Latest news with #labourunion
CTV News
9 hours ago
- Business
- CTV News
250 CN Tower workers could go on strike before Canada Day as contract talks stall
The CN Tower is pictured in Toronto, Wednesday, June 26, 2019. The CN Tower opened 43 years ago today THE CANADIAN PRESS/Colin Perkel More than 200 CN Tower workers could begin job action as soon as Monday, which could disrupt operations on Canada Day. In a statement on Friday, Unifor, which represents the 250 full-time and part-time workers at Toronto's iconic landmark, said negotiations had reached a standstill. The deadline to reach a deal and avoid a strike or lockout is at 12:01 a.m. on Monday. 'We've hit an impasse and time is running out,' said Shan Ramanathan, president of Unifor Local 4271. 'Our members want a fair deal. We're ready to bargain, but the company needs to return to the table with a serious commitment to reaching an agreement.' According to the union, the lack of pension improvements and the need for fair wage increases are among the key issues at the bargaining table. Union members include hosts, waitstaff, bartenders, chefs, cooks, and butchers. A spokesperson for the CN Tower said in a statement that it presented its best offer on Thursday, but the union 'chose not to respond.' Both sides have been in talks since April. The spokesperson noted that in the event of a labour disruption, the tower's observation levels, EdgeWalk, and the shop would remain open, but food and beverages would be unavailable. 'We remain hopeful that a labour disruption can be avoided through respectful and reasonable negotiation,' the statement read. The CN Tower is owned by Canada Lands Company, a Crown corporation.
News24
13-06-2025
- Business
- News24
Transnet averts strike as unions accept pay deal
South Africa's state-owned ports and freight-rail company reached a pay deal with its two recognised labour unions, averting a strike that threatened to disrupt mineral and agricultural exports. The agreement, which followed an arbitration process led by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration, provides for 6% annual increases for three years, including the current financial year, Transnet said in a statement. The United National Transport Union (UNTU), which represents more than half of of Transnet's 46 000 employees, had previously rejected a wage increase offer of 6% annually in the first two years starting April 1 and 5.5% in the third year. 'The finalisation of the three-year wage agreement provides labour stability and will enable the company to focus on its immediate strategic priorities of improving operational and financial performance,' Transnet said in the statement. The deal includes increases to basic salary, pension fund contributions, medical aid subsidies and housing allowances, the company said. Both unions — UNTU and the South African Transport and Allied Workers' Union — have accepted the offer, it said. The above-inflation pay increase will put further strain on Transnet's finances. Moody's Ratings has placed the company assessment on review, warning that it will run out of money for operations and debt-servicing within three months unless it gets a government bailout. South Africa's government said this week it will give Transnet additional guarantees to settle all its debt that falls due and execute its capital-investment program. Transport Minister Barbara Creecy announced the approval of a R51 billion guarantee facility for Transnet last month and the process of giving it additional support will be finalized by July 25, according to the Department of Transport. The company's five-year corporate plan shows it needs to repay R99.6 billion.
CTV News
11-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
Labour minister urges mediation to help settle Montreal transit mechanics strike
A special constable from the Société de transport de Montréal locks the doors to the metro station due to the strike from STM maintenance workers in Montreal on Monday, June 9, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi MONTREAL — Quebec's labour minister is calling for mediation in a strike involving Montreal's public transit maintenance workers that's crippling the network. Jean Boulet said Tuesday on social media he contacted both sides and urged them to make a joint request for him to name a mediator. Montreal's transit maintenance workers were in the second day of a strike on Tuesday. The 2,400 workers launched their strike after more than a year of negotiations with the transit agency. Bus and subway service is being limited to morning and afternoon rush hours and late at night. Regular service will be maintained from Friday to Sunday for the Canadian Grand Prix weekend, but will be restricted on other days until the strike ends June 17. The head of the maintenance workers union has warned that the strike could escalate if a deal isn't reached. Bruno Jeannotte has said his team is in talks with the union representing bus and subway drivers, who have also voted for a strike mandate. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 10, 2025. The Canadian Press
Free Malaysia Today
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
MTUC challenges ministry's stand on ILO conference representation
MTUC joint special committee chairman J Solomon said the congress's internal election process is under way and progressing well. PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) has criticised the human resources ministry after it said the non-representation of workers at the recently concluded International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva was caused by the absence of legitimate leadership in MTUC. In a statement, MTUC alleged the ministry was trying to 'mislead the public'. 'It is undisputed that the current leadership of MTUC is the joint special committee,' said J Solomon, the chairman of the committee. He clarified that MTUC's internal election process — scheduled for Aug 2 and 3, 2025 — is under way and progressing well. The nation's largest labour union has effectively been without a working committee after a High Court ruling in 2023 declared the triennial election held a year earlier was null and void, triggering an extended internal dispute. In February, the Court of Appeal consented to an agreement to set up a joint special committee to run MTUC and hold a fresh election within 90 days. MTUC will hold its triennial election at a special delegates conference in early August to resolve the impasse.
