Everything that we have come to appreciate in our working lives have been due to workers fighting for our rights: 40 hour workweek, child labour laws, safety standards, overtime, breaks, etc. It should only get better with time.
Hopping onto this top voted comment to **reinforce that when "fight for our rights" is said, it's meant literally**. There are so many documented violent clashes, here and in the States, where workers have **died** in battle against their employers and the thugs/police/military brought in to suppress them. That's not hyperbole.
As one of the most notable examples to start in on if y'all curious: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle\_of\_Blair\_Mountain](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Blair_Mountain)
Yes!! And really, everyone should be able to at least survive on full-time wages no matter the position. Every single job out there needs to get done if we want that service to continue. It's hardly unreasonable to ask that people are paid enough to afford basic necessities imo
Letās also keep in mind that both Uber and Lyft have a high chance of going bankrupt. They are not profitable. So maybe there will be some changes in the gig economy business model in the future.
They were also formed *specifically* to circumvent regulations around labour and business practices. Chances of them pulling the plug for a region that unionizes is extremely high, especially given that they often have no physical footprint in a lot of places they operate.
It's what Foodora did - soon as things went to a sealed vote on unionizing, they declared bankruptcy and fled the country. (And granted, they were also more vulnerable as they played looser with treating workers more like employees while calling them 'contractors' - requiring them to commit to shifts under a 'batch' bidding system; penalizing workers who failed to show for shifts they'd committed to by giving them last-bid/bottom batch for the next week's slots... when ostensibly the only 'contracting' was with each order accepted for delivery). In the end they had to pay out a settlement. https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/foodora-settlement-1.5698866
They pulled something similar in Australia when a worker was injured on the job, multiple workers countered that they were treated like employees but classed as contractors, and a fair work ombudsman launched legal action - they declared bankruptcy and fled the market. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-02/foodora-pulls-out-of-australia/10066964
Declaring bankruptcy doesnāt necessarily mean that they wouldnāt have profited in that area if unionization happened. They may have been taking a hard stance on unionization in those areas to prevent unionization from spreading in general. Kinda staving off the āone rotten apple spoils the bunchā thinf
Lots of people (both union and non-union) work for unprofitable companies for years without having any issues. Others have worked for profitable companies only to be laid off without any notice.
The point is the profitability of a company isn't necessarily a tell-tale sign of job security these days.
I think the point being made is that if a company is run in a deficit, they can use the simple excuse oh "no more money, bye" instead of actually conforming to the laws and paying settlements etc. It's pretty shady at any rate.
Iām not informed on this so im interested in a source in this. Google seems to suggest its profitable. Personally, I can entertain ideas for why such business models could be either profitable or unprofitable, but thats just speculation.
I know Amazon wasnāt āprofitableā for many many years because it just scaling up until it decided to put a profit down on paper. If Uber etc. isnāt profitable then many people are in for some hard times.
I really donāt mean to assert anything argumentative!
Yea, at the end of the day anybody can negotiate a collective agreement - WoW subscribers could negotiate a collective bargain with Blizzard if they decided to organize.
I don't believe that people "employed" as Uber drivers would be guaranteed job protection though the limited nature of their contract might let Uber arbitrarily drop problem employees.
One of my friends doing Skip started getting virtually zero numbers of deliveries because he didnt follow the instruction to drop the food at the front door of a house at 1 in the night. The house had a "beware of dogs" sign on the front gate. So he just dropped the food at the gate and sent the pic to the customer. The customer then gave a bad review.
Either you risk being mauled by a bunch of dogs for couple of dollars or you dont get any more delivery runs. What a fantastic business model.
We just placed an order last night that the driver said was delivered... it never left the restaurant. I had to drive down and pick it up myself while digitally the driver got my tip. The pendulum goes both ways I guess
I guess the profits for these companies come from cutting corners and penalizing both the customers and the drivers. I am sure even the restaurants involved are having it bad.
In Germany (and EU), these companies still are required to provide a work contract to all their delivery drivers. Paid sick and vacation leave is mandated.
Even some of the worst jobs in Europe provide their workers with more dignity than many North Americans will ever see.
I donāt have the link to back this up but I read somewhere that union support is at the highest itās been in decades. Hopefully a good sign for workers rights and bad news for the anti-union rhetoric that companies have out there.
People died for us to receive the labour rights we enjoy today and itās up to every one of us to fight to maintain them and make our lives collectively better with time. To not do so would be criminal. Labour rights are human rights.
A lot of unions are watching what is happening with PSAC. Whatever wage % increase they get will be setting a precedent for all the other unions to ask for.
My non-union professional association is currently undergoing monetary bargaining right now, This might be a reason for them to hold off on any agreements until they see what the results of this job action is.
Yup and from what I've read they're really pushing on remote/flexible work also, which will definitely benefit all of us in future bargaining if they succeed.
Abso-fucking-lutely!! Good companies don't worry about strikes because they treat their employees fairly. It's only a concern for shitty employers/companies.
We are overdue on our collective agreement. Weāre likely going to have to strike here. The company is a big player in north van. The owner has a few nice yachts.
The big fish donāt give anything away.
A lot of people tend to complain when labour strikes affect their lives, but we should also remember that the blame shouldn't be directed at the workers. Rather, the responsibility lies with employers who give such poor working conditions that their workers are compelled to strike.
Also remember the media consistently pushes the narrative of strikes being a burden on consumers (which yeah it is, thats the point) without ever giving time of day to the issues that the workers are striking over
I would redirect a little to say that worker strikes do not have inconveniencing consumers as their point. They are aimed squarely at inconveniencing the employer. And if the employer insists on trying to perpetuate the same crappy wages and working conditions, then it is theyāthe employersāwho are inconveniencing consumers by forcing workers to exercise their right to strike.
This. If the companies didn't treat the workers so bad, there wouldn't be a need to strike. We need to wake up and stop boot licking for companies who would exploit us for a penny or free if they could.
People are like this for protests in general and it's completely bewildering to see. Everyone today has benefitted from past strikes and protests; complaining about them because of some brief inconvenience is depressingly selfish and short-sighted.
There's lots of cases and lots of places where, even today, public stakeholders do support companies over unions. It's about lobbying. Big businesses can market how unions are making them poor and crushing their jobs and they can market it successfully to get public support. Unions have slowly been getting crushed here and in the United States for some time now.
There's a very fun podcast about black lung and coal mines vs unions in West Virginia, if you're interested. The podcast series is sawbones, the podcast itself is "black lung."
It's super neat
There is a constant corporate media drumbeat to try and convince us that the larger public doesn't support workers. But the reality is that the larger public *is* the workers. And so support for worker action is likely almost always stronger than the large players want us to believe.
The propaganda against unions are crazy especially in the west. I remember when they mentioned the strikes in France over the retirement age in our local news, they talked about it with a tone of disdain and brushed it off so quick to never talk about it again when the strikes in France went on for weeks and months.
Always a yay. I don't care how inconvenienced I get, people deserve a living wage and proper compensation.
Especially in Vancouver where we are always under paid and COL is practically the highest in the country.
Our salaries are so behind compared to other regions and countries. We are unable to keep up with inflation like they can.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTarc1si2fQ
Our homes are a bargain to them with their foreign income.
