Podcasts about Canadian Labour Congress

CUPE has joined with the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, the Canadian Labour Congress and other labour organizations to demand an end to the use of the notwithstanding clause of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The LabourStart report about union events. And singing: "Every Stitch." "Every Stitch" used with permission. RadioLabour is the international labour movement's radio service. It reports on labour union events around the world with a focus on unions in the developing world. It partners with rabble to provide coverage of news of interest to Canadian workers.  

rWotD Episode 2905: International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Welcome to Random Wiki of the Day, your journey through Wikipedia’s vast and varied content, one random article at a time.The random article for Thursday, 17 April 2025 is International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers.The International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers (AWIU or Insulators) is a trade union in the United States and Canada, founded in 1903. It is affiliated with the AFL–CIO and the Canadian Labour Congress and the North America's Building Trades Unions.The union was formerly known as the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers, but the name was changed to reflect a symbolic new direction away from the hazards of exposure to asbestos.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 00:40 UTC on Thursday, 17 April 2025.For the full current version of the article, see International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm neural Joey.

The Canadian Labour Congress calls for protection of Canadian industry from tariffs, a woman is charged with driving a truck through a Windsor fence, and LaSalle Town Council will be asked to dump phone voting. All the evening headlines on the go.

Vassy is joined by CTV's Rachel Aiello, Judy Trinh, and Abigail Bimman as they provide the latest from the campaign trails with the three major parties. On todays show: Bea Bruske, President, Canadian Labour Congress joins host Vassy Kapelos to discuss how Hudson's Bay Co. will pay up to $3 million total in retention bonuses to 121 managers and executives, but will not pay severance to its more than 9,300 workers. Mike Moffatt, Assistant Professor with the Ivey Business School and senior director of policy and innovation at the Smart Prosperity Institute joins host Vassy Kapelos to answer this weeks 'The Explainer' question on if we have seen any improvement in the supply of housing or the ability of people to buy a home. The Daily Debrief Panel with Laura D’Angelo, Vice President, National Strategy and Public Affairs, Enterprise Canada, Jeff Rutledge, Vice President, McMillian Vantage and Stephanie Levitz, senior reporter in The Globe and Mail's Ottawa bureau. David Patterson, Ontario’s Representative in Washington DC joins Vassy to discuss his meeting with USTR officials Monday in D.C to get a sense of where we stand for April 2nd.

What do working people need to hear during this federal election campaign? A lot, according to Canada's labour leaders... from healthcare to housing to threats from south of the border. We get into the election issues identified by Canada's unions with the president of the NL Federation of Labour and the president of the Canadian Labour Congress. (Krissy Holmes with Jessica McCormick and Bea Bruske)

The Canadian Labour Congress is demanding immediate and decisive action from the federal government to protect workers and defend jobs amid an escalating trade war. The Bank of Canada is cutting interest rates. What does this mean for home prices? The month of March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Canada and the United States walked back from the brink of a full-blown trade war after US President Donald Trump threatened to impose 25% tariffs on products from Canada.While Trump has granted Canada a temporary 30-day "pause" on his threatened trade war, if he makes good on his threats, Canada's economy could be facing an apocalyptic scenario with food and gas prices skyrocketing, hundreds of thousands of job losses and communities across Canada getting hollowed out as key industries shut down.On this episode of Sources, DT Cochrane, Senior Economist with the Canadian Labour Congress, joins PressProgress Editor Luke LeBrun to explain how serious Trump's tariff threats would be on Canadian workers and why Canadian labour unions are calling on Canada to stand its ground and "hit back hard."Support the show

Members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers are on strike not only for themselves but to protect the jobs of many more workers. An interview with the president of the Canadian Labour Congress, Bea Bruske. The LabourStart report about union events. And singing: 'She's a Rebel Girl.'  RadioLabour is the international labour movement's radio service. It reports on labour union events around the world with a focus on unions in the developing world. It partners with rabble to provide coverage of news of interest to Canadian workers.      

Guest host David Common speaks with Canadian Labour Congress president Bea Bruske about the state of the labour movement today, writer katherena vermette explores how "pretendians" uniquely damage Indigenous communities, journalist and podcaster Jon Ronson talks about how COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns helped fuel culture wars, and cognitive scientist Maya Shankar offers advice on how we can all weather change better.Discover more at https://www.cbc.ca/sunday

Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress joins guest host Tamara Cherry to discuss how labour is influencing this election and the Democrats and Republicans relationship with Unions.  On todays show: Vassy Kapelos, CTV News Chief Political Correspondent joins guest host Tamara Cherry live from the Democratic National Convention to recap what we saw last night, and what to expect for today. Tamara took your calls and texts on how you see the democratic party being able to maintain it's momentum The Daily Debrief Panel with Shakir Chambers, Saeed Selvam and Erin Morrison.  Dawn Desjardins, Chief Economist, Deloitte Canada  joins gust host Tamara Cherry to discuss today's CPI report.  Carmi Levy, CTV tech expert joins guest host Tamara Cherry to discuss the biggest tech stories of the week. 

Greg Marchildon talks to Dennis Gruending about his book, A Communist for the RCMP: The Uncovered Story of a Social Movement Informant. In 1941, the RCMP recruited Frank Hadesbeck, a Spanish Civil War veteran, as a paid informant to infiltrate the Communist Party. For decades, he informed not only upon communists, but also upon hundreds of other people who held progressive views. Hadesbeck's “Watch Out” lists on behalf of the Security Service included labour activists, medical doctors, lawyers, university professors and students, journalists, Indigenous and progressive farm leaders, members of the clergy, and anyone involved in the peace and human rights movements. A Communist for the RCMP provides an inside account of Hadesbeck's career and illustrates how the RCMP uses surveillance of activists to enforce the status quo. Dennis Gruending has written and edited eight books, including biographies of former Saskatchewan premier Allan Blakeney and of Emmett Hall, whose Royal Commission recommended Medicare for Canada. Gruending has worked as a print and television journalist and as a CBC Radio host. He served as a New Democratic Party MP in the 36th parliament and was his party's critic for the environment and for international development. He later wrote speeches for former Saskatchewan Premier Lorne Calvert, and later still spent six years at the Canadian Labour Congress. He and his wife, Martha Wiebe, live in Ottawa. You can find more information at: https://www.dennisgruending.com. Image Credit: Between the Lines If you like our work, please consider supporting it: bit.ly/support_WTY. Your support contributes to the Champlain Society's mission of opening new windows to directly explore and experience Canada's past.

Labour Leaders are meeting at the conference of the International Labour Organization  in Geneva to discuss issues such as social justice, decent work and biological hazards. Canada has joined the ILO's Global Coalition for Social Justice which will hold its inaugural meeting at the conference. Unions in Canada are represented at the ILO by the Canadian Labour Congress. RadioLabour is the international labour movement's radio service. It reports on labour union events around the world with a focus on unions in the developing world. It partners with rabble to provide coverage of news of interest to Canadian workers.

