News and media

The skilled trades training investment announced today by the BC government will make an enormous difference to the province’s economy, and open up promising careers to thousands of workers, the BC Federation of Labour said today. “This is huge, and it’s exactly what we need right now,” said BCFED President Sussanne Skidmore. “This is how you build a strong, resilient economy: by investing in the

The BC Federation of Labour appreciates the opportunity to provide our recommendations with respect to the proposed amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation (“OHSR”) Part 6: Substance specific requirements, Part 24: Diving, fishing and other marine operations and Part 28: Agriculture. The BCFED believes the proposed amendments to the OHSR go a long way to update and improve the existing requirements for toxic process gases (“TPGs”).

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