We don't want to be "in their midst"? I know lots of people who've cut back on or stopped US travel, but none who've said it's because of not wanting to be 'amongst Americans'. Canadians are generally directing their ire at the US gov't, not at Americans. www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...
December 19, 2025 at 