Capital gains – what are they and why is everyone talking about them?This year's federal budget, released on April 16, is rolling out changes to the way capital gains are taxed in order to make wealthy Canadians “pay their fair share.”According to Finance Canada, these changes are targeted at the wealthiest of the wealthy – Canada's top 0.13%, a group of approximately 40,000 Canadians with average incomes of 1.4 million dollars.As one can imagine, the capital gains tax changes are already generating pushback from business lobby groups and right-wing think tanks who want to maintain the status quo and say the changes will damage the economy and disincentivize investment.But it's also undeniable that the current capital gains tax rules disproportionately benefit people like CEOs and corporate executives, people who play the stock market or flip houses, because the way capital gains are taxed represents, if not a lucrative tax loophole, certainly a double-standard in how the tax code works.DT Cochrane, Senior Economist with the Canadian Labour Congress, speaks with PressProgress Editor Luke LeBrun on this episode of sources to explain what capital gains taxes are and what these new changes mean. Support the Show.

Thirty-two years ago the Westray mine in Pictou county, Nova Scotia, exploded killing 26 miners. Ten years later the United Steelworkers, other labour organizations and individuals were able to get a federal Westray Law enacted which can help workers today. A memorial held on Tuesday March 26, 2024, was attended by members of the Westray Families Group, Rev. Glen Matheson, Canadian Labour Congress president Bea Bruske, USW National director Marty Warren, Nova Scotia Federation of Labour president Danny Cavanagh, USW District 6 (Atlantic Canada) director Myles Sullivan, E.B. Anderson who performed his song “26 Ghosts” and many others. RadioLabour is the international labour movement's radio service. It reports on labour union events around the world with a focus on unions in the developing world. It partners with rabble to provide coverage of news of interest to Canadian workers.

The international labour movement has started a global campaign to protect democracy. This RadioLabour report features comments by Luc Triangle, the general secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation which represents the Canadian Labour Congress at the world level. It also includes a presentation about democracy in the US by the president of the AFL-CIO, Liz Shuler. RadioLabour is the international labour movement's radio service. It reports on labour union events around the world with a focus on unions in the developing world. It partners with rabble to provide coverage of news of interest to Canadian workers.

February 20 is the International Day for Social Justice. This year the International Labour Organization used the day to inaugurate a Global Coalition for Social Justice. Canada has joined the coalition as has the International Trade Union Confederation. One of the ITUC's affiliates is the Canadian Labour Congress. RadioLabour is the international labour movement's radio service. It reports on labour union events around the world with a focus on unions in the developing world. It partners with rabble to provide coverage of news of interest to Canadian workers.

The only thing I would add is that The President, Treasurer, and Administrator are not from the same Province. Constitutional Resolution for the NEB and Committee/Working Groups. Be it resolved that CUPE National will be comprised of 28 National Executive Board Members. 3 of whom will handle the day-to-day workings of the labour organization, 13 Provincial/Terrtitory Orientated Regional Vice Presidents who will elect internally 6 General VP's. These positions will be called the President, Secretary Treasurer, National Administrator, with 6 GVP's and 7 RVP's. The remaining 12 positions will be comprised of titled Diversity roles as devised by the National. These positions will be voted on by the entire delegation of CUPE members off the floor and will be selected to represent not only their Diversity counterparts. These Diversity VP's will also be linked by election to a specific Province/Territory. At minimum two representatives from each Province will sit on the NEB. To qualify as a candidate these roles will require the backing of each caucus through article 11.2 of the Constitution. They do not require to have the specific Diversity role they represent but do need to have the full caucus support of their respective equity seeking committee. These candidates will also require the full support of their Provincial Division. They will be expected to sit on their Provincial Division in some capacity. They must qualify as a delegate. As per our commitment to the Canadian Labour Congress, Candidates cannot be over 65 years of age, and need to have a dues paying position waiting for them in their home local. In the case of the Territories, if no Provincial Division exists, their roles will be distributed to Provinces that have fewer representatives. The National Administrator as a new role will be given duties that assist in the day-to-day operations. Watching over the Trial Procedure, advising on bylaw compliance, new member recruitment, and advancing the National could be some of the duties for the position. Voting on these positions will be either a Ranked-choice vote or first past the post by every delegate who chooses to participate in the Convention. Each person who runs for these roles must primarily reside in the province for which they are representing. Diversity VP's will be required to submit for approval if the equity seeking committee has been formed. If approval is granted, the caucus choice will be communicated at Convention. All NEB meetings except for up to four a year will be run online and through virtual methods. Committee meetings will also be limited to two in person meetings. Technology will be provided to the successful candidates elected to the positions. Technology will be returned at the end of their terms in office. Terms of Office will be no more than 5 terms of office, in any combination including previous terms off office on the National Executive Board. This means sitting on the NEB is at maximum a 10-year commitment. All referencing constitutional clauses referring to the previous makeup will be reworked to manage the structure proposed here through a committee that will report back by the next convention or by a special called convention. Including the Full-time Position, the changes and definitions will be identified and labeled. The NEB will be comprised of 28 members as elected as stated previously in this resolution. Because CUPE National is run by a very complex organization of representatives, and staff that are tasked with the betterment of CUPE members. It should never be a position where elected officers are comfortable in their roles representing the National membership. Returning to their past roles if they so choose. If an elected officer can reach 10 years in office, their contribution to CUPE should be able to be felt upon their return to their Local. The position should be able to pass their torch to the next candidate. For the Local should be in the mind of the NEB member, who is seconded to the National. Their contributions should push forward the movement in such a way as the responsibilities, and rewards provided by the position not being a given but a reward for the right to represent those who dues are to be respected. Because the NEB has pushed for an increased presence of Diversity roles but does not take into consideration the parliamentary structure it ascribes. In order to be more Diverse, the structure needs to be realigned. This structure is similar to the previous provincial model. The difference being their roles must be representative of Diversity positions as a primary and Provincial representation being secondary. The cycle of leadership will be forced to change because of the respective timelines. This increase in Diversity positions allow CUPE to lead by example while constraining what used to be Regional VP roles. Because CUPE allows their affiliated Locals to be autonomous if they follow the National Constitution. This should help with aligning the Locals to a National body that ascribes to both a provincial and equitable diversity solutions.  

The International Trade Union Confederation has called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. It reiterates its long-standing call for peace in the world with a new social contract that guarantees respect for workers rights. The ITUC's affiliate in Canada is the Canadian Labour Congress. RadioLabour is the international labour movement's radio service. It reports on labour union events around the world with a focus on unions in the developing world. It partners with rabble to provide coverage of news of interest to Canadian workers.

