Labour history – Page 4 – Union of Canadian Transportation Employees

Biography – Percy Bourne

Today we bring you the biography of Percy Bourne, a former UCTE president. An important pillar of the union, Percy Bourne, a former UCTE National President, began his involvement with the Montreal Airport Local as a radio operator. When the...

December 13, 2021

Labour history UCTE history

Biography – Guy Jacob

Today we bring you the biography of Guy Jacob, a former UCTE president. It all started when he became president of UCTE at the 1972 convention; he was twice re-elected to the office, in 1975 and 1978. Before the union...

December 8, 2021

December 6th, 2021 – Day of Action on Violence Against Women

Equity Labour history

December 6th, 2021 – Day of Action on Violence Against Women

In collaboration with Denise Reynolds, UCTE Human Rights Officer In the late afternoon of December 6th, 1989, a gunman arrived at the École Polytechnique in Montréal armed with a semi-automatic assault rifle and hatred in his heart.[1] The 25-year-old made his...

December 6, 2021

Labour history UCTE history

Biography – William Freifeld

Today we bring you the biography of William Freifeld, a former UCTE president. William Freifeld was born in 1927 and died, aged 88, on June 26, 2015. He was a Second World War veteran of the Royal Canadian Navy. Brother...

November 29, 2021

PART 3: 1974 – All labour disputes must come to an end … so did the firefighters “study sessions”

Labour history UCTE history

PART 3: 1974 – All labour disputes must come to an end … so did the firefighters “study sessions”

As part of UCTE’s continued exploration of its history, comes Part 3 of a 3-part story about a landmark strike Part 1: 1974 – Firefighter strike or was it a study session? PART 2: 1974 – The strike spreads… or...

November 22, 2021

PART 2: 1974 – The strike spreads… or was it still a study session?

Labour history UCTE history

PART 2: 1974 – The strike spreads… or was it still a study session?

As part of UCTE’s continued exploration of its history, comes part 1 of a a3-part story about a landmark strike Part 1: 1974 – Firefighter strike or was it a study session? In 1967, after decades of lobbying and agitation...

November 15, 2021

Part 1: 1974 – Firefighter strike or was it a study session?

Labour history UCTE history

Part 1: 1974 – Firefighter strike or was it a study session?

As part of UCTE’s continued exploration of its history, comes part 1 of a 3-part story about a landmark strike. In 1967, after decades of lobbying and agitation by the staff associations, Parliament passed Bill-170, the Public Service Staff Relations...

November 8, 2021

Air Traffic Control Assistants – The long struggle

Labour history UCTE history

Air Traffic Control Assistants – The long struggle

At midnight on Oct 26, 1973, UCTE members working at the nation’s airports as Air Traffic Control Assistants started to call in sick. The media called it the “24-hour flu.” It started in the east in Gander and Moncton and...

October 27, 2021

Job Action Labour history

Canada’s Largest Labour Strike — October 14, 1976

Workers in Canada had long been faced with a variety of issues which created great economic hardship. In the early 1970s, automation, globalization and technology were making an entrance in many factories across the country. Machines took the place of...

October 14, 2021

World Day for Decent Work – Stories of some social activists of the past who made history

Labour history PSAC

World Day for Decent Work – Stories of some social activists of the past who made history

Today, October 7, 2021 is the World Day for Decent Work, and UCTE wants to take the time to highlight the history of activists in the trade union movement. The day was launched by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)...

October 7, 2021