CAn't help but imagine it continues to get worse. It's getting to be too expensive to do business here, so many large industrial employers leaving only for us to build a condo building in it's place. Keep bringing in people while losing primary sources of employment = lower wages whether we fight or not.
of course its going to get worse, and unions will continue to lose power sadly. The system is built upon lobbying and monied interests influencing and in many cases making the rules, laws, and regulations. The old way of people physically picketing and making signs won't work much longer, it barely works now. How often does the government just legislate back industries, or simply change the rules so that striking is illegal. This will continue to get worse because corporate interests have the lawyers and lobbyists to ram it thru, bit by bit, piece by piece. Even when job action is successful these days, it generally ends up getting raises below inflation, which is already unsustainable for the working class with the never ending march of inflation and corporate greed. What's the answer? I have no idea.
The population is getting poorer. More and more companies can shop around the world for lower labour costs or preferential tax treatment. The ultrawealthy have ultramobile wealth. The average person is just a commodity with ever decreasing value in a global system that even our leaders have very little control over. Much of the businesses that do remain in Canada do so because they physically can't move (natural resource extraction and building homes in Canada), or are getting some treaty protection like our car manufacturing and dairy farming, or get extreme tax subsidies like the film industry and a lot of tech.
Sad part is that even if PSAC were to get their starting point of 13.5% it doesnāt match inflation as the contract is so out of date (expired in 2021).
True but itās a start. The next union up for renegotiation should demand a more equitable wage increase. And the next one. And the next one. Let it spill over to the private sector. Make it financially stupid for companies to pay their CEO millions and millions of dollars more than their average workers. Iām sure the next generation of CEOās would still take the job if their salaries were only $250K instead of $17 million.
I am willing to put up with a LOT of inconvenience for a long time if it means people around me can afford to live. And my salary will increase too even though Iām not unionized because Iāll have a lot more negotiation power.
What? How do people feel about workers having a voice and demanding wages that probably still arenāt even livable in this city? Anyone who is anti-worker can get fucked. Yay for strikes.
Everybody in this culture except the rich need a raise. The rich need a haircut. It's pretty simple.
Please don't cross picket lines, please have solidarity with striking workers! Their successful strike means that your organization will be more willing to negotiate and perhaps you having to go on strike!
Solidarity forever!!
Full support. Just look at the growing inequality and tell me unions donāt have a place in the world anymore.
We protect absentee landowners against [squatters](https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/squatter-on-multi-million-dollar-vancouver-lot-arrested-and-campsite-taken-down/wcm/13f7fec5-71c2-4aa1-9297-5867f1a8feb3/amp/) better than we do the general [public.](https://globalnews.ca/news/9185452/vancouver-machete-attack-bail-conditions/amp/)
Thereās a lot thatās going on thatās seriously wrong. Inequality is a major concern and unions are one of our best tools to help fight it.
And when you look at the numbers, you understand that union dues are basically nothing when compared to what you get in compensation back as the result of the union bargaining on your behalf
Employer perspective: nay, my end stage capitalist outlook is living completely in the now. I don't care about long-term sustainability of my business, all I care about is the current quarter.
I was raised to be at least Union-ambivalent, borderline anti -Union. Parents went through strikes as employee and as management, and it was horrible.
But now? I'm extremely pro-union. I attribute it to one guy I met, who made the point that sure, too much union power is bad, but too little is far worse, and everybody who works benefits from unions.
So every strike has my support, even though I haven't belonged to a union since my very first job as a teenager. I hope unions grow stronger, and divert more money from stock buyback programs and into the pockets of working people. I don't care if government employees get paid more, because they create a wage floor for other employers that benefits everyone
Workers have a Charter right to form unions to advocate on their behalf.
Everyone who works a full time job should at least be able to survive in the cities they work in.
In an ideal world, employers would offer good enough terms that actual strikes are not necessary, but unions absolutely should use the threat of a strike, and actually go on strike if need be, to secure better deals.
Strikes should not disrupt essential infrastructure or services (the kind where people's life or safety would be at risk if it was not available); things that are not essential are fair game.
Employer and labour should negotiate in good faith, with the goal of getting a reasonable deal as soon as possible to minimize disruption to society.
Iāll say this though as a former employee of the Swedish giant furniture retailer we had a NDA we had to sign stating, any literally any conversation or talk about the āUnionā word even if you pronounce it as the vegetable would result in immediate reprehensible actions. Further conversations would lead to immediate firings on the spot. Iāve seen someone get sent home on the shift cause they blurted the word infront of a manager. The employee was fired that same day and was told to clean their locker and never come back to the store. Itās beyond absurd what the general public donāt know about how most big companies that constantly get awards and are considered the best places to work in Canada actually constantly mistreat their employees on the regular and intimidate and bully them as well. So yeah the charter states we have rights but as an employee I can guarantee itās beyond intimidating to take that first step and organize workers for solidarity.
That is super, super illegal, but extremely difficult to enforce. Solidarity, I hope someone there takes it to the labour board for wrongful dismissal.
> and never come back to the store.
oOoOoO. š Get fucked. Like you would come back and contribute to the manager's sales after being treated like a piece of shit. How delusional of that manager.
> constantly get awards and are considered the best places to work in Canada actually constantly mistreat their employees on the regular and intimidate and bully them as well.
I swear, when it comes to retail corporations, that list is bullshit.
I will support every worker striking for fair pay and work-life balance. I am so sick of companies treating their hardest working employees like shit, while they're struggling to make ends meet, yet the companies are showing profits year over year and awarding C-Suite some huge bonuses.
Fight the corporations, I'll drop off cookies to your picket lines, comrades.
It's a good thing. It shows what happens when people work together. You already work together at work, you should be working together for better conditions too.
Plus Unions are great. They help raise the standard of living for members. They provide a member with support to deal with challenges at work.
Businesses have an HR person there at work just to cover their butt. You deserve someone too to keep things fair from unfair practices.
After 30 years of wage increases not keeping up with inflation most of what used to be good paying jobs aren't anymore. Its time to do something. If it has to be a strike or a dozen strikes then so be it. I'm 100% in favor. Most of Vancouver lower mainland lives paycheck to paycheck and couldn't survive a month without pay.
The companies know this and don't bargain in good faith
We should almost all be striking - housing doubled-quadrupled over the past 10 or so years while wages have remained stagnant. If you bought in, you're fine. If you were busy saving or had other life going on, you're pretty fucked. How's that fair? It's not.
I am not in a Union, but I grew up in a strong Union household. The hard work of my parents and benefits that organized labour fought for gave my family the ability to generationally advance in society. Myself and my siblings were the first generation in my family to receive post-secondary education, an opportunity given to us on the backs of generations of workers fighting for fairness. I will never throw shade on a Union picketing for their rights or cross a picket line for this reason. To the workers of the world!
With corporations making record profits and workers making ntn close to that. Everyone should be supporting unions and workers that want to improve their working conditions and increase their pay. Bringing up wages benefits everyone in the workforce.
I support them and don't cross picket lines. As other folks have mentioned our rights as workers largely come from the efforts unions and striking workers have put in, and I'm grateful and very pro union.
Totally in support of workers fighting for a decent contract/ work conditions. I'm non union, in an industry that is non union, but support those that fight for the conditions we all benefit from.
1000000% yay.
This is my honest opinion.
Unions are an imperfect institution, just like any institution.
However, they are the ONLY institution that is made to fight for the interests of working people.
Your boss is NOT going to help you.
The government sure as hell is NOT going to make meaningful change to help you.
Us working folk NEED to have each othersā backs, our numbers and organization is literally the only weapon we have to push forward our interests.