On this episode of The Construction Record Podcast™, digital media editor Warren Frey speaks with Soloway Wright LLP partner Dan Leduc about prompt payment in Ontario and elsewhere in Canada. Leduc said prompt payment is not working the way it should, largely because of contractors not being proactive in pursuing payment. He attributed some of the reticence to traditional relationships, corporate culture and the role of the pandemic in slowing down payments since little work was getting done at the time in comparison to pre-pandemic activity. He advocated for streamlining the invoicing process and acceleration of certification and reminded contractors attending his talk at the recent Canadian Institute for Steel Construction's annual conference in Toronto that if an owner does not provide notice explaining a delay in payment within the prompt payment parameters, adjudication is an option. We also have headlines from the Daily Commercial News and Journal of Commerce including Angela Gismondi's story about how the long-delayed Eginton Crosstown LRT was expected to provide an opening date on September 27 but Metrolinx CEO Phil Verster instead said he can't commit to a solid timeline until issues with the system are ratified. The project began in 2011 and has experienced significant delays since. DCN staff writer Don Wall's also has an article about a sobering session this week held by the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada to commemorate the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation which is held Sept. 30.The session looked at the role of architecture in oppression of Indigenous Canadians over the centuries. Shannon Moneo has a story about Mining Association of Canada president and CEO Pierre Gratton's recent remarks at the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade earlier in the month reminding attendees that with the world in the midst of an energy transition, huge quantities of minerals and metals will be needed. From the west, Warren has a story about clean energy tax credits and how different parts of the industry are split on the use of wage requirements. Progressive Contractors Association of Canada president Paul de Jong said his organization supports the credits, a wage rate requirement gives him pause, and Canadian Labour Congress president Bea Bruske said labour supports the wage conditions as they will protect workers as Canada's energy economy shifts into a carbon-free future. You can listen to The Construction Record on the Daily Commercial News and Journal of Commerce websites as well as on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music's podcast section. Our previous interview with Ball Construction president Jason Ball about the company's 100th anniversary is here. Thanks for listening. DCN-JOC News Services No firm end date for Eglinton Crosstown LRT as defects and deficiencies persist RAIC reflects on dark days during Truth and Reconciliation sessions Canada needs to build more mines now: MAC president Clean energy tax credits garner support, but a split on wage requirements B.C. releases housing targets for 10 municipalities Prompt payment evolving but still has room to grow: CISC speaker  

On this episode of The Construction Record Podcast, Daily Commercial News staff writer Angela Gismondi speaks with Jason Ball, the president of Ball Construction, to mark the 100th anniversary of the Kitchener, Ont. based firm. Ball reflected on recent 100th anniversary celebrations including speeches from some veterans of the company's earlier days, his own journey as leader of the company, and how the firm has adapted through the decades to different market conditions and construction needs. News editor Lindsey Cole also joined digital media editor Warren Frey to discuss the latest headlines, including the ongoing controversy surrounding the Ontario government's reversal of its Greenbelt plans and the subsequent resignation of labour minister Monte McNaughton, along with comment from industry stakeholders about the minister's construction initiatives. Lindsey also looked into an initiative in Nunavut looking to build and distribute modular homes throughout the North, a talk with a fire official about the role of mass timber in high-rises and an uptick in Kelowna in interest in steel construction after wildfires ravaged the region. You can listen to The Construction Record on the Daily Commercial News and Journal of Commerce websites as well as on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music's podcast section. Our previous interviews  interviews with Progressive Contractors Association of Canada president Paul de Jong and Canadian Labour Congress president Bea Bruske about clean energy tax credits is here. Thanks for listening. DCN-JOC News Services Ontario to introduce new Greenbelt law soon, new housing minister says Crown withdraws charges against construction company in fatal Barrie crash Stakeholders praise McNaughton legacy after surprise departure The Construction Record – Episode 191: Ontario Minister of Labour Monte McNaughton Nunavut modular home factory changing lives in the Far North Words from a fire official: Using mass timber in highrises isn't cut and dry B.C. steel company sees major business spike after Kelowna fires Vain Attempts to Defang Food, Energy, and Rent in U.S. and Canadian Inflation Interest rates will stay high 'as long as necessary,' the European Central Bank's leader says

This weekend is Labour Day, and boy is there labour activity these days. From the Canadian Media Guild workers at TVO to employees at Toronto area Metro grocery stores to municipal workers in Cochrane Ontario, it's been non-stop labour action in 2023. Our podcast this week isn't about any of those strikes, but it is about someone who held deeply the cause of advancing workers rights. Go down to Goldie Mill Park, the unofficial home and rally point for local labour here in Guelph, and you may stumble upon a little red box in the ground. It says “Guelph Soap Co. Crystal Soap Chips” on the side, but this is Alan's Soapbox. Alan Pickersgill was a millwright by vocation, but he was an activist at heart. He cranked out columns for the newspaper and stuck a finger in the eye of the establishment. He even ran for office a couple of times. He passed away in 2021. Alan left a big mark in Guelph, so it's weird that this public memorial is a small red and silver box named after a fake soap company, but that's the point. In ye olden days, one used a soapbox, a sturdy wood box used to transport dry good like soap, to give themselves a stage to speak on. Hyde Park in London still has its "Speakers' Corner" soapbox every Sunday after 150 years, so maybe we can do the same thing here in Guelph now with Alan's Soapbox. That's one idea for Alan's Soapbox, and we're joined this week by two of the people that helped make it happen: Janice Folk-Dawson, executive vice-president of the Ontario Federation of Labour, and Juanita Burnett, local labour activist and sometime Communist candidate. They're going to tell us about how the Soapbox project came together, what made Goldie Mill Park a good location, and obviously, we will talk about the current state of labour in Guelph and beyond. So let's talk about Alan's Box on this week's edition of the Guelph Politicast! Alan's Soapbox can be found at Goldie Mill Park by the river, and the bottom of London Road. There doesn't seem to be any plans to hold the annual Labour Day Picnic in Riverside Park, but if you're looking for a labour-related activity for your Labour Day, your best bet is to check out the events page of the Canadian Labour Congress' website. The host for the Guelph Politicast is Podbean. Find more episodes of the Politicast here, or download them on your favourite podcast app at Apple, Google, TuneIn and Spotify . Also, when you subscribe to the Guelph Politicast channel and you will also get an episode of Open Sources Guelph every Monday, and an episode of End Credits every Friday.

July 19, 2023 - All eyes are on Ottawa as B.C port workers resume their strike action. Is back-to-work legislation in the cards? Power and Politics speaks with Canadian Chamber of Commerce president CEO Perrin Beatty, Canadian Labour Congress president Bea Bruske and former labour minister Lisa Raitt.

