News and media

Vancouver - June 21st is National Indigenous Peoples Day. This is a day that is meant to acknowledge and celebrate the unique heritage, diverse cultures and contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples. For the last 21 years Canada has celebrated National Aboriginal Day. Now we celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day. On June 21st, 2017 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the name

Vancouver - The BC Labour Relations Board has issued an important decision that is a setback for employers who conspire with rat unions to prevent workers from joining a union of their choice. The case—decided by Labour Relations Board Vice-chair Bruce Wilkins—centers around the efforts of SEIU Local 2 and their “Justice for Janitors” organizing campaign. The union is campaigning to improve wages

Irene Lanzinger, President of the 500,000-member BC Federation of Labour, will be visiting the picket lines at the Mount Polley Mine site to support striking Imperial Metals miners. The workers, who are members of the United Steelworkers Local 1-2017, have been on strike for more than three weeks. Rights and benefits for temporary employees are the key issues for the miners.

Vancouver - Last year, a New Westminster pub worker met a tragic death when he fell on a meat slicer in the pub’s kitchen and bled out. Now, the Workers Compensation Board has found the pub owner responsible for a series of “high risk” safety violations that caused the workplace death of Sanjeev Kainth. But the WCB levied only a meagre fine of $9,450.32. “It’s another slap on the wrist for

Vancouver - A recent Supreme Court of Canada ruling lays down the law on employer responsibility to keep workplaces safe—and be subject to penalties when safety violations kill or injure workers on the job, says the BC Federation of Labour. The court was ruling on an appeal from BC-based West Fraser Mills. The company—a subsidiary of West Fraser Timber—asked the SCC to overturn an WCB decision

Vancouver-BC Federation of Labour President Irene Lanzinger will be available to speak with media about the $1.35 per hour increase in BC’s minimum wage that goes into effect June 1. It's the first leap in four significant increases implemented by Premier John Horgan’s government that will see BC's minimum hit $15.20 by 2021. Lanzinger quotes: “Through our Fight for $15 campaign, the BCFED, its