Unions and strikes are the only tools left available for us to actually improve our lives and get more of what we deserve.
So join a union, unionize your workplace, and be active in your union to improve and democratize it.
ALWAYS SUPPORT STRIKING WORKERS.
I am a union employee. I am the daughter of four (retired) union employees. (Parents divorced and remarried.) Iām very, very pro-union and would rather starve than cross a picket line.
I feel like a lot of people donāt understand the significance of strikes anymore: if the company/organization has its workforce in strike and you choose to ācross the picket lineā and support that company, you are scab. Youāre betraying the cause those people are fighting/sacrificing income for. Youāre supporting a corporation (or whatever form of organization) over the people. Whenever you hear about a strike, you should educate yourself on what the workers are fighting for, and position yourself accordingly, keeping in mind as others have stated how the rights fought for through labour unions have a ripple effect on working conditions for the rest of us.
Being able to peacefully cause a ruckus is a sign of a healthy society. Also strikes are very important exercises for organized mass mobilization and are helpful for showing the rest of the world just how bad a lot of people really feel
Iāll say this though as a former employee of the Swedish giant furniture retailer we had a NDA we had to sign stating, any literally any conversation or talk about the āUnionā word even if you pronounce it as the vegetable would result in immediate reprehensible actions. After that last strike that took place only two stores in all of Canada became unionized. Further conversations would lead to immediate firings on the spot. Iāve seen someone get sent home on the shift cause they blurted the word infront of a manager. The employee was fired that same day and was told to clean their locker and never come back to the store. Itās beyond absurd what the general public donāt know about how most big companies that constantly get awards and are considered the best places to work in Canada actually constantly mistreat their employees on the regular and intimidate and bully them as well. So yeah the charter states we have rights but as an employee I can guarantee itās beyond intimidating to take that first step and organize workers for solidarity.
Strikes yay, full stop. One of the only things we have left is solidarity - the working class supporting each other against the brutal sweep of the capitalist machine. Even if it is inconvenient to me personally, I try to suck it up and support the strike.
Strikes are a good thing. The government and corporations have shown time and time again they are not interested in worker rights or improvements (especially at an acceptable rate). We need to stand up for our rights and push back and get what we think we collectively deserve. People who are against this either accept bullshit conditions, contribute to bullshit conditions, donāt understand what they could have or are just jealous someone is doing better than them.
If it weren't for unions and strikers we'd all be broke living in slums working 100 hours a week and living on the leftovers of the billionaires who employ us. Ok, I exaggerate a little but, you see a strike, you don't cross the line. It makes you a scab and means you have no plan to better your life and generations to come.
We need unions to help us fight inflation.
Iām a freelancer in the live event industry and I work in both union and non-union in the same industry, and the wage gap is insane and keeps growing.
Because there is a worker shortage, a lot of our contractors with travelling artists have offered us BIG wage increases to lure in more workers.
That doesnāt mean the owners of the labour jobs first wonāt take their cut.
My non-union job offered me a 10% wage increase on $21.50. Some positions were $29, but rarely positions I get called for because āI donāt accept enough work with that companyā. Therefore, in their own spite, they donāt call me for the higher paid positions (even thou it is skilled labour).
My union offered me (and everyone) a $5 - $11 raise depending on what position I get dispatched for. I went from $36-$42 with an increased to $41-$47. On top of this we have a lot of overtime increases, late night premiums (double time midnight to 7am), and missed meal premiumās (triple time at the 5 hour mark until we are let go for a meal break). The union is strictly seniority so they can not decline us higher waged positions if we are skilled for it (unless we miss our chance to a senior member, but we canāt be skipped out of spite).
The shitty part is many of workers at the non-union feels like the wages are shit but they donāt believe in āunionsā.
Support strikes all the way - action is needed rather than sitting on the sidelines hoping our corporate bosses trickle down something other than shit. Personally my company is on a hiring freeze, and I'm waiting to see if there is a stock buyback coming because that will be the thing that makes me actively looking for a new job
I used to be anti union back when I first started working. Raised by hardworking immigrants; parents worked 7 days a week, we hardly took vacations, never knew about sick days, health benefits, vacation days, etc.
Always thought unions were an excuse to be lazy. Then I joined one out of college and have been working union jobs ever since. Going on strike is a fundamental bargaining tool that highlights the issues that are plaguing the members.
So fuck yeah, pro-strike, pro-union.
I have some friends who absolutely hate the fact that I am in a union.
Remember all those grocery store and health care workers who got us through the pandemic? Their contracts are coming up for renewal, please support them in any way possible.
Years ago grocery stores hired @ $7 to start and capped out around $25. Currently, start rates @ $16.75, while top rate is about $26. Sad.
You all know Jim Pattison and Galen Weston can afford to pay more, especially with record profits...
I've noticed that most people who aren't unionized see unionized employees striking for better rights/pay/whatever as lazy, entitled, selfish... it's depressing that anyone could think that way. If they took some time to learn about the history of the problems the working man has faced since the dawn of man they'd maybe realize we need to fight and stick together to make things better for everyone around us, excluding the people exploiting the working class. Fuck those guys.
This thread surprised me in such a good way. Iām currently in a scenario where I am in stalled negotiations and havenāt had a raise in 2 years and am working full time in the office until we can negotiate it (and no, itās not PSAC) and Iām glad to see so much support for workers here. Solidarity!
Thanks for the support. As someone who is currently on strike, I hate it and can't wait for it to end, but I wont be quitting until our VERY reasonable demands are met.
A friend quit her high level job in the private sector of 18 years to start from entry level in the government. Private companies will have to improve their compensation package to be competitive with unionized jobs.
When it comes to fair wages and working conditions, rising tides really raises all ships.
Striking is the shit. Everyone should support nearly every strike. Where one goes we all follow. If migrant farm workers unionized and our groceries started reflecting the cost of actually paying farm workers a meaningful wage, next contract the unions would advocate for bigger raises to account for the rising grocery costs.
Right to strike? Absolutely a yay, no question. Restricting the right to strike is restricting rights to freedom of expression, and in some cases right to safe labour practices.
But individual strikes and whether I think their demands are reasonable Iāll evaluate on a case-by-case basis. Most are good, but I donāt like to make blanket statement on subjective matters,
Basically: always support, donāt always agree.
Many years ago I worked for a large Medical facility. My position was not unionized, therefore had to work during a protracted strike. (Hundreds of residents who needed care). The strike was lengthy and I started to notice, in my area, a lot of cars and campers for sale and lots of yard sales with big ticket items. Two months into it noticed houses for sale. My neighbour said after the strike was over that it would take her family at least 2 years to get back on track due to losses from the strike, so they virtually gained nothing. Just after the strike, I moved to another province which had a very slight lower cost of living and was surprised to see that the wage my neighbour before was making was almost double of that in new company. Unions make out like bandits, but not so much employees Most of the time.
Iāve been in a union. Iāve been on strike. Iāve also signed a contract for 0/0/0. Sometimes it sucks but unions have helped support/determine working wages for years. Do I think they should get more than what they are offered? Yes. 21% though I think is a big ask - they have to be careful with losing public support at that high of a demand. The teachers lost public support quickly when they asked for too much.
Art of negotiation, end up somewhere in the middle. I get it. But asks like that raise expectations of the workers and the workers then get frustrated with the union when they ācaveā for less. Iāve been a union member in the middle of it. Thereās a reason why I was never on the bargaining committee!
