Labour history – Page 7 – Union of Canadian Transportation Employees

Human Rights Day – December 10

Since 1948, Human Rights Day has been celebrated to commemorate the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations General Assembly. This event made history for all human beings around the world. From that moment on,...

December 10, 2020

How did we succeed in bringing in maternity and parental leave?

Labour history

How did we succeed in bringing in maternity and parental leave?

Before 1971, it was impossible to get paid for maternity or paternity leave in Canada. Women had to make the choice to not go to work (and not get paid) or even to quit the job they had before they...

November 18, 2020

Redneck Pride – a union struggle in West Virginia

Labour history

Redneck Pride – a union struggle in West Virginia

We have all heard the term “redneck”. Today it is a derogatory label used to describe someone crass and unsophisticated, often depicting a southern white rural American. It is never considered a compliment however that wasn’t always the case. Would...

November 4, 2020

A history about the fight for a separate SC collective agreement

Bargaining Updates Labour history

A history about the fight for a separate SC collective agreement

In 1992 the Public Services Reform Act ordered the reorganization of bargaining units into the larger bargaining groups we know today. For UCTE public sector members this became the Program and Administrative Services group, the Technical Services group, Education and...

October 23, 2020

Labour history

October 2020: Women’s History Month

In 1992, the Government of Canada designated October as Women’s History Month. According to the Women and Gender Equality (formerly known as the Status of Women) webpage, it is “a time to celebrate the women and girls from our past,...

October 22, 2020

When did the first general strike take place?

Job Action Labour history

When did the first general strike take place?

WHO: Albert “Ginger” Goodwin WHEN: July 27, 1918 WHERE: British Columbia A little over 100 years ago, union leader Albert “Ginger” Goodwin was shot and killed by police, triggering the first union strike in Vancouver, Canada. He was known as...

October 19, 2020

Health and safety Human rights Labour history

Be safe – It’s your right

People have not always had the right to be safe. There was a time when workers, especially immigrants, were exploited. To make a living, they often had to work very dangerous, low-paying jobs. Since their mother tongue was a foreign...

October 7, 2020

200 years ago, Scottish workers went on strike for Democracy

Human rights Labour history

200 years ago, Scottish workers went on strike for Democracy

In 1820 the workers of Scotland held a general strike. Lead by the weavers, 60,000 workers took part stopping almost all production in April. It was not a strike for wages or union recognition, it was a strike for democratic...

September 15, 2020

Labour history

The origins of Labour Day

For Labour Day 2020, we’re taking a trip into the past and telling you the story of the very first Labour Day. Have you ever wondered where it all started? The answer is Toronto—way back in 1872. The first thing...

September 7, 2020

How long has the term “unemployment insurance” been used?

Labour history

How long has the term “unemployment insurance” been used?

It all started in the 1930s. In those days, if you didn’t have a job you were sent to federal relief camps to work for paltry wages. These camps were in isolated areas—you had no contact with your family, living...

August 25, 2020