We hosted another Working People live show, in collaboration with the Action Builder / Action Network team, on May 8 at the 30th Constitutional Convention of the Canadian Labour Congress in Montréal. In this panel discussion, Maximillian Alvarez speaks with Sarah Beth Ryther, employee-organizer with Trader Joe's United in Minneapolis, and Josh Thole, former Major League Baseball player and current Minor League Special Assistant for the MLB Players Association, about what union organizing from the ground up looks like, and about how we can scale up our local organizing efforts and build the infrastructure to sustain nationwide campaigns.For the episode transcript: https://therealnews.com/canadians-may-be-polite-but-canadas-working-class-fights-back-tooAdditional links/info: https://workingpeople.libsyn.com/live-show-organizing-on-a-mass-scale-w-josh-thole-sarah-beth-ryther Music / Post-Production: Jules TaylorHelp us continue producing radically independent news and in-depth analysis by following us and becoming a monthly sustainer: Donate: https://therealnews.com/donate-podSign up for our newsletter: https://therealnews.com/newsletter-podLike us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/therealnewsFollow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/therealnews

We hosted another Working People live show, in collaboration with the Action Builder / Action Network team, on May 8 at the 30th Constitutional Convention of the Canadian Labour Congress in Montréal. In this panel discussion, Max speaks with Sarah Beth Ryther, employee-organizer with Trader Joe's United in Minneapolis, and Josh Thole, former Major League Baseball player and current Minor League Special Assistant for the MLB Players Association, about what union organizing from the ground up looks like, and about how we can scale up our local organizing efforts and build the infrastructure to sustain nationwide campaigns.  Additional links/info below... Major League Baseball Players Association website, Facebook page, and Twitter page Trader Joe's United website, Twitter page, and Instagram Trader Joe's United Solidarity Fund Action Network website, Facebook page, and Twitter page Action Builder website Jeff Schuhrke & Sarah Beth Ryther, Jacobin, "Trader Joe's Workers Have Won Their First Unions in America" Working People, "Alex P." Evan Drellich, The Athletic, "‘Hit the Go Button': The Six Years that Made Baseball's Minor League Union" Tipping Pitches, "The Gang Forms a Union (feat. Trevor Hildenberger)" Working People, "2023 Canadian Labour Congress, Part 1 (w/ Emily Leedham, Guy Smith, Mary Newman, James Russwurm, & Liz Ha)" Working People, "2023 Canadian Labour Congress, Part 2 (w/ Nora Loreto, Meg Davis, Larry Rousseau, & Nicholas Marcus Thompson)" Permanent links below... Working People Patreon page Leave us a voicemail and we might play it on the show! Labor Radio / Podcast Network website, Facebook page, and Twitter page In These Times website, Facebook page, and Twitter page The Real News Network website, YouTube channel, podcast feeds, Facebook page, and Twitter page Featured Music (all songs sourced from the Free Music Archive: freemusicarchive.org) Jules Taylor, "Working People" Theme Song

From May 8-12, the 30th Constitutional Convention of the Canadian Labour Congress took place in Montréal. Reporting for Working People and The Real News Network, Max attended the convention and spoke with a number of rank-and-file workers, organizers, and union officers about the state of the labor movement in Canada.In Part 2 of our two-part dispatch from the CLC, we talk to: Nora Loreto, writer, editor, organizer, podcaster, co-host of Sandy and Nora Talk Politics with Sandy Hudson, and author of numerous books, including Spin Doctors: How Media and Politicians Misdiagnosed the COVID-19 Pandemic, and Take Back The Fight: Organizing Feminism for the Digital Age; Meg Davis, brand director, illustrator, and former member of the organizing committee at Point Blank Creative ad agency, where workers unionized with UFCW Local 1518; Larry Rousseau, current Executive Vice President of the Canadian Labour Congress; and Nicholas Marcus Thompson, Trinidadian-Canadian social justice advocate, union leader, and Executive Director of the Black Class Action Secretariat.Click here to listen to Part 1: https://therealnews.com/canada-labour-congress-strike-waveStudio Production: Jesse FreestonPost-Production: Jules TaylorFeatured Music (all songs sourced from the Free Music Archive: freemusicarchive.org): Jules Taylor, "Working People" Theme SongClick here for additional links/information.Help us continue producing radically independent news and in-depth analysis by following us and becoming a monthly sustainer: Donate: https://therealnews.com/donate-podSign up for our newsletter: https://therealnews.com/newsletter-podLike us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/therealnewsFollow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/therealnews

From May 8-12, the 30th Constitutional Convention of the Canadian Labour Congress took place in Montréal. Reporting for Working People and The Real News Network, TRNN Editor-in-Chief Maximillian Alvarez attended the convention and spoke with a number of rank-and-file workers, organizers, and union officers about the state of the labor movement in Canada.In Part 1 of our two-part dispatch from the CLC, we talk to: Emily Leedham, the Prairie Reporter for PressProgress and editor of Shift Work, PressProgress‘ weekly national labour newsletter; Guy Smith, president of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees; Mary Newman, a journalist and producer for the Canadian Broadcast Corporation and member of the Canadian Media Guild; James Russwurm, a quality assurance tester for Keywords Studios, where workers formed the first union in the video gaming industry and affiliated with UFCW Local 401; Liz Ha, 1st Vice President of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) Local 154, chair of the OPSEU provincial human rights committee, and vice-chair of the OPSEU Coalition of Racialized Workers.Studio Production: Jesse FreestonPost-Production: Jules TaylorJules Taylor, “Working People” Theme SongClick here for additional links/information.Help us continue producing radically independent news and in-depth analysis by following us and becoming a monthly sustainer: Donate: https://therealnews.com/donate-podSign up for our newsletter: https://therealnews.com/newsletter-podLike us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/therealnewsFollow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/therealnews

From May 8-12, the 30th Constitutional Convention of the Canadian Labour Congress took place in Montréal. Reporting for Working People and The Real News Network, Max attended the convention and spoke with a number of rank-and-file workers, organizers, and union officers about the state of the labor movement in Canada. In Part 2 of our two-part dispatch from the CLC, we talk to: Nora Loreto, writer, editor, organizer, podcaster, co-host of Sandy and Nora Talk Politics with Sandy Hudson, and author of numerous books, including Spin Doctors: How Media and Politicians Misdiagnosed the COVID-19 Pandemic, and Take Back The Fight: Organizing Feminism for the Digital Age; Meg Davis, brand director, illustrator, and former member of the organizing committee at Point Blank Creative ad agency, where workers unionized with UFCW Local 1518; Larry Rousseau, current Executive Vice President of the Canadian Labour Congress; and Nicholas Marcus Thompson, Trinidadian-Canadian social justice advocate, union leader, and Executive Director of the Black Class Action Secretariat. Additional links/info below... Canadian Labour Congress website, Facebook page, and Twitter page Nora's website and Twitter page Nora Loreto, Fernwood Publishers, Spin Doctors: How Media and Politicians Misdiagnosed the COVID-19 Pandemic Nora Loreto, Fernwood Publishers, Take Back The Fight: Organizing Feminism for the Digital Age Meg's website Larry's CLC profile page and Twitter page Nicholas's website and Twitter page Black Class Action website, Facebook page, and Twitter page Maximillian Alvarez, The Real News Network, "Yes—Canada Has Anti-Black Racism, Too" Justin Crann, Strategy, "Inside Point Blank's Efforts to Unionize" Gabriela Calugay-Casuga, rabble.ca, "The Black Class Action Secretariat Needs All of Labour to Step Up" Gabriela Calugay-Casuga, rabble.ca, "‘Team Unite' re-elected to lead Canadian Labour Congress" Permanent links below... Working People Patreon page Leave us a voicemail and we might play it on the show! Labor Radio / Podcast Network website, Facebook page, and Twitter page In These Times website, Facebook page, and Twitter page The Real News Network website, YouTube channel, podcast feeds, Facebook page, and Twitter page Featured Music (all songs sourced from the Free Music Archive: freemusicarchive.org) Jules Taylor, "Working People" Theme Song

From May 8-12, the 30th Constitutional Convention of the Canadian Labour Congress took place in Montréal. Reporting for Working People and The Real News Network, Max attended the convention and spoke with a number of rank-and-file workers, organizers, and union officers about the state of the labor movement in Canada. In Part 1 of our two-part dispatch from the CLC, we talk to: Emily Leedham, the Prairie Reporter for PressProgress and editor of Shift Work, PressProgress' weekly national labour newsletter; Guy Smith, president of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees; Mary Newman, a journalist and producer for the Canadian Broadcast Corporation and member of the Canadian Media Guild; James Russwurm, a quality assurance tester for Keywords Studios, where workers formed the first union in the video gaming industry and affiliated with UFCW Local 401; Liz Ha, 1st Vice President of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) Local 154, chair of the OPSEU provincial human rights committee, and vice-chair of the OPSEU Coalition of Racialized Workers. Additional links/info below... Canadian Labour Congress website, Facebook page, and Twitter page Emily's Twitter page and newsletter  PressProgress's website, Facebook page, and Twitter page Guy's AUPE profile page Alberta Union of Provincial Employees website, Facebook page, and Twitter page Mary's Twitter page UFCW Local 401 website, Facebook page, and Twitter page Liz's Twitter page OPSEU Local 154 Facebook page OPSEU Coalition of Racialized Workers website  Emily Leedham, PressProgress, "Public Servants Forced Federal Government to Improve Deal By Going on Strike, Labour Experts Say" Aminah Sheikh, Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung, "The Right Wing is Organizing in Canada. Can The Left Learn to Stop Them?" CBC Radio, "Canada's Video Games Industry Is Getting Its 1st Union. Organizers Hope It's Not the Last" Permanent links below... Working People Patreon page Leave us a voicemail and we might play it on the show! Labor Radio / Podcast Network website, Facebook page, and Twitter page In These Times website, Facebook page, and Twitter page The Real News Network website, YouTube channel, podcast feeds, Facebook page, and Twitter page Featured Music (all songs sourced from the Free Music Archive: freemusicarchive.org) Jules Taylor, "Working People" Theme Song

The UN Declaration of Human Rights declares that labour rights are human rights. It is backed up by a declaration by the International Labour Organization which says that labour is not a commodity. Comments by the Chair of the ILO's Workers' Group, Catelene Passchier. Canadian unions are represented at the ILO by the Canadian Labour Congress.

NOTE: SUBSCRIBE TO UNPACKING THE NEWS AND RECEIVE NEW EPISODES ON YOUR FEED WHEREVER YOU GET YOUR PODCASTS!From May 8-12 don't miss UNPACKING THE NEWS broadcasting live from the 2023 Canadian Labour Congress with our friends at Quebec solidarity journalism cooperative Pivot!Every day we're releasing interviews and reports from Canada's 30th tri-annual labour summit including this episode featuring a speech from Amazon Labour Union president Chris Smalls.Subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts and find more about the Congress at https://liftingeveryoneup.ca/Theme music 'Judy is a Dick Slap' courtesy of the 2000 Belle and Sebastian EP 'Legal Man' on Jeepster Records: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-thsncxieBg

NOTE: SUBSCRIBE TO UNPACKING THE NEWS TO CONTINUE RECEIVING NEW EPISODES ON YOUR FEED WHEREVER YOU GET YOUR PODCASTS!From May 8-12 don't miss UNPACKING THE NEWS broadcasting live from the 2023 Canadian Labour Congress with our friends at Quebec solidarity journalism cooperative Pivot!Every day we're releasing interviews and reports from Canada's 30th tri-annual labour summit including this episode featuring a panel from the conference floor with Emmmy and Grammy nominated Korean-American comedian and LGBTQIA2s+ activist Margaret Cho.Subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts and find more about the Congress at https://liftingeveryoneup.ca/Watch the 30 Rock clip 'Kim Jong-il the Waiter' at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5K-SmlP4U5wTheme music 'Judy is a Dick Slap' courtesy of the 2000 Belle and Sebastian EP 'Legal Man' on Jeepster Records: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-thsncxieBg

NOTE: SUBSCRIBE TO UNPACKING THE NEWS TO CONTINUE RECEIVING NEW EPISODES ON YOUR FEED WHEREVER YOU GET YOUR PODCASTS!From May 8-12 don't miss UNPACKING THE NEWS' daily show broadcasting live from the 2023 Canadian Labour Congress with our friends at Quebec solidarity journalism cooperative Pivot!Every day we're releasing interviews and reports from Canada's 30th tri-annual labour summit including this episode featuring a panel from the conference floor moderated by activist Mary Shortall with a panel including the Climate Institute's Matt Waylan, the Broadbent Institute's Meg Gingrich and le Directeur syndical - Service Environnement et Transition juste at the Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec Patrick RondeauSubscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts and find more about the Congress at https://liftingeveryoneup.ca/Watch the CBC video clip 'Alberta wildfires force thousands from their homes' at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_dfrA_HSD0Theme music 'Judy is a Dick Slap' courtesy of the 2000 Belle and Sebastian EP 'Legal Man' on Jeepster Records: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-thsncxieBg

From May 8-12 don't miss UNPACKING THE NEWS' daily show broadcasting live from the 2023 Canadian Labour Congress with our friends at Quebec solidarity journalism cooperative Pivot!Every day we're releasing interviews and reports from the floor of Canada's 30th tri-annual labour summit including this episode featuring a panel from the conference floor moderated by Broadbent Institute director Jen Hassum in conversation with economists Jim Stanford, Angella MacEwan and Yasmine Yalnizyan on 'Fighting for Fairness: Workers and the Affordability Crisis'.Subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts and find more about the Congress at https://liftingeveryoneup.ca/

From May 8-12 don't miss UNPACKING THE NEWS' daily show every morning live from the 2023 Canadian Labour Congress with our friends at Quebec solidarity journalism cooperative Pivot! Each episode will feature interviews and reports from the floor of Canada's 30th tri-annual labour summit including this episode with prairie labour journalist Emily Leedham and host Andre Goulet exploring what to expect at convention this week, her new Press Progress piece about the PSAC-AFPC action 'Public Servants Forced Government to Improve Deal By Going on Strike' and more.Subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts and find more about the Congress at https://liftingeveryoneup.ca/Order your copy of Building A Better World: An Introduction to the Labour Movement in Canada at https://fernwoodpublishing.ca/book/building-a-better-world-4th-edition

From May 8-12 don't miss UNPACKING THE NEWS' daily show every morning live from the 2023 Canadian Labour Congress with our friends at Quebec solidarity journalism cooperative Pivot! Each episode will feature interviews and reports from the floor of Canada's 30th tri-annual labour summit including this episode with prairie labour journalist Emily Leedham and host Andre Goulet exploring what to expect at convention this week, her new Press Progress piece about the PSAC-AFPC action 'Public Servants Forced Government to Improve Deal By Going on Strike' and more.Subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts and find more about the Congress at https://liftingeveryoneup.ca/Order your copy of Building A Better World: An Introduction to the Labour Movement in Canada at https://fernwoodpublishing.ca/book/building-a-better-world-4th-edition

From May 8-12 don't miss UNPACKING THE NEWS' daily show every morning live from the 2023 Canadian Labour Congress with our friends at Quebec solidarity journalism cooperative Pivot! Each episode will feature interviews and reports from the floor of Canada's 30th tri-annual labour summit including this episode with prairie labour journalist Emily Leedham and host Andre Goulet exploring what to expect at convention this week, her new Press Progress piece about the PSAC-AFPC action 'Public Servants Forced Government to Improve Deal By Going on Strike' and more.Subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts and find more about the Congress at https://liftingeveryoneup.ca/Order your copy of Building A Better World: An Introduction to the Labour Movement in Canada at https://fernwoodpublishing.ca/book/building-a-better-world-4th-edition

Announcement: Our next live show will be on Monday, May 8, from 5-7pm EST at the Canadian Labour Congress' 30th Constitutional Convention in Montreal! We took Working People on the road and hosted another live show on March 21 in Atlanta, Georgia, in collaboration with the Action Builder / Action Network team. In this panel discussion, Max speaks with local organizers about the specific challenges workers in the South face in their workplaces and in their efforts to organize—and how they are finding creative ways to overcome those challenges today. Panelists include: Chris Daniel of the Georgia AFL-CIO; Melanie Barron of the Communications Workers of America / United Campus Workers; and Maurice "Mo" Haskins of the Union of Southern Service Workers.  Additional links/info below... Melanie's Twitter page Communications Workers of America website, Twitter page, Facebook page, and Instagram  United Campus Workers website and Twitter page Georgia AFL-CIO website, Twitter page, and Facebook page  The Union of Southern Service Workers website, Twitter page, Facebook page, and Instagram  Action Network website, Facebook page, and Twitter page Action Builder website Kim Kelly, Teen Vogue, "Union of Southern Service Workers Is Organizing Low-Wage Workers Across Industries" Saurav Sarkar, The Real News Network, "Punjabi Workers in Toronto Are Fighting Wage Theft—and They're Winning" Jimmy Williams (General President of IUPAT) statement on Cop City  Working People, "A "Do or Die" Moment for the Academic Labor Movement (w/ Matt Thomas, Kristina Mensik, Bryan Sacks, & Todd Wolfson)" Chris Kromm, Facing South, "A New Day for Labor in the South?" Permanent links below... Working People Patreon page Leave us a voicemail and we might play it on the show! Labor Radio / Podcast Network website, Facebook page, and Twitter page In These Times website, Facebook page, and Twitter page The Real News Network website, YouTube channel, podcast feeds, Facebook page, and Twitter page Featured Music (all songs sourced from the Free Music Archive: freemusicarchive.org) Jules Taylor, "Working People" Theme Song

Trailblazing progressive podcast UNPACKING THE NEWS is back after a 30 month hiatus for an all-new Season 2! In this kick-off episode BERRYGROUNDS' Justin Brake joins host Andre Goulet to explore how his work as The Independent interim editor will be afflicting the comfortable in Newfoundland and Labrador society and politics, his background in unapologetic, confrontational journalism and how Pierre Poilievre's attacks on the CBC distort the reality of public broadcasting in so-called Canada. Watch for new episodes this spring and summer co-produced with Briarpatch contributors celebrating the magazine's 50th anniversary, Fernwood Publishing authors discussing new releases, conversations with data activists at the Mobilizing Data for Justice conference May 5-7 plus a week-long daily show at the 2023 Canadian Labour Congress covering events at the year's big union conference happening May 8-12 in collaboration with our friends at Quebec solidarity journalism cooperative Pivot. If you like the work we do consider supporting the show on Patreon.Find out more about Newfoundland and Labrador's #1 progressive news source at https://theindependent.ca/

Trailblazing progressive podcast UNPACKING THE NEWS is back after a 30 month hiatus for an all-new Season 2! In this kick-off episode BERRYGROUNDS' Justin Brake joins host Andre Goulet to explore how his work as The Independent interim editor will be afflicting the comfortable in Newfoundland and Labrador society and politics, his background in unapologetic, confrontational journalism and how Pierre Poilievre's attacks on the CBC distort the reality of public broadcasting in so-called Canada. Watch for new episodes this spring and summer co-produced with Briarpatch contributors celebrating the magazine's 50th anniversary, Fernwood Publishing authors discussing new releases, conversations with data activists at the Mobilizing Data for Justice conference May 5-7 plus a week-long daily show at the 2023 Canadian Labour Congress covering events at the year's big union conference happening May 8-12 in collaboration with our friends at Quebec solidarity journalism cooperative Pivot. If you like the work we do consider supporting the show on Patreon.Find out more about Newfoundland and Labrador's #1 progressive news source at https://theindependent.ca/