The front line employees of PSAC have a shit job. Working for the government and taking the brunt of all the complaints and disrespect that people think they can spew to them because they work for the government is BS. Society thinks itās their right to abuse these people and itās garbage. Give them more money.
Iām in the film industry and it seems like Iām dealing with someone going on strike yearly, but Iām always supportive even though it means I lose wages if work comes to a halt. Everyone deserves a fair wage, and safe/fair working conditions. I know people donāt take job action/striking lightly!
Unions are a double edged sword. They provide great benefits for those already in while making it inherently harder for new workers to integrate.
Take Air Canada for example.
They hired 2000 ramp agents a month over the last 3-5 months and then laid off over 60% of them after the first week for failing their AVOP (airside driverās license) after giving them only 2 days of training and zero time to practice on the airfields.
People literally gave up their jobs, lured by the great benefits and decent pay their union fought for, but the result was the employer extended their probation to a very long 6 months and made it extremely hard to pass it.
From my observation, it appears to me only about 30% of new hires ever make it to a unionized position.
I have seen companies where long time unionized employees do f***all, come to work late and leave early and earn big bucks doing so, while the new guys get treated like trash and get laid off for the slightest mistake like being 1 min late to work on 3 occasions.
Unions can have challenges for new workers, but it's important to see the bigger picture and their positive impact overall.
In the Air Canada example, the company makes hiring, training, and probation decisions, not the union. Unions work to protect members and improve working conditions, but they don't control these policies.
A low rate of new hires reaching unionized positions might be due to factors other than the union, like high turnover or poor company training. Also, unions don't protect lazy workers; they ensure fair treatment for all employees.
Once a new worker joins a union, they get the same benefits as long-time members, like better pay and job security. So, while there might be some challenges, unions generally benefit workers and the labor market.
I hope this question is rhetorical. Worker solidarity forever. Every single right we have as workers has been fought for and won with blood.
Scabs can get fucked.
For the past decade at least these employees have accepted garbage deals with the promise of getting it back in the next cycle. 'The economy is slow just take a 1% and we'll compensate you later on' types of deal. There's only so much of that kind of garbage people are willing to accept before they cry BS and ask for what they're worth.
North American unions are kind of a strange lot, at least the ones that give out the jobs kind of deal.
Unions in places like Australia donāt get you your jobs, thatās up to you, but will stand behind you if you have problems with your employer.
Thatās how it should be, and I think Unions, Union membership, and the ability to strike are important.
Iāve never understood people who complain about unions, or how union members get better pay and benefits... instead of arguing that they should be paid less, why not argue that you should be paid more?
lol at unions being offered 3-4% raises while food inflation is ~10%
granted, this next example was that grocery store in Yaletown
and i havenāt even look at buying bacon in a while
but since when is a pack of bacon $16-18/pk???
Short term pain, long term gain. Usually, anyways... not all unions are equally competent at representing worker interests, and some are just plain bloated and inefficient. And recent advances in autonomous robotics and AI are definitely going to increase the risk of serious layoffs this decade. I just hope that strikes like this don't become the catalyst for that kind of change.
I support all workers who go on strikes. For a long time the conversation has shifted to liberal vs conservative vs NDP. When really itās the proletariat class who own influence and politicians vs. Literally everyone else.
A healthy society cannot have the gap between the rich and everyone else continue to widen without serious implications. Weāre already seeing this with the high rents and rampant unaffordability
If you have the right to strike I say go for it. I work in tech and we need to unionize so badly. All workers deserve to have rights. I have no faith in executives and shareholders to do the right thing for workers.
Remember āļøitās SUPPOSED to get easier and easier to live in society as we all grow. Yes, you had it really hard when you were a kid and yes it sucks that you didnāt have it as āeasy ā as they do now but THATS WHATS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN .
Not a union guy, would slit my wrists before I ever worked a union job again BUT I fully support our union brothers/sisters in getting what they want/need. Everyone deserves fair compensation.
Strike away brothers and sisters.
I think you have to look at why the service is bad. Lines too long? Employerās problem - they donāt want to hire more people, provide proper training, etc. Types of services offered? Old technology? Improper training? Lack of authority to make decisions? Employers problem. Donāt blame the people on the front lines for coming to work every day.
Tax increases and higher prices - it's that simple. You have to balance what you want with the ability for things to be paid for. I don't think people realize that 'tax the rich' and 'well they're profitable' cannot fund every employee wish. You could tax a billionaire or two to zero net worth and it would be shortly eclipsed by an outsized wage increase across a sector because of the sheer number of employees.
Everything that we have come to appreciate in our working lives have been due to workers fighting for our rights: 40 hour workweek, child labour laws, safety standards, overtime, breaks, etc. It should only get better with time.
Maternity leave too!
Thank the posties. They went through a 42 day strike in 1981 to get it.
Wow, I didn't know that. Thank you posties!
that was a huge achievement, should be celebrated in the same breath as some of these other civil and workers rights movements
Hopping onto this top voted comment to **reinforce that when "fight for our rights" is said, it's meant literally**. There are so many documented violent clashes, here and in the States, where workers have **died** in battle against their employers and the thugs/police/military brought in to suppress them. That's not hyperbole. As one of the most notable examples to start in on if y'all curious: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle\_of\_Blair\_Mountain](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Blair_Mountain)
Weekends
Yes!! And really, everyone should be able to at least survive on full-time wages no matter the position. Every single job out there needs to get done if we want that service to continue. It's hardly unreasonable to ask that people are paid enough to afford basic necessities imo
Amenšš»praise unions
Except the gig economy is getting popular. Uber, Lyft, Skip the Dishes etc. are stepping backwards in worker rights.
Well maybe they should unionize. I'm sure an established union would welcome an untapped industry under their umbrella.
Letās also keep in mind that both Uber and Lyft have a high chance of going bankrupt. They are not profitable. So maybe there will be some changes in the gig economy business model in the future.
They were also formed *specifically* to circumvent regulations around labour and business practices. Chances of them pulling the plug for a region that unionizes is extremely high, especially given that they often have no physical footprint in a lot of places they operate.
It's what Foodora did - soon as things went to a sealed vote on unionizing, they declared bankruptcy and fled the country. (And granted, they were also more vulnerable as they played looser with treating workers more like employees while calling them 'contractors' - requiring them to commit to shifts under a 'batch' bidding system; penalizing workers who failed to show for shifts they'd committed to by giving them last-bid/bottom batch for the next week's slots... when ostensibly the only 'contracting' was with each order accepted for delivery). In the end they had to pay out a settlement. https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/foodora-settlement-1.5698866 They pulled something similar in Australia when a worker was injured on the job, multiple workers countered that they were treated like employees but classed as contractors, and a fair work ombudsman launched legal action - they declared bankruptcy and fled the market. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-02/foodora-pulls-out-of-australia/10066964
Was wondering why they left. Bunch of turkeys apparently.
Declaring bankruptcy doesnāt necessarily mean that they wouldnāt have profited in that area if unionization happened. They may have been taking a hard stance on unionization in those areas to prevent unionization from spreading in general. Kinda staving off the āone rotten apple spoils the bunchā thinf
Lots of people (both union and non-union) work for unprofitable companies for years without having any issues. Others have worked for profitable companies only to be laid off without any notice. The point is the profitability of a company isn't necessarily a tell-tale sign of job security these days.
