There's a lock out going on right now in Vancouver. It's a lock out that could be ended with your help. Yes you're reading right you can help bring an end to this lock out.
The action or actions that will end this lock out needs a big ask. That big ask is that hundreds possibly thousands mobilize in the coming weeks on Cottrell Street in Vancouver to support the locked out on-board workers of Rocky Mountaineer.
Some 100 Rocky staff have been locked out since the middle of June when the company decided to abandon bargaining and lock out their workers. The lock out came at a critical time in bargaining negotiations and rather than bargain in good faith management decided to lock out its on-board employees and run the tourist train without those workers.
The Rocky Mountaineer is operating with inexperienced staff hired at short notice to replace the locked out workers. Yes that is indeed scab labour - a further torment to the locked out workers. However the company has been able to get around this by using a combination of managers and scabs, the latter being legally acceptable as there is no such thing as scab labour under Canadian federal legislation. Of course just because scab labour is legal in Canada doesn't make it right.
The push to get the management of Rocky Mountaineer back to the bargaining table can be achieved and one of the quickest ways to make it happen is to mobilize hundreds of trade unionists. A weekly picket is being organized by the Vancouver & District Labour Council. We need to join that picket line this Friday, and every Friday until the objective - of getting back to the bargaining table - is achieved.
See you on Cottrell Street in Vancouver this Friday at 5pm.
Cottrell Street is the right turn off Terminal - one turning before the Home Depot store.
Alternatively meet at the Main Street skytrain station on the east side of the street at Thornton Park.
We're going to meet at 4.30pm and at 5pm march to the Cottrell Street site.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Monday, July 4, 2011
a more diverse set on African Vibes you are likely never to hear…. | Radio is Radio
a more diverse set on African Vibes you are likely never to hear…. | Radio is Radio
Gary Jarvis hosts African Vibes at Coop Radio from time to time. You can find the set list from the 3 July show at the radioisradio.wordpress.com blog and listen to the set at http://www.coopradio.org/station/archives/78
Gary Jarvis hosts African Vibes at Coop Radio from time to time. You can find the set list from the 3 July show at the radioisradio.wordpress.com blog and listen to the set at http://www.coopradio.org/station/archives/78
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Rocky Mountaineer lockout update
Workers continue to picket the company's headquarters on Terminal and will also picket, later tomorrow afternoon, the western terminus of the Rocky Mountaineer tourist train.
The on-board attendants who are members of Teamsters Local 31 have been locked out by their employer. Currently some of the culinary staff, members of the Canadian Auto Workers union, local 4001 continue to work.
Injunctions have been served against Teamsters members for actions connected to the picketing.
The on-board attendants who are members of Teamsters Local 31 have been locked out by their employer. Currently some of the culinary staff, members of the Canadian Auto Workers union, local 4001 continue to work.
Injunctions have been served against Teamsters members for actions connected to the picketing.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
A bittersweet Canada Day - Opinion
Postal workers are back at work after being legislated back to work by the Conservative Government. As that Lock Out comes to an end the Lock Out by Rocky Mountaineer on its on board staff continues.
Yesterday there was a picket line at both Rocky Mountaineer's head office on Terminal in Vancouver and then later a picket at the scenic train's western terminus just a few streets away.
At that picket line on board staff held Teamsters Local 31 picket signs as well as their own homemade signs. Workers cried as they saw bus loads of tourists leave the site. It really hit home at the sheer pointlessness of management's aggressive stance against what really is a great community of workers - family almost.
So yet again Canada Day is almost here and the expectation is to show patriotism for this great country of ours. My patriotism for the magnificent beauty of the mountains and the lakes continues. My despair with the brutality of the capitalist society continues also.
Despair never lasts long here. It turns to anger and shortly after that action. The fight for a democratic and just Canada continues.
Yesterday there was a picket line at both Rocky Mountaineer's head office on Terminal in Vancouver and then later a picket at the scenic train's western terminus just a few streets away.
At that picket line on board staff held Teamsters Local 31 picket signs as well as their own homemade signs. Workers cried as they saw bus loads of tourists leave the site. It really hit home at the sheer pointlessness of management's aggressive stance against what really is a great community of workers - family almost.
So yet again Canada Day is almost here and the expectation is to show patriotism for this great country of ours. My patriotism for the magnificent beauty of the mountains and the lakes continues. My despair with the brutality of the capitalist society continues also.
Despair never lasts long here. It turns to anger and shortly after that action. The fight for a democratic and just Canada continues.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)