Trailblazing progressive podcast UNPACKING THE NEWS is back after a 30 month hiatus for an all-new Season 2! In this kick-off episode BERRYGROUNDS' Justin Brake joins host Andre Goulet to explore how his work as The Independent interim editor will be afflicting the comfortable in Newfoundland and Labrador society and politics, his background in unapologetic, confrontational journalism and how Pierre Poilievre's attacks on the CBC distort the reality of public broadcasting in so-called Canada. Watch for new episodes this spring and summer co-produced with Briarpatch contributors celebrating the magazine's 50th anniversary, Fernwood Publishing authors discussing new releases, conversations with data activists at the Mobilizing Data for Justice conference May 5-7 plus a week-long daily show at the 2023 Canadian Labour Congress covering events at the year's big union conference happening May 8-12 in collaboration with our friends at Quebec solidarity journalism cooperative Pivot. If you like the work we do consider supporting the show on Patreon.Find out more about Newfoundland and Labrador's #1 progressive news source at https://theindependent.ca/

The second episode of this season, features a recording of the keynote address delivered by past president of the Canadian Labour Congress, Senator Hassan Yussuff at George Brown College's 31st annual Labour Fair. Anchoring a week of labour focused discussions and speaking to George Brown College students and faculty, the Senator focuses on this year's theme, 'The other P3s: pandemic, privatization, precarity,,, and planet!!' Reflecting on federal workers delivery of CERB during the pandemic, the Senator says:  “Those workers, six weeks it took them to create that program, to build it from scratch and to make sure it was working so we can get people money ... That's never happened in the history of this country ... Everybody always says, 'The public service cannot perform to the speed of the private sector.' Well, guess what? In the pandemic, it was the public service that was there looking after Canadians and meeting the needs of Canadians.. we need to recognize that because these are working men and women in our country that we need to celebrate.” In terms of workers' rights during and after the pandemic, the Senators asks:  “How is it that we asked workers to go to work day in and day out and that workers don't have access to paid sick days in this country? ... Many of the workers who are working in grocery stores and other places are in precarious jobs ... It speaks to the need for reform to our employment standards. How we can get those workers to be treated in a fair way and of course to have fundamental rights when they go to work. Because the dignity of work is fundamental to the kind of economy we want to build in this country."  The Senator remarks on one of the hypocrisies of the gig economy: “Why does the corner-store person who operates a business and employs people have to contribute to EI and CPP for their employees, but yet a corporation as large as Uber, as an example, doesn't have to contribute because they say 'The people who work for us are not our employees.' How is that right? And how is it fair? How could you tell the corner-store that they have to comply with employment standards, but yet none of that applies to a large corporation such as Uber? I think it speaks volumes to the challenges we face.” Speaking on the possibility for change, the Senator says: “I learned a long time ago that without tension, there is no change.If you want the status quo to remain, do nothing. If you want it to change, you'll create some tensions. And it's necessary, by the way. That's how we achieve change. And the systems that are wrong and are unfair to working people in this country can be changed.”  The video recording of the Senator's address is also featured on rabbleTV.    About the speaker:  Hassan Yussuff was appointed to the Senate of Canada to represent Ontario in June 2021 and sits as a member of the Independent Senators Group. Senator Yussuff is one of Canada's most experienced labour leaders. An immigrant from Guyana, he has had a long and accomplished career as a union activist, recently serving two terms as the president of the Canadian Labour Congress from 2014-2021; the first person of colour to lead Canada's labour movement. In addition to his work in Canada, Yussuff is a prominent international activist. In 2016, he was elected for his second term as president of the Trade Union Confederation of the Americas, an organization uniting 48 national organizations and representing more than 55 million workers in 21 countries. Yussuff has also served on numerous task forces and organizations, including the Government of Canada's NAFTA Council and its Sustainable Development Advisory Council, and co-chair of the Task Force on Just Transition for Canadian Coal Power Workers and Communities. Senator Yussuff is a member of the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Trade and Commerce, the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence, and the Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs.  Introduction to Senator by George Brown College president, Gervan Fearon.  Session Moderator, Susan Heximer.  Student Vote of Thanks: Danesh Hanbury.  Transcript of this episode can be accessed at georgebrown.ca/TommyDouglasInstitute or here.  Image: Senator Hassan Yussuff / Used with permission. Music: Ang Kahora. Lynne, Bjorn. Rights Purchased.  Intro Voices: Ashley Booth (Podcast Announcer); Bob Luker (Tommy); Injila Rajab Khan and Danesh Hanbury (Street Voices)   Courage My Friends Podcast Organizing Committee: Chandra Budhu, Ashley Booth, Resh Budhu.  Produced by: Resh Budhu, Tommy Douglas Institute and Breanne Doyle, rabble.ca.  Host: Resh Budhu.

The International Trade Union Confederation has produced a report describing how automation, algorithms and artificial intelligence systems are effecting workplaces. It suggests what unions and government can do to help workers. The Canadian Labour Congress is an affiliate of the ITUC. RadioLabour is the international labour movement's radio service. It reports on labour union events around the world with a focus on unions in the developing world. It partners with rabble to provide coverage of news of interest to Canadian workers.

Brian interviews Erin Weir, a consulting economist and former Member of Parliament. Erin Weir grew up in Saskatchewan and completed university degrees at Regina, Calgary and Queen's. Erin went on to work as a trade union economist with the Canadian Labour Congress, the United Steelworkers and the International Trade Union Confederation in Brussels, Belgium. He campaigned to win election as the MP for Regina–Lewvan. Since completing his term in office, he work for the Government of Nunavut and the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists. We discuss the Bank of Canada's recent spree of interest rate hikes and the latest job numbers.

00:00 - Employees in federally regulated private-sector workplaces are now eligible for 10 days of paid sick leave. Guest: Bea Bruske, President of the Canadian Labour Congress. 05:08 - British Columbia's Medical Services Commission has filed an injunction in B.C. Supreme Court against Telus Health alleging the company is breaking the Medicare Protection Act. Guest: Sonia Furstenau, BC Green Party Leader. 12:04 - What are the recent job number losses mean for BC's economy? Guest: Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation. 17:48 - B.C.'s public school teachers have ratified a new three-year contract. Guest: Clint Johnston, President of the BC Teachers Federation. 22:35 - Bars and pubs during World Cup Guest: Jeff Guignard, President of ABLE BC.

In Toronto, Mark Hancock, national president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), and Laura Walton, president of the Ontario School Board Council of Unions, announce they have received confirmation that the Ontario government will repeal its back-to-work bill for striking education workers. They also announce that CUPE will end its province-wide walkout and that both sides will return to contract negotiations, with students returning to schools on November 8. Also taking part in the news conference are Bea Bruske (president of the Canadian Labour Congress), Karen Brown (president of the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario), Lana Payne (national president of Unifor) and JP Hornick (president of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union).

For many people, Ontario Premier Doug Ford's showdown with CUPE education workers has become about much more than one fight with one union. Experts say that what the Ontario government chooses to do here — and how the public responds — could have ripple effects for labour disputes, and the right to strike, across the country. That's because the Ford government introduced legislation this week that would prevent these workers from striking before they even start, and do it using the highly controversial notwithstanding clause, which allows provinces to temporarily override some parts of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Today, we'll first speak to Bea Bruske, president of the Canadian Labour Congress, about what's been happening on the ground in Ontario. Then we'll speak to Charles Smith, an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Saskatchewan's St. Thomas More College, about whether this could set a precedent for labour fights across the country.

Chapter 1: A U.S. judge said he is leaning toward releasing some of the evidence presented by the U.S. Justice Department to justify its search of Donald Trump's Florida home. Guest: Reggie Cecchini, Global News Washington Correspondent. Chapter 2: A new apple update is out and the company says its an important security update to prevent hackers from gaining full admin access. Guest: Bianca Wylie, Technology expert and partner at Digital Public Chapter 3: A growing number of labour leaders are voicing their frustration at the Bank of Canada after Governor Tiff Macklem suggested last month that business leaders should refrain from building high inflation into wage negotiations Guest: Bea Bruske, president of the Canadian Labour Congress. Chapter 4: It's been nearly six years since Vancouver city council approved an 0.5-per cent property tax hike in an effort to battle the deadly drug crisis. Guest: Adriane Carr, Vancouver City Councillor. Chapter 5: A well-known Canadian band, Rare Americans, is donating $1 to PSD for every pre-save of their new album ‘You're not a bad person, it's just a bad world” Guest: James Priestner, Lead singer of Rare Americans.

When we are able to fulfill our life's purpose, in this case helping ensure that people's voices were heard, inequities were addressed and choice was actioned, as part of the responsibilities of what we are paid to do, we tend to infuse really positive stuff onto those we work with. I was one of the lucky ones provided the opportunity at an early point in my own career to work with such an individual – Bill Howes. Bill is someone who through every action and every word he spoke, exuded leadership, alignment with core values and passion for what he did. He knew what he was good at. He built leaders along the way. And he has continued to make a positive difference in his retirement activities. Bill spent most of his career working for and with unions, as a paid employee within those organizations. It might be something for you to consider too. Our unions need great leaders too. Hope you will join us! About the Guest: Bill Howes is a native Torontonian. He went to school in Vaughan Road Collegiate Institute, and at nineteen he started working at Northern Electric in Bramalea, Ontario. Bill got involved with organizing for the United Electrical Workers while working at that plant. Shortly after, he moved into the office part of Northern Electric, which had a company association. He became active and one of the leaders of a strike by Northern Electric office workers in 1966, the first successful strike ever at Northern. Coming out of the strike, the association members realized they needed a legitimate union, and Howes was on the committee that interviewed all of the unions with a connection to telecom. They chose the United Auto Workers (UAW). Bill became involved in organizing with the UAW and was active in that local for several years. Bill left Northern in 1972 and went to work with the Canadian Labour Congress (the umbrella organization for many of Canada's unions) to organize white-collar workers. He organized the first chapter of the Association of Commercial and Technical Employees (ACTE). Knowing his background in organizing telecom, the Communications Workers of Canada (CWC) asked that Bill be put on loan from the CLC for its organizing drive. The CWC eventually hired him, making him National Representative responsible for organizing in Ontario in 1974. Bill focused on a variety of organizing campaigns through his years with the CWC, primarily with office, technical and operator units across the nation. He also taught seminars on organizing. In 1989 he left the organization which, through several amalgamations over the years had now become the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers' Union, to accept the position of Executive Assistant to the President of the Toronto and York Region Labour Council and the responsibility of being the labour link to social justice movements. Bill left the Labour Council in 2000 to establish Organizing Resources, providing consulting services to unions conducing organizing campaigns. In his “retirement” he also co-founded Not Just Tourists and has worked tirelessly on behalf of feral cats in the Greater Toronto Area – more on these in the podcast! *With appreciation to Joan Roberts and her overview of Bill in her excellent book Cracked: How Telephone Operators Took on Canada's Largest Corporation… and Won!If you wish to contact Bill, he can be reached at bill.howes43@gmail.comThe website for the Toronto and Yukon Region Labour Council is Toronto & York Region Labour CouncilThe book referred to in the podcast is Cracked: How Telephone Operators Took on Canada's Largest Corporation… and Won! by author Joan RobertsAbout the Host: Susan has worked with people all her life. As a human resource professional, she has specialized in all aspects of employment, from hiring to retirement. She got her...

What role do ENGOs, or Environmental Non-Governmental Organizations, play in the Canadian ecopolitical sphere? In this episode, we ask this question of Catherine Abreu, Executive Director of Climate Action Network Canada, and Colleen Thorpe, Executive Director of Équiterre. Together they walk us through the roles that their respective organizations play in fighting for climate policy and shifting the cultural norms of Canadian citizens toward a greener and more just society.

This week we discuss: Justin Trudeau finally offering real support to Black Canadians; Erin O'Toole's pitch on ethics; The Canadian Labour Congress' push for more support for workers; The Raptors failure to secure the bag; Netflix and Cuties; Punisher Patch Police Officer; Civil unrest around the world; and plenty more.Politicshttps://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-black-entrepreneurs-1.5717297https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/trudeau-announces-cash-for-loans-support-to-black-canadian-entrepreneurs-1.5097852https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10158500259939210&id=500769209&sfnsn=mo&extid=xuwDj27kZEQ0tb5Zhttps://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-otoole-pitches-conservatives-as-ethical-government-in-waiting-in/https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2015/08/10/Harper-Abuses-of-Power-Final/Economyhttps://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canadian-labour-congress-labour-day-1.5714783Blackity Black Blackhttps://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2020/09/12/movies/cuties-netflix.amp.html https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2020/09/08/toronto-police-officer-ordered-to-remove-punisher-patch-from-uniform.html?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=SocialMedia&utm_campaign=GTA&utm_content=torontopolicesheepdog&utm_source=facebook&source=the%20toronto%20star&utm_medium=SocialMedia&utm_campaign=&utm_campaign_id=&utm_content=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDzU4iMfUjE&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR0L4miXuEuHPFoVFS0MC2yxx7iFP8xdVH65xuLTTgQfbrHdqN9lu-6rVuIhttps://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/black-parents-call-on-province-to-decolonize-curriculum-in-effort-to-fight-racism-in-schools-1.5712143?__vfz=medium%3Dsharebar https://theprint.in/science/white-rice-linked-to-diabetes-especially-in-south-asia-says-21-nation-study-done-over-10-yrs/496879/Worldhttps://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.newsweek.com/history-epidemics-pandemic-civil-unrest-reasons-1530055%3famp=1Support the show... See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.