News and media

Canada’s federations of labour, representing over three million workers in every province and territory, today released the following statement: We condemn the Alberta government’s decision to legislate teachers back to work, and its use of the notwithstanding clause to impose a collective agreement. This action is a direct and deliberate attack on the fundamental freedoms of association and

The proposed amendments to the OHSR go some way to update and improve the existing requirements for automotive lifts. However, the Federation is disappointed the Board has not proposed regulatory language that offers a significantly higher standard of protection for workers. In the following, we address those sections of the regulation we believe require further amendments.

The proposed amendments to the OHSR Parts 4, 13, 14, 20 and 31 are much needed, especially in relation to tower cranes. Strengthening the requirements for equipment to be inspected and certified both before being operated and periodically over time will help to prevent serious injuries and save lives. We urge the Board of Directors to seriously consider our recommendations so we meet our goal to ensure that BC health and safety regulations set high standards for the prevention of injury and death for workers.

A new private member’s bill by the federal NDP would restore bargaining rights the Liberals have been all too willing to trample, BCFED President Sussanne Skidmore said today. Introduced on Monday, Bill C-247 would amend the Canada Labour Code by removing section 107, which allows the Minister of Labour to short-circuit collective bargaining by referring labour disputes to the Canada Industrial

The BC Federation of Labour appreciates the opportunity to provide our recommendations with respect to the proposed amendments for Part 6, Combustible Dusts and subsequent changes to Part 4, General Conditions, Part 5, Chemical Agents and Biological Agents, and Part 31, Firefighting in the OHS regulation. The proposed combustible dust regulation resulted from the tragic dust explosions at the Babine Mill in Burns Lake and Lakeland Mill in Prince George in January and April of 2012. The Babine Mill explosion killed Robert Luggi Jr. and Carl Charlie and injured 19 workers. The Lakeland Mill explosion killed Alan Little and Glenn Roche and injured 24.

The BC Federation of Labour’s Executive Officers today voted unanimously to declare a boycott of the Coast Hotel Victoria & Marina over the hotel’s lockout of its frontline staff, members of UNITE HERE Local 40. “We reserve boycotts for the worst of employer behaviours, and this is certainly a case in point,” said BCFED President Sussanne Skidmore. “There’s no excuse for locking out workers who