Labour

Transit commuter Jamie O'Neill and his son Greyson, might have to move out of Chilliwack if the transit strike in the Fraser Valley persists. (Jamie O'Neill photo)

Transit strike in eastern Fraser Valley could end up costing man his job in Vancouver

‘I am looking at moving out of Chilliwack now because I am screwed,’ says commuter dad

 

B.C. is facing a growing labour shortage. But it’s more complicated than simply a lack of people to hire. In this October 2021 file photo, carpenters work on new home in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

B.C. employers are struggling to hire. But there’s more than just a labour shortage at play.

Some say a lack of training opportunities, part-time hours are keeping workers out of market

  • Mar 12, 2023

 

CN rail trains are shown at a train yard in Vaughan, Ont., on Monday, June 20, 2022. CN workers have backed a strike vote with negotiations set to resume on a contract for around 3,000 Canadian employees.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

CN workers back union strike mandate as contract talks for 3,000 employees continue

Another round of talks set for next week in Unifor contract negotiations

 

Global Container Terminals said Deltaport is their third biggest container terminal in North America. (Grace Kennedy photo)

Union fears robots will kill jobs in controversial B.C. port expansion

International Longshore and Warehouse Union urging rejection of Roberts Bank Terminal 2 by Deltaport

Global Container Terminals said Deltaport is their third biggest container terminal in North America. (Grace Kennedy photo)
FILE - Labor Secretary Marty Walsh speaks during a briefing at the White House in Washington, May 16, 2022. Walsh is among those on the shortlist to succeed White House chief of staff Ron Klain, who is preparing to leave his job in the coming weeks, according to a person familiar with Klain’s plans.(AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

NHLPA names US Labor Secretary Marty Walsh executive director

Walsh to take over from Donald Fehr who has led the pro hockey players’ union for more than a decade

FILE - Labor Secretary Marty Walsh speaks during a briefing at the White House in Washington, May 16, 2022. Walsh is among those on the shortlist to succeed White House chief of staff Ron Klain, who is preparing to leave his job in the coming weeks, according to a person familiar with Klain’s plans.(AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)
Jon Coleman (right) and other members of the Cowichan Tribes-owned Khowutzun Development Corporation, here seen blocking work at the site of the new Cowichan District Hospital on Bell McKinnon Road over union issues, has called on the provincial government to abolish an agreement that he says prevents him and other Indigenous contractors from working on the site. (Robert Barron/Citizen)

Indigenous contractor won’t represent ‘token Indians’ in B.C. hospital dispute

Builder wants community benefits agreement abolished despite exception allowing him to work on site

Jon Coleman (right) and other members of the Cowichan Tribes-owned Khowutzun Development Corporation, here seen blocking work at the site of the new Cowichan District Hospital on Bell McKinnon Road over union issues, has called on the provincial government to abolish an agreement that he says prevents him and other Indigenous contractors from working on the site. (Robert Barron/Citizen)
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) headquarters Connaught Building is pictured in Ottawa on Monday, Aug. 17, 2020. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has filed an unfair labour practices complaint against the union representing taxation employees, claiming it is not bargaining in good faith. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

CRA files labour complaint against union amid bargaining impasse ahead of tax season

Union’s move toward strike position would affect the tax filing season, revenue agency says

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) headquarters Connaught Building is pictured in Ottawa on Monday, Aug. 17, 2020. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has filed an unfair labour practices complaint against the union representing taxation employees, claiming it is not bargaining in good faith. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Today, federal public servants are beginning the transition to return to in-person work. Pedestrians make their way along Sparks Street Mall in Ottawa on Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

As federal workers return to the office, some decry lack of direction, long commutes

Purpose of new hybrid work model is to increase collaboration between colleagues

Today, federal public servants are beginning the transition to return to in-person work. Pedestrians make their way along Sparks Street Mall in Ottawa on Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Vessels are seen docked at Seaspan Shipyards in North Vancouver, B.C., Friday, Oct. 9, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C.’s labour board rules workers can’t refuse to cross some picket lines

Decision relates to last fall’s North Vancouver Seaspan shipyard strike

  • Jan 9, 2023
Vessels are seen docked at Seaspan Shipyards in North Vancouver, B.C., Friday, Oct. 9, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry speaks in the press theatre at the legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Thursday, March 10, 2022. The British Columbia government is extending its COVID-19 wage top-ups for staff at seniors facilities, but the restriction that limited those workers to one work site has been lifted. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

B.C. government continues the pandemic wage top-up for care home workers

Province renewing its commitment to ‘temporarily fund the increases’

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry speaks in the press theatre at the legislature in Victoria, B.C., on Thursday, March 10, 2022. The British Columbia government is extending its COVID-19 wage top-ups for staff at seniors facilities, but the restriction that limited those workers to one work site has been lifted. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
President of the Treasury Board Mona Fortier makes an announcement on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022. Fortier will be announcing a return-to-office plan for federal public servants today. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Federal public servants to start returning to office next month with hybrid system

Employees subject to a ‘phased introduction’ of the return-to-office plan starting Jan. 16

President of the Treasury Board Mona Fortier makes an announcement on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022. Fortier will be announcing a return-to-office plan for federal public servants today. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Work resumed at the construction site of the new Cowichan District Hospital on Dec. 13 after workers took down their blockade that had stopped work since Dec. 2. All that remained was a pile of wood that the protesters had used to keep warm during the blockade. (Robert Barron/Citizen)

Indigenous blockade lifted at $1.45-billion B.C. hospital project — for now

Still no resolution to dispute over union rules governing Cowichan Valley construction

Work resumed at the construction site of the new Cowichan District Hospital on Dec. 13 after workers took down their blockade that had stopped work since Dec. 2. All that remained was a pile of wood that the protesters had used to keep warm during the blockade. (Robert Barron/Citizen)
Parliament buildings in Ottawa. (Black Press file photo)

Return to in-person work a contentious issue among federal public servants

Workers await announcement this week requiring a certain number of work days in person

Parliament buildings in Ottawa. (Black Press file photo)
FILE- Senior citizens make their way down a street in Peterborough, Ont. on Monday May 7, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

‘It is your new normal’: Canada’s aging work force root of national labour shortage

Canada’s labour force growth rate has been trending downward since 2000, and is intensifying

FILE- Senior citizens make their way down a street in Peterborough, Ont. on Monday May 7, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
Jon Coleman (right) and other members of the Cowichan Tribes-owned Khowutzun Development Corporation are blocking work at the site of the new Cowichan District Hospital on Bell McKinnon Road over union issues. (Robert Barron/Citizen)

First Nation pickets continue to block construction of new B.C. hospital

Talks continue after Cowichan Tribes-owned company prevented from doing work over union issues

Jon Coleman (right) and other members of the Cowichan Tribes-owned Khowutzun Development Corporation are blocking work at the site of the new Cowichan District Hospital on Bell McKinnon Road over union issues. (Robert Barron/Citizen)
New BC Federation of Labour president Sussanne Skidmore (right) and secretary-treasurer Singh Kailley were elected on Nov. 24, 2022. (Credit: BC Federation of Labour/Facebook)

The new faces of B.C.’s labour movement

BC Federation of Labour pushing for more unions, better protections under new president

  • Dec 5, 2022
New BC Federation of Labour president Sussanne Skidmore (right) and secretary-treasurer Singh Kailley were elected on Nov. 24, 2022. (Credit: BC Federation of Labour/Facebook)
Jon Coleman (right) and other members of the Cowichan Tribes-owned Khowutzun Development Corporation are blocking work at the site of the new Cowichan District Hospital on Bell McKinnon Road over union issues. (Robert Barron/Citizen)

First Nations picket halts work at $887 million B.C. hospital over union rules

‘This is Cowichan Tribes territory and we don’t need to be in any unions to work in our own backyard’

Jon Coleman (right) and other members of the Cowichan Tribes-owned Khowutzun Development Corporation are blocking work at the site of the new Cowichan District Hospital on Bell McKinnon Road over union issues. (Robert Barron/Citizen)
Students make their way to the first day of school at Sherwood Park Elementary in North Vancouver, Monday, Sept. 22, 2014. British Columbia’s public school teachers have ratified a new three-year contract. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

B.C. teachers strongly approve three-year contract with pay boost, added benefits

British Columbia’s public school teachers have ratified a new three-year contract. Nearly…

Students make their way to the first day of school at Sherwood Park Elementary in North Vancouver, Monday, Sept. 22, 2014. British Columbia’s public school teachers have ratified a new three-year contract. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
BCGEU members in the cannabis and liquor distribution industry rallied outside Finance Minister Selina Robinson on April 14, 2021. (LDB Anonymous/Twitter)

Wage protection against inflation part of BCGEU’s three-year collective agreement

53.4 per cent of eligible members who cast ballots voted to ratify the deal

BCGEU members in the cannabis and liquor distribution industry rallied outside Finance Minister Selina Robinson on April 14, 2021. (LDB Anonymous/Twitter)
British Columbia’s provincial flag flies on a flag pole in Ottawa, Friday July 3, 2020. The bargaining unit representing care aides, lab assistants and cleaning staff has reached a new labour agreement with health employers in B.C. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

B.C. care aides, lab assistants, health facility cleaners reach new labour deal

Hospital Employees’ Union represents about 93 per cent of the workers covered by the agreement

British Columbia’s provincial flag flies on a flag pole in Ottawa, Friday July 3, 2020. The bargaining unit representing care aides, lab assistants and cleaning staff has reached a new labour agreement with health employers in B.C. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld