By Past President Joanie Cameron Pritchett Right now in Russia, the host of the upcoming 2014 Winter Olympics Games, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people are facing untold oppression and brutality. The government has recently established new, draconian laws that violate their basic rights and put them at huge risk of further violence. Since its […]
By Past President Joanie Cameron Pritchett The Confederation of Canadian Unions and its affiliates throughout the country, like YUSA, have been leaders in the fightback against the bureaucratic and anti-democratic C-377, a private members bill put forth by Conservative MP Russ Heibert. As we have said before, the bill will radically increase red tape and […]
The YUSA Executive Board recommends the approval of the 2013 Operating Budget. Accept – 118 Reject – 26 Spoiled – 1 TOTAL Ballots 145 P.S. A special thank you to the two members who helped with counting of the ballots June 27, 2013
By Robin Smith, Second Vice-President York University Staff Association In recent weeks, we have all seen or heard news stories about the Bangladeshi workers who were either injured or crushed to death when the garment factory where they worked collapsed. Scenarios such as this have occurred countless times in recent years, and have spawned an […]
The Confederation of Canadian Unions, of which YUSA is a pround member, held it’s 2013 executive meeting and labour school in Toronto. Delegates from the CCU’s four affiliated unions across the country took part. The keynote speaker was Lorraine Sudnik from York University, who led a fascinating, day-long workshop on the issue of work/life balance. […]
As YUSA President, I will make best efforts to send out regular communiques on the list serve to keep the membership up-to-date on developments and events. We are working hard on a number of items and preparing for the remainder of 2013 to be busy and productive. The YusApuY Executive Board has set out the […]
YUSA elections were held for the following positions: 2nd Vice President (one elected) Bargaining Committee Members at Large (two elected) Read the Election Results Congratulations to 2nd Vice President Robin Smith and Bargaining Committee Members at large Michael Belanger and Sandra Bell. Thanks to all those who stood as candidates.
Written by Past President Joanie Cameron Pritchett for the PPWC Leaflet The class agenda of Prime Minister Steven Harper and the federal Conservative government are quite obvious. More for the wealthy minority, less for the working majority. It’s exactly what we would expect from a right-wing government supported by powerful corporate interests. Another step towards […]
“Unions have outlived their usefulness.” We’ve all heard this line before. Labour unions are old-fashioned, outdated and a relic of a bygone era. Type the phrase “unions have outlived their usefulness” into a Google search on the internet, and you’ll receive more than 30,000 results. Approaching Labour Day, I can almost hear right-wing media pundits […]
By Past President Joanie Cameron Pritchett Exactly one year ago today, I was driving to my office in Toronto. It was then I heard on the radio that Jack Layton had passed away. I remember very clearly that the sky was incredibly blue and the clouds were very puffy and playfully dancing in the sky. […]