Ep. 579: Labour Negotiations and Job Action
Guest: Kevin Howlett
Canada Post is in the midst of job action by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers. They’re not on a full strike; instead, they’re still delivering mail but not all of it. On September the 15th, the Union implemented a national ban on delivering flyers and neighbourhood mail. This followed an overtime ban in May.
Air Canada just concluded negotiations with flight attendants. After a three day work stoppage that wreaked havoc on the airline and passengers, the attendants were ordered back to work but the union ignored the order, negotiations resumed, and they went back to work. Weeks later, union members rejected the company's offer by 99.1% but they also kept working.
In British Columbia, the BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) has initiated job action aimed at gaining an 8.25% wage increase. The union’s website says, “We escalated job action in several key areas: Public service workers who support B.C. 's mining operations joined the strike. An overtime ban was announced in corrections and sheriff services. Workers in citizens' services and gaming also joined picket lines, adding strength to week three of job action.” In other words, there is job action but not a full-out strike.
We invited human resource specialist Kevin Howlett to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the changing nature of labour negotiations and job action.
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