CBC
07-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
As the municipal election heats up, here's why there is concern over campaign spending
Changes to political financing rules ahead of October's municipal election have one current Edmonton city councillor warning of an unfair playing field. Alberta's Local Authorities Election Act was changed in October last year to allow for the creation of political parties in civic elections. A host of new financial guidelines also accompanied the change including financial support from third-party advertising, corporate and trade union donations and changes to political party spending. People running can self-finance their campaigns up to $10,000, but Edmontonians can only donate $5,000 to all candidates and registered parties in a municipality. Corporations, trade unions or employee organizations can donate $5,000 to candidates per campaign period, along with $5,000 donations to registered political parties. Donors can not combine balances to increase contribution limits to political parties, a City of Edmonton spokesperson previously told CBC News. Expense limits for civic election candidates and political parties range from $40,000 to more than $1 million. Transparency on where the dollars are coming from is a key issue in this election said Ward Nakota Isga Coun. Andrew Knack in an interview with CBC News. "Under the new rules, again, you could have a person, of a wealthy business owner start up 20 numbered companies only to use that as a mechanism to donate 20 different times, going through the maximum," Knack said. "A labour union can't go start up 20 different subsidiaries to go and donate. So it's not a level playing field, and this is part of the challenge." Advocacy vs. advertising As of Wednesday, three groups are registered as third-party advertisers with Edmonton Elections. These include Amalgamated Transit Union Local 569, Climate Justice Edmonton and Working Families Edmonton. However, there are other groups such as Edmonton Forward who state that they are advocating for "safer streets, safer transit, and safer communities." On the group's website, it says it does not receive any source of government funding. "Edmonton Forward is funded by generous donations of concerned residents and businesses of Edmonton," the website said. In a video dated May 30, 2024, on YouTube, the organization lists its executive director as Abdul Abdi, a former police officer with the Ottawa Police Service who ran for the federal Conservative Party for Ottawa West-Nepean in the 2015 election. CBC News requested comment from the group via email but did not receive a response. Transit union president Steve Bradshaw told CBC News registering as an advertiser is one way to further elevate the priorities of the union. "We want to promote candidates that are transit-friendly. We want to promote candidates that are worker-friendly. It's in our interest to be a part of this process," Bradshaw said. "We live in a democracy, and we have the advantage of being able to participate in the electoral process, and so it would be failing our membership if we weren't involved." The union is among those not in favour of the provincial change to allow political parties in municipal elections in Alberta. "Is there an imbalance? Of course, and when there's party politics happening, you have the problem that I can now donate to the individual candidate as well as to the party, so extra money becomes available to those in the parties." Coun. Tim Cartmell, who announced a run for mayor last November, told media at a platform launch event last week that it will be more evident after the election to what extent financial resources can impact someone's chances of running successfully. "On the neighbourhood level, an independent person that has got support, has got community behind them, has got some name recognition, frankly, that is as valuable as maybe the dollars are." However, one independent mayoral candidate and former city councillor is doubtful. "If you want to buy election, there are many people out there that could buy an election, I imagine. I'm not one of them, and I don't think that it's right," said Tony Caterina, who was a councillor from 2010 to 2021. Municipal Affairs minister Ric McIver said the new rules "strengthen transparency and accountability so Albertans can have confidence in the fairness of their local elections." "Municipal candidates should be the focus for voters during a municipal election, not a third-party advertiser." As part of revisions to the Local Authorities Election Act, the Alberta government reduced the limit on donations to third-party advertisers by organizations and individuals from $30,000 to $5,000 and only allow third-party advertisers to spend half of what candidates can during the election advertising period. Rules that third-party advertisers must follow include abiding by deadlines to file a return including a financial statement, advertising contributions received and an expense limit report. Penalties for not following rules include the cancellation of their registration as an advertiser, financial penalties and fines up to $100,000.
