.cbc.ca/archives/entry/cod-fishing-science-subverted ABCs of the Newfoundland Fishery https://youtu.be/9hWG_iZ_ykE -Support the show on Patreon- Patreon.com/RFRadioPrairie - Social Media - Twitter.com/@Emily_Leedham_ Twitter.com/RFRadioPrairie More Labour News & Analysis www.rankandfile.ca

"It's time to either fight or be f*cked." - Jane McAlevey From May 8-11, 2019, Manitoba’s unions hosted the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike Centenary Conference: inviting union members, labour activists and leaders from across Canada to reflect on the history of the general strike, and apply its lessons to the present and future of the labour movement. What would it take to build another general strike? Why would another general strike be necessary? These questions came up over and over again throughout the conference. This episode explores those conversations, combining audio from the roundtables: Poverty and the Fight for Material Existence, Building an Inclusive Labour Movement and Making Labour a Social Force & Political Leader. It also includes audio from Dr. Jane McAlevey’s keynote speech at the Ukranian Labour Temple. The speakers you will hear in this episode, in order of appearance, are: Greg McPherson, musician (Winnipeg, MB) Dr. Jane McAlevey, author of No Shortcuts: Organizing for Power in the New Gilded Age John Clark - Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (Toronto, ON) Sean Smith - Toronto Airport Workers’ Council (Toronto, ON) Victor Elkins - Former President, Hospital Employees Union (Vancouver, BC) Alia Karim - Fight for $15 Movement (Toronto, ON) Chris Ramsaroop - Justice for Migrant Workers (Toronto, ON) Suzanne MacNeil: President, Halifax-Dartmouth and District Labour Council (Halifax, NS) Basia Sokal - President of the Winnipeg Labour Council (Winnipeg, MB) The music included in this episode is by Monplasir, found on Creative Commons, and Greg McPherson performing The Company Store at the Solidarity Forever concert on May 15, 2019, recorded by Paul S. Graham.

From May 8-11, 2019, Winnipeg unions hosted the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike Centenary Conference: inviting union members, labour activists and leaders from across Canada to reflect on the history for the general strike, and apply its lessons to the present and future of the labour movement. This episode compiles audio from the disability and labour rights panel. First, well hear from Dr. Melanie Panitch, Founding Director for the School of Disability Studies at Ryerson University, who chaired the panel. She provides historical context for understanding divisions between injured workers, veterans and people with disabilities. Then John Rae, who has worked on human and disability rights issues for decades within government and labour, explores the struggle to include people with disabilities in the labour movement from the 80s to the present day. Then Elizabeth Kessler, Winnipeg based community organizer and disability justice writer, well address how the labour movement can better understand invisible disabilities, and fight for those who are not able to work full time or at all. Closing out, we will hear from Allen Mankewich, who currently works at Winnipeg’s Independent Living Resource Centre and has been involved in many local campaigns and organizing, discusses how the charity model puts limitations on people with disabilities being able to organize and connect with the labour movement. The presentations in this episode have been edited and and condensed for time, but the full length panel will be available on Soundcloud shortly.

Last month, ATU’s took its first legal job action on May 14, 2019 not enforcing fares for riders. Shortly after, the union overwhelmingly rejected what the city said was its second and “final” offer, putting the union in a legal strike position. On June 3rd, the union implemented a mandatory overtime ban, barring members from taking voluntary overtime shifts. On June 26, ATU 1505 announced it would not enforce fares on June 27, which included transit to the Winnipeg Blue Bomber's home opener. This second fare strike also comes after a period of bargaining through the media, after the City leaked its latest offer to the CBC last month. ATU 1505 president Aleem Chaudhary provides an update. http://rankandfile.ca/winnipeg-transit-drivers-go-on-second-fare-strike-tomorrow/ http://rankandfile.ca/winnipeg-transit-drivers-may-take-job-action-this-weekend/ -- Millennium 4 All-- Sarah Broad's presentation to the City of Winnipeg Protection, Community Services, and Parks Committee https://youtu.be/9PR6QagTAiE -CUPE Local 1975- https://thestarphoenix.com/news/local-news/cupe-1975-university-of-saskatchewan-reach-tentative-deal-on-new-contract - Alberta's Bill 9- https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-s-largest-sector-union-takes-provincial-government-to-court-over-bill-9-1.5187749 --Support the show on Patreon!-- www.patreon.com/rfradioprairie -Follow the show on social media- twitter.com/RFRadioPrairie twitter.com/emily_leedham_ -More labour news- www.rankandfile.ca

From May 8-11, 2019, Winnipeg unions hosted the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike Centenary Conference: inviting union members, labour activists and leaders from across Canada to reflect on the history for the General Strike, and apply its lessons to the present and future of the labour movement. This episode will explore the relationship between Indigenous peoples and the labour movement, compiling audio from two separate panels - Building an Inclusive Labour Movement and Colonialism, Race and the Winnipeg General Strike, as well as audio from the Winnipeg Labour Choir recorded by Paul Graham on May 15, 2019. First we’ll hear from Leslie Spillett, founder of Ka Ni Kanichihk, a non-profit which provides programming and services to support Indigenous communities, discusses the importance of cultural diversity in the labour movement. Then we’ll hear from Jerry Woods, Anishnaabe labour activist, who addresses the differences between overt and passive racism. Then, Adele Perry, author of Aqueduct, Colonialism, Resources and the Histories We Remember, explores the intertwining history of the 1919 General Strike and the construction of the Shoal Lake 40 aqueduct. The aqueduct utilized Indigenous labour while simultaneously displacing Indigenous communities, and erasing them from the history of the working class. And, Owen Toews, author of Stolen City: Racial Capitalism and the Making of Winnipeg, discusses how labour’s relationship with prisons and policing inhibits solidarity building today. Closing out is a final comment from Dr. Karine Duhamel who was the Director of Research for the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

Avi Lewis, co-founder and strategic director of the Leap, shares the untold story of the Leap Manifesto, labour and the 2016 Federal NDP convention in Edmonton, Alberta. We’ll also talk about the pressing need to bridge the labour and climate justice movements, and what we can do to get there. The Leap is a coalition member of the Pact for a Green New Deal, alongside other groups such as the Migrant Workers Alliance for Change, CUPE Ontario, Fight for $15 and Fairness, and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers. The Green New Deal envisions a just transition away from fossil fuels, implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), and a massive expansion of low carbon, green jobs. I talked to Avi Lewis on Saturday, June 22 in Winnipeg, on the last stop of the Leap’s seven city tour across Canada to promote the Pact for a Green New Deal. www.greennewdealcanada.ca www.fridaysforfuture.ca https://www.mbenergyjustice.org/ -Bill 9- https://albertapolitics.ca/2019/06/the-strategy-behind-the-ucps-public-sector-arbitration-deferral-act-explained/ -Saskatoon Co-op AGM- www.co-opmembersforfairness.com https://briarpatchmagazine.com/saskdispatch/view/what-happened-to-the-saskatoon-co-op

Avery Edwards is a community organizer, gender freedom fighter, and a co-founder of PYROS, the Prairie Youth Radical Organizing School, located on Treaty 6 territory in Edmonton. In 2018, PYROS launched Queer Scouts, a cohort style leadership development program that empowers queer and trans youth to challenge injustice in their schools and communities through collective action. I met Avery and some other members of PYROS and Queer Scouts in Winnipeg last month at the 1919 General Strike conference. Attending this conference was part of their youth education programming. Jane McAlevey, labour organizer and author of the book No Shortcuts: Organizing for Power in the New Gilded Age, was the keynote speaker at this conference and spoke about the need to build the strike weapon to combat climate change. As young people across Canada and around the world participate in climate strikes, walking out of school to demand energy and climate justice, there has never been a more crucial time to engage youth in education about labour history and strike tactics that can win. The Prairie Youth Radical Organizing School is creating programming that sets itself apart from many other queer and trans organizations in Alberta, by bringing in this important labour component. For more information, visit: www.prairieyouthradicalorganizingschool.org -Support the show on Patreon- www.patreon.com/rfradio-prairie -Social Media- Twitter.com/RFRadioPrairie Twitter.com/Emily_Leedham_ -More Labour News- www.rankandfile.ca

Guest: James Wilt, freelance journalist and author of an upcoming book on public transit for Between the Lines. Twitter.com/james_m_wilt -Support the show on Patreon- www.patreon.com/rfradioprairie -Social Media- Twitter.com/RFRadioPrairie Twitter.com/Emily_Leedham_ -NDP Green New Deal Platform- https://www.ndp.ca/power-to-change - TTC Riders- https://www.ttcriders.ca/ -ATU 1505- http://rankandfile.ca/winnipeg-transit-drivers-may-take-job-action-this-weekend/ http://rankandfile.ca/winnipeg-transit-fare-strike-first-in-north-america/ https://soundcloud.com/rfradio-prairie/rfradiomarch3 -More Labour News- www.RankandFile.ca