Union Bug Blog
-
Sep 10, 2012 -
The Costs of Mental Illness
September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day. Almost every person in every community across Canada is touched in some way by mental health problems and illnesses. Fortunately, organizations like Partners for Mental Health (www.partnersformh.ca) are helping to get accurate information about mental illness out to the public and also to help dispel the many myths that surround it.
-
Aug 30, 2012 -
Labour Day 2012
Welcome to Labour Day, the holiday that is so much a part of our culture that Canadians rarely pause to consider its true purpose and meaning. Today, Labour Day is more associated with a day off work, spending time with the kids, and enjoying good music and food, rather than with what it was meant to be - a heartfelt celebration of workers and the labour movement. That's too bad, but not surprising.
-
Aug 20, 2012 -
Health Status of Poor Deteriorating
A recent study commissioned by the Canadian Medical Association shows that there is a growing inequality in access to health care. One in four Canadians earning less than $30,000 annually have delayed or stopped taking prescription drugs because they did not have money to pay for the treatment.
-
Aug 14, 2012 -
Court Orders Second Canada Post Arbitrator to Recuse Himself
The Federal Court of Canada ruled yesterday that Guy Dufort, the second arbitrator appointed by the Harper government to resolve the dispute between Canada Post and its unionized wokers, must step aside and federal Labour Minister, Lisa Raitt, appoint a replacement.
-
Jul 30, 2012 -
The Looming Housing Crisis
The housing bubble in the United States that burst a few years ago has left more than 20 million people unemployed, underemployed or out of the workforce altogether. There are also more than 10 million homeowners that are behind in their mortgages. And tens of millions of Americans approaching retirement have seen most of their life’s savings disappear when plunging house prices eliminated most or all of the equity in their homes.
-
Jul 05, 2012 -
Nine European Countries Take Important Step Towards implementing Robin Hood Tax
At a recent meeting of European Finance Ministers in Copenhagen an agreement was reached paving the way for nine countries to implement a Financial Transactions Tax (FTT), commonly called the Robin Hood Tax. The nine countries considering it include Germany, France, Austria, Belgium, Portugal, Greece, Slovenia, Estonia and possibly Slovakia.
-
Jun 21, 2012 -
June 21 is Aboriginal Solidarity Day
June 21 is celebrated as Aboriginal Solidarity Day across the country, a day first proclaimed in 1996 as an annual occasion to recognize the diverse cultures and outstanding contributions to Canada of the First Nations, Inuit and M
-
Jun 12, 2012 -
Boycotting National Public Service Week
In the midst of a budgetary debate over drastic cuts to the federal public service, the Harper government has had the audacity to declare June 10-16, 2012 as National Public Service Week.
-
Jun 07, 2012 -
Report Shows Conservative Government on Mission to Cut Public Services
A report released this week in Switzerland by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) accuses the Canadian government of leading an attack on worker rights and for signaling to the country’s provinces and territories that it’s “open season” on freedom of association and collective bargaining.
-
May 30, 2012 -
Proud to March in Pride
In 1987, about 250 brave people took part in Winnipeg’s first Pride Day. This June 3, I will be attending Winnipeg’s 25th Pride celebration.