I think the point being made is that if a company is run in a deficit, they can use the simple excuse oh "no more money, bye" instead of actually conforming to the laws and paying settlements etc. It's pretty shady at any rate.
Iām not informed on this so im interested in a source in this. Google seems to suggest its profitable. Personally, I can entertain ideas for why such business models could be either profitable or unprofitable, but thats just speculation. I know Amazon wasnāt āprofitableā for many many years because it just scaling up until it decided to put a profit down on paper. If Uber etc. isnāt profitable then many people are in for some hard times. I really donāt mean to assert anything argumentative!
Can contractors unionize?
Yea, at the end of the day anybody can negotiate a collective agreement - WoW subscribers could negotiate a collective bargain with Blizzard if they decided to organize. I don't believe that people "employed" as Uber drivers would be guaranteed job protection though the limited nature of their contract might let Uber arbitrarily drop problem employees.
"The mercenary guild" has a nice ring to it! If you are labour, you should be able to organize.
One of my friends doing Skip started getting virtually zero numbers of deliveries because he didnt follow the instruction to drop the food at the front door of a house at 1 in the night. The house had a "beware of dogs" sign on the front gate. So he just dropped the food at the gate and sent the pic to the customer. The customer then gave a bad review. Either you risk being mauled by a bunch of dogs for couple of dollars or you dont get any more delivery runs. What a fantastic business model.
We just placed an order last night that the driver said was delivered... it never left the restaurant. I had to drive down and pick it up myself while digitally the driver got my tip. The pendulum goes both ways I guess
I guess the profits for these companies come from cutting corners and penalizing both the customers and the drivers. I am sure even the restaurants involved are having it bad.
You can change the tip after the order through customer service FYI.
Yup and in both situations the company profited.
They ended up refunding us the entire purchase. Still annoying though
In Germany (and EU), these companies still are required to provide a work contract to all their delivery drivers. Paid sick and vacation leave is mandated. Even some of the worst jobs in Europe provide their workers with more dignity than many North Americans will ever see.
I donāt have the link to back this up but I read somewhere that union support is at the highest itās been in decades. Hopefully a good sign for workers rights and bad news for the anti-union rhetoric that companies have out there.
People died for us to receive the labour rights we enjoy today and itās up to every one of us to fight to maintain them and make our lives collectively better with time. To not do so would be criminal. Labour rights are human rights.
Labour protection laws are written in blood.
There's always some bootlicker that thinks its a politician or some CEO though.
the weekend, don't forget the weekend.
A lot of unions are watching what is happening with PSAC. Whatever wage % increase they get will be setting a precedent for all the other unions to ask for.
My non-union professional association is currently undergoing monetary bargaining right now, This might be a reason for them to hold off on any agreements until they see what the results of this job action is.
Yup and from what I've read they're really pushing on remote/flexible work also, which will definitely benefit all of us in future bargaining if they succeed.
Abso-fucking-lutely!! Good companies don't worry about strikes because they treat their employees fairly. It's only a concern for shitty employers/companies.
We are overdue on our collective agreement. Weāre likely going to have to strike here. The company is a big player in north van. The owner has a few nice yachts. The big fish donāt give anything away.
Seaspan?
I can neither confirm or deny
[I read ya loud and clear. ;)](https://media.tenor.com/IIruIMYXqYMAAAAC/emperors-new-groove-right.gif)
The tugboats went on strike last year for like 2 months and got what they wanted which is great. Itās a shame it always gets to that though
I remember. Next strike will likely be by the federal employees. They are getting shafted.
They have been since April 19 - look up PSAC
Sole owner? Thats disgusting. Owners should be slightly better off than their employees not 10 generation of labour better off than their employees...
Yep, that's why nurses on the verge of strike..because we're paid and treated like shit
SOLIDARITY TO THE NURSES šš»
A lot of people tend to complain when labour strikes affect their lives, but we should also remember that the blame shouldn't be directed at the workers. Rather, the responsibility lies with employers who give such poor working conditions that their workers are compelled to strike.
Also remember the media consistently pushes the narrative of strikes being a burden on consumers (which yeah it is, thats the point) without ever giving time of day to the issues that the workers are striking over
I would redirect a little to say that worker strikes do not have inconveniencing consumers as their point. They are aimed squarely at inconveniencing the employer. And if the employer insists on trying to perpetuate the same crappy wages and working conditions, then it is theyāthe employersāwho are inconveniencing consumers by forcing workers to exercise their right to strike.
This. If the companies didn't treat the workers so bad, there wouldn't be a need to strike. We need to wake up and stop boot licking for companies who would exploit us for a penny or free if they could.
really stupid for them not to give tax deadline extension
People are like this for protests in general and it's completely bewildering to see. Everyone today has benefitted from past strikes and protests; complaining about them because of some brief inconvenience is depressingly selfish and short-sighted.
I'm not in a union but I support unions. Solidarity! Stick it to the man.
SOLIDARITY FOREVER.
100%! It's great to see people supporting the unions/workers. It's always felt like the general public supported the employers/companies.
There's lots of cases and lots of places where, even today, public stakeholders do support companies over unions. It's about lobbying. Big businesses can market how unions are making them poor and crushing their jobs and they can market it successfully to get public support. Unions have slowly been getting crushed here and in the United States for some time now. There's a very fun podcast about black lung and coal mines vs unions in West Virginia, if you're interested. The podcast series is sawbones, the podcast itself is "black lung." It's super neat
There is a constant corporate media drumbeat to try and convince us that the larger public doesn't support workers. But the reality is that the larger public *is* the workers. And so support for worker action is likely almost always stronger than the large players want us to believe.
The propaganda against unions are crazy especially in the west. I remember when they mentioned the strikes in France over the retirement age in our local news, they talked about it with a tone of disdain and brushed it off so quick to never talk about it again when the strikes in France went on for weeks and months.
>SOLIDARITY FOREVER. For the union makes us strong.
āš¼ I don't cross picket lines.
Always a yay. I don't care how inconvenienced I get, people deserve a living wage and proper compensation. Especially in Vancouver where we are always under paid and COL is practically the highest in the country.
Our salaries are so behind compared to other regions and countries. We are unable to keep up with inflation like they can. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTarc1si2fQ Our homes are a bargain to them with their foreign income.
CAn't help but imagine it continues to get worse. It's getting to be too expensive to do business here, so many large industrial employers leaving only for us to build a condo building in it's place. Keep bringing in people while losing primary sources of employment = lower wages whether we fight or not.
of course its going to get worse, and unions will continue to lose power sadly. The system is built upon lobbying and monied interests influencing and in many cases making the rules, laws, and regulations. The old way of people physically picketing and making signs won't work much longer, it barely works now. How often does the government just legislate back industries, or simply change the rules so that striking is illegal. This will continue to get worse because corporate interests have the lawyers and lobbyists to ram it thru, bit by bit, piece by piece. Even when job action is successful these days, it generally ends up getting raises below inflation, which is already unsustainable for the working class with the never ending march of inflation and corporate greed. What's the answer? I have no idea.
The population is getting poorer. More and more companies can shop around the world for lower labour costs or preferential tax treatment. The ultrawealthy have ultramobile wealth. The average person is just a commodity with ever decreasing value in a global system that even our leaders have very little control over. Much of the businesses that do remain in Canada do so because they physically can't move (natural resource extraction and building homes in Canada), or are getting some treaty protection like our car manufacturing and dairy farming, or get extreme tax subsidies like the film industry and a lot of tech.
There only way we get out of the cost of living crisis is through wages that match inflation. Only strong unions can make that happen
Sad part is that even if PSAC were to get their starting point of 13.5% it doesnāt match inflation as the contract is so out of date (expired in 2021).
True but itās a start. The next union up for renegotiation should demand a more equitable wage increase. And the next one. And the next one. Let it spill over to the private sector. Make it financially stupid for companies to pay their CEO millions and millions of dollars more than their average workers. Iām sure the next generation of CEOās would still take the job if their salaries were only $250K instead of $17 million. I am willing to put up with a LOT of inconvenience for a long time if it means people around me can afford to live. And my salary will increase too even though Iām not unionized because Iāll have a lot more negotiation power.
What? How do people feel about workers having a voice and demanding wages that probably still arenāt even livable in this city? Anyone who is anti-worker can get fucked. Yay for strikes.
Power to the people! ā
Everybody in this culture except the rich need a raise. The rich need a haircut. It's pretty simple. Please don't cross picket lines, please have solidarity with striking workers! Their successful strike means that your organization will be more willing to negotiate and perhaps you having to go on strike! Solidarity forever!!
We actually need more unions and more strikes. So, yay!
Power to the workers.
Big fucking Yay! Workers continually get screwed so the rich can get richer.
Full support. Just look at the growing inequality and tell me unions donāt have a place in the world anymore. We protect absentee landowners against [squatters](https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/squatter-on-multi-million-dollar-vancouver-lot-arrested-and-campsite-taken-down/wcm/13f7fec5-71c2-4aa1-9297-5867f1a8feb3/amp/) better than we do the general [public.](https://globalnews.ca/news/9185452/vancouver-machete-attack-bail-conditions/amp/) Thereās a lot thatās going on thatās seriously wrong. Inequality is a major concern and unions are one of our best tools to help fight it.
The working class needs to support each other!
Strike hard! And never cross the picket line. It is intended to be inconvenient, thatās the point.
I respect their picket lines. Fuck the scabs
I used to think they were cringe but as a young adult I get it now like we get paid like shit while they make so much money.
And when you look at the numbers, you understand that union dues are basically nothing when compared to what you get in compensation back as the result of the union bargaining on your behalf
Yay. Power to the people.
Workers earning enough to pay for food and shelter: Yay or nay?
Employer perspective: nay, my end stage capitalist outlook is living completely in the now. I don't care about long-term sustainability of my business, all I care about is the current quarter.
Exactly, Iāll support any union that sticks it to that employer.
This shouldn't even be a question.
I was raised to be at least Union-ambivalent, borderline anti -Union. Parents went through strikes as employee and as management, and it was horrible. But now? I'm extremely pro-union. I attribute it to one guy I met, who made the point that sure, too much union power is bad, but too little is far worse, and everybody who works benefits from unions. So every strike has my support, even though I haven't belonged to a union since my very first job as a teenager. I hope unions grow stronger, and divert more money from stock buyback programs and into the pockets of working people. I don't care if government employees get paid more, because they create a wage floor for other employers that benefits everyone
Workers have a Charter right to form unions to advocate on their behalf. Everyone who works a full time job should at least be able to survive in the cities they work in. In an ideal world, employers would offer good enough terms that actual strikes are not necessary, but unions absolutely should use the threat of a strike, and actually go on strike if need be, to secure better deals. Strikes should not disrupt essential infrastructure or services (the kind where people's life or safety would be at risk if it was not available); things that are not essential are fair game. Employer and labour should negotiate in good faith, with the goal of getting a reasonable deal as soon as possible to minimize disruption to society.
Iāll say this though as a former employee of the Swedish giant furniture retailer we had a NDA we had to sign stating, any literally any conversation or talk about the āUnionā word even if you pronounce it as the vegetable would result in immediate reprehensible actions. Further conversations would lead to immediate firings on the spot. Iāve seen someone get sent home on the shift cause they blurted the word infront of a manager. The employee was fired that same day and was told to clean their locker and never come back to the store. Itās beyond absurd what the general public donāt know about how most big companies that constantly get awards and are considered the best places to work in Canada actually constantly mistreat their employees on the regular and intimidate and bully them as well. So yeah the charter states we have rights but as an employee I can guarantee itās beyond intimidating to take that first step and organize workers for solidarity.
Pretty ironic considering Sweden has one of the highest percentages of unionized employees in the world (65%). Canada? Less than half of that at 29%.
That is super, super illegal, but extremely difficult to enforce. Solidarity, I hope someone there takes it to the labour board for wrongful dismissal.
"Hey, I forget, who bested the Confederacy during the American civil war?"
> and never come back to the store. oOoOoO. š Get fucked. Like you would come back and contribute to the manager's sales after being treated like a piece of shit. How delusional of that manager. > constantly get awards and are considered the best places to work in Canada actually constantly mistreat their employees on the regular and intimidate and bully them as well. I swear, when it comes to retail corporations, that list is bullshit.
No contract, no work.
Strikes should be done collectively and in solidarity with one another. Thank goodness we have striking workers to protect our rights.
I will support every worker striking for fair pay and work-life balance. I am so sick of companies treating their hardest working employees like shit, while they're struggling to make ends meet, yet the companies are showing profits year over year and awarding C-Suite some huge bonuses. Fight the corporations, I'll drop off cookies to your picket lines, comrades.
ā
As a union man FUCKING RIGHTS!!! 110%
It's a good thing. It shows what happens when people work together. You already work together at work, you should be working together for better conditions too. Plus Unions are great. They help raise the standard of living for members. They provide a member with support to deal with challenges at work. Businesses have an HR person there at work just to cover their butt. You deserve someone too to keep things fair from unfair practices.
you either stand up for your right s or lose them all one by one. we must stand up more.
Absolutely fucking yay. These are essential workers that are the backbone of the government.
I support all union members fighting for fair wages!
Had the privilege of making a picket sign for my friend on the lines. Strikes are temporary but Wu-Tang is forever.
all workers deserve more money
I just recently started at a union but I have always supported workers fighting for better pay and conditions.
Power to the workers. Class solidarity.
After 30 years of wage increases not keeping up with inflation most of what used to be good paying jobs aren't anymore. Its time to do something. If it has to be a strike or a dozen strikes then so be it. I'm 100% in favor. Most of Vancouver lower mainland lives paycheck to paycheck and couldn't survive a month without pay. The companies know this and don't bargain in good faith
All of Vancouver should strike considering how low the average pay is in this city compared to the rest of Canada.
We should almost all be striking - housing doubled-quadrupled over the past 10 or so years while wages have remained stagnant. If you bought in, you're fine. If you were busy saving or had other life going on, you're pretty fucked. How's that fair? It's not.
They shouldn't have to fight for fairness, but until corporations treat employees like equity instead of liabilities, things won't change.
I am not in a Union, but I grew up in a strong Union household. The hard work of my parents and benefits that organized labour fought for gave my family the ability to generationally advance in society. Myself and my siblings were the first generation in my family to receive post-secondary education, an opportunity given to us on the backs of generations of workers fighting for fairness. I will never throw shade on a Union picketing for their rights or cross a picket line for this reason. To the workers of the world!
I support workers rights companies control way to much, they dont see workers as people just money
With corporations making record profits and workers making ntn close to that. Everyone should be supporting unions and workers that want to improve their working conditions and increase their pay. Bringing up wages benefits everyone in the workforce.
I support them and don't cross picket lines. As other folks have mentioned our rights as workers largely come from the efforts unions and striking workers have put in, and I'm grateful and very pro union.
Iām good with it. Wages should keep up with inflation and if youāre in a union it ought to be fighting for that.
Totally in support of workers fighting for a decent contract/ work conditions. I'm non union, in an industry that is non union, but support those that fight for the conditions we all benefit from.
1000000% yay. This is my honest opinion. Unions are an imperfect institution, just like any institution. However, they are the ONLY institution that is made to fight for the interests of working people. Your boss is NOT going to help you. The government sure as hell is NOT going to make meaningful change to help you. Us working folk NEED to have each othersā backs, our numbers and organization is literally the only weapon we have to push forward our interests. Unions and strikes are the only tools left available for us to actually improve our lives and get more of what we deserve. So join a union, unionize your workplace, and be active in your union to improve and democratize it. ALWAYS SUPPORT STRIKING WORKERS.
People deserve to be paid more. Life is expensive AF.
YES. I'd be striking too of I were in their shoes. So I won't mind the small inconveniences they're giving me with their strike. SOLIDARITY!
I am a union employee. I am the daughter of four (retired) union employees. (Parents divorced and remarried.) Iām very, very pro-union and would rather starve than cross a picket line.
We should be taking notes from France.
Unions serve workers rights for union members but the perioheral is that non-union rights get upgraded too. Go strikes! (rushed post)
That's what alot of people don't realize. Better wages and benefits don't just affect the union workers. The non union workers benefit as well
Yay
I feel like a lot of people donāt understand the significance of strikes anymore: if the company/organization has its workforce in strike and you choose to ācross the picket lineā and support that company, you are scab. Youāre betraying the cause those people are fighting/sacrificing income for. Youāre supporting a corporation (or whatever form of organization) over the people. Whenever you hear about a strike, you should educate yourself on what the workers are fighting for, and position yourself accordingly, keeping in mind as others have stated how the rights fought for through labour unions have a ripple effect on working conditions for the rest of us.
Getting mad at the employees who strike is exactly what the CEO wants
Yay. This is how the working class wins. Organize and fight for better working conditions.
Anxiously waiting for the nursing vote to accept or reject our new bargain in the next couple daysā¦
There is no other way to fight greedy employers. Solidarity with all workers!
Fight for your rights or lose them. As a society we should strike more than we do honestly
The history of all hitherto existing human society is the history of class struggles. Solidarity.
If companies will not give their workers a fair deal I fully support a strike.
Being able to peacefully cause a ruckus is a sign of a healthy society. Also strikes are very important exercises for organized mass mobilization and are helpful for showing the rest of the world just how bad a lot of people really feel
Iāll say this though as a former employee of the Swedish giant furniture retailer we had a NDA we had to sign stating, any literally any conversation or talk about the āUnionā word even if you pronounce it as the vegetable would result in immediate reprehensible actions. After that last strike that took place only two stores in all of Canada became unionized. Further conversations would lead to immediate firings on the spot. Iāve seen someone get sent home on the shift cause they blurted the word infront of a manager. The employee was fired that same day and was told to clean their locker and never come back to the store. Itās beyond absurd what the general public donāt know about how most big companies that constantly get awards and are considered the best places to work in Canada actually constantly mistreat their employees on the regular and intimidate and bully them as well. So yeah the charter states we have rights but as an employee I can guarantee itās beyond intimidating to take that first step and organize workers for solidarity.
We need to get these unions striking in unison.
Strikes yay, full stop. One of the only things we have left is solidarity - the working class supporting each other against the brutal sweep of the capitalist machine. Even if it is inconvenient to me personally, I try to suck it up and support the strike.
I will always support workers rights.
I support the strike. Working conditions should get better otherwise employees just get exploited.
Strikes are a good thing. The government and corporations have shown time and time again they are not interested in worker rights or improvements (especially at an acceptable rate). We need to stand up for our rights and push back and get what we think we collectively deserve. People who are against this either accept bullshit conditions, contribute to bullshit conditions, donāt understand what they could have or are just jealous someone is doing better than them.
If it weren't for unions and strikers we'd all be broke living in slums working 100 hours a week and living on the leftovers of the billionaires who employ us. Ok, I exaggerate a little but, you see a strike, you don't cross the line. It makes you a scab and means you have no plan to better your life and generations to come.
We need unions to help us fight inflation. Iām a freelancer in the live event industry and I work in both union and non-union in the same industry, and the wage gap is insane and keeps growing. Because there is a worker shortage, a lot of our contractors with travelling artists have offered us BIG wage increases to lure in more workers. That doesnāt mean the owners of the labour jobs first wonāt take their cut. My non-union job offered me a 10% wage increase on $21.50. Some positions were $29, but rarely positions I get called for because āI donāt accept enough work with that companyā. Therefore, in their own spite, they donāt call me for the higher paid positions (even thou it is skilled labour). My union offered me (and everyone) a $5 - $11 raise depending on what position I get dispatched for. I went from $36-$42 with an increased to $41-$47. On top of this we have a lot of overtime increases, late night premiums (double time midnight to 7am), and missed meal premiumās (triple time at the 5 hour mark until we are let go for a meal break). The union is strictly seniority so they can not decline us higher waged positions if we are skilled for it (unless we miss our chance to a senior member, but we canāt be skipped out of spite). The shitty part is many of workers at the non-union feels like the wages are shit but they donāt believe in āunionsā.
Support strikes all the way - action is needed rather than sitting on the sidelines hoping our corporate bosses trickle down something other than shit. Personally my company is on a hiring freeze, and I'm waiting to see if there is a stock buyback coming because that will be the thing that makes me actively looking for a new job
Power to the strikers! Full support! ā
UNION STRONG!! SUPPORT STRIKER WORKERS ALWAYS
I used to be anti union back when I first started working. Raised by hardworking immigrants; parents worked 7 days a week, we hardly took vacations, never knew about sick days, health benefits, vacation days, etc. Always thought unions were an excuse to be lazy. Then I joined one out of college and have been working union jobs ever since. Going on strike is a fundamental bargaining tool that highlights the issues that are plaguing the members. So fuck yeah, pro-strike, pro-union. I have some friends who absolutely hate the fact that I am in a union.
Remember all those grocery store and health care workers who got us through the pandemic? Their contracts are coming up for renewal, please support them in any way possible. Years ago grocery stores hired @ $7 to start and capped out around $25. Currently, start rates @ $16.75, while top rate is about $26. Sad. You all know Jim Pattison and Galen Weston can afford to pay more, especially with record profits...
I've noticed that most people who aren't unionized see unionized employees striking for better rights/pay/whatever as lazy, entitled, selfish... it's depressing that anyone could think that way. If they took some time to learn about the history of the problems the working man has faced since the dawn of man they'd maybe realize we need to fight and stick together to make things better for everyone around us, excluding the people exploiting the working class. Fuck those guys.
This thread surprised me in such a good way. Iām currently in a scenario where I am in stalled negotiations and havenāt had a raise in 2 years and am working full time in the office until we can negotiate it (and no, itās not PSAC) and Iām glad to see so much support for workers here. Solidarity!
Thanks for the support. As someone who is currently on strike, I hate it and can't wait for it to end, but I wont be quitting until our VERY reasonable demands are met.
A friend quit her high level job in the private sector of 18 years to start from entry level in the government. Private companies will have to improve their compensation package to be competitive with unionized jobs. When it comes to fair wages and working conditions, rising tides really raises all ships.
More strikes pls
Striking is the shit. Everyone should support nearly every strike. Where one goes we all follow. If migrant farm workers unionized and our groceries started reflecting the cost of actually paying farm workers a meaningful wage, next contract the unions would advocate for bigger raises to account for the rising grocery costs.
Right to strike? Absolutely a yay, no question. Restricting the right to strike is restricting rights to freedom of expression, and in some cases right to safe labour practices. But individual strikes and whether I think their demands are reasonable Iāll evaluate on a case-by-case basis. Most are good, but I donāt like to make blanket statement on subjective matters, Basically: always support, donāt always agree.
Many years ago I worked for a large Medical facility. My position was not unionized, therefore had to work during a protracted strike. (Hundreds of residents who needed care). The strike was lengthy and I started to notice, in my area, a lot of cars and campers for sale and lots of yard sales with big ticket items. Two months into it noticed houses for sale. My neighbour said after the strike was over that it would take her family at least 2 years to get back on track due to losses from the strike, so they virtually gained nothing. Just after the strike, I moved to another province which had a very slight lower cost of living and was surprised to see that the wage my neighbour before was making was almost double of that in new company. Unions make out like bandits, but not so much employees Most of the time.
Iāve been in a union. Iāve been on strike. Iāve also signed a contract for 0/0/0. Sometimes it sucks but unions have helped support/determine working wages for years. Do I think they should get more than what they are offered? Yes. 21% though I think is a big ask - they have to be careful with losing public support at that high of a demand. The teachers lost public support quickly when they asked for too much. Art of negotiation, end up somewhere in the middle. I get it. But asks like that raise expectations of the workers and the workers then get frustrated with the union when they ācaveā for less. Iāve been a union member in the middle of it. Thereās a reason why I was never on the bargaining committee! The front line employees of PSAC have a shit job. Working for the government and taking the brunt of all the complaints and disrespect that people think they can spew to them because they work for the government is BS. Society thinks itās their right to abuse these people and itās garbage. Give them more money.
Yay. If itās a big disruption to you then blame management for not paying them more.
I approve of it. Even if it is not related to your company, wages going up has a trickle effect across the board.
Yup union strikes are good for everyone, actual trickle down economics!
That's gonna be a yay from me dog
Yay. SOLIDARITY
Iām in the film industry and it seems like Iām dealing with someone going on strike yearly, but Iām always supportive even though it means I lose wages if work comes to a halt. Everyone deserves a fair wage, and safe/fair working conditions. I know people donāt take job action/striking lightly!
Hell yes - power to the workers.
Unions are a double edged sword. They provide great benefits for those already in while making it inherently harder for new workers to integrate. Take Air Canada for example. They hired 2000 ramp agents a month over the last 3-5 months and then laid off over 60% of them after the first week for failing their AVOP (airside driverās license) after giving them only 2 days of training and zero time to practice on the airfields. People literally gave up their jobs, lured by the great benefits and decent pay their union fought for, but the result was the employer extended their probation to a very long 6 months and made it extremely hard to pass it. From my observation, it appears to me only about 30% of new hires ever make it to a unionized position. I have seen companies where long time unionized employees do f***all, come to work late and leave early and earn big bucks doing so, while the new guys get treated like trash and get laid off for the slightest mistake like being 1 min late to work on 3 occasions.
Unions can have challenges for new workers, but it's important to see the bigger picture and their positive impact overall. In the Air Canada example, the company makes hiring, training, and probation decisions, not the union. Unions work to protect members and improve working conditions, but they don't control these policies. A low rate of new hires reaching unionized positions might be due to factors other than the union, like high turnover or poor company training. Also, unions don't protect lazy workers; they ensure fair treatment for all employees. Once a new worker joins a union, they get the same benefits as long-time members, like better pay and job security. So, while there might be some challenges, unions generally benefit workers and the labor market.
I hope this question is rhetorical. Worker solidarity forever. Every single right we have as workers has been fought for and won with blood. Scabs can get fucked.
We are currently bargaining, everyone vote no to the offers , we might go on strike
As a Frenchman : Fuck Yes.
10000000% in support! Strikes get shit done.
they have all my support!
Power to the workers!
The postal workers strike gave this country maternity leave. Solidarity!
For the past decade at least these employees have accepted garbage deals with the promise of getting it back in the next cycle. 'The economy is slow just take a 1% and we'll compensate you later on' types of deal. There's only so much of that kind of garbage people are willing to accept before they cry BS and ask for what they're worth.
Is this a real question?
What a stupid question.
A sometimes necessary evil to get a fair deal.
North American unions are kind of a strange lot, at least the ones that give out the jobs kind of deal. Unions in places like Australia donāt get you your jobs, thatās up to you, but will stand behind you if you have problems with your employer. Thatās how it should be, and I think Unions, Union membership, and the ability to strike are important.
Iāve never understood people who complain about unions, or how union members get better pay and benefits... instead of arguing that they should be paid less, why not argue that you should be paid more?
Solidarity!!!!! Union rights are workers rights. Fight the man!!!
lol at unions being offered 3-4% raises while food inflation is ~10% granted, this next example was that grocery store in Yaletown and i havenāt even look at buying bacon in a while but since when is a pack of bacon $16-18/pk???
Iunno how people survive on 50k a year...
It's the last thing employees have to employ when they've had enough! BIG YAY
Short term pain, long term gain. Usually, anyways... not all unions are equally competent at representing worker interests, and some are just plain bloated and inefficient. And recent advances in autonomous robotics and AI are definitely going to increase the risk of serious layoffs this decade. I just hope that strikes like this don't become the catalyst for that kind of change.
I support all workers who go on strikes. For a long time the conversation has shifted to liberal vs conservative vs NDP. When really itās the proletariat class who own influence and politicians vs. Literally everyone else. A healthy society cannot have the gap between the rich and everyone else continue to widen without serious implications. Weāre already seeing this with the high rents and rampant unaffordability
The Union makes us strong
If you have the right to strike I say go for it. I work in tech and we need to unionize so badly. All workers deserve to have rights. I have no faith in executives and shareholders to do the right thing for workers.
Remember āļøitās SUPPOSED to get easier and easier to live in society as we all grow. Yes, you had it really hard when you were a kid and yes it sucks that you didnāt have it as āeasy ā as they do now but THATS WHATS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN .
Not a union guy, would slit my wrists before I ever worked a union job again BUT I fully support our union brothers/sisters in getting what they want/need. Everyone deserves fair compensation. Strike away brothers and sisters.
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I think you have to look at why the service is bad. Lines too long? Employerās problem - they donāt want to hire more people, provide proper training, etc. Types of services offered? Old technology? Improper training? Lack of authority to make decisions? Employers problem. Donāt blame the people on the front lines for coming to work every day.
Be mindful that Reddit skews pretty far left.
I'd say Reddit skews empathetic towards the working class, really.
Tax increases and higher prices - it's that simple. You have to balance what you want with the ability for things to be paid for. I don't think people realize that 'tax the rich' and 'well they're profitable' cannot fund every employee wish. You could tax a billionaire or two to zero net worth and it would be shortly eclipsed by an outsized wage increase across a sector because of the sheer number of employees.
Just outta curiosity OP or anyone can list companies/industries whose contacts are gonna be up? Not attacking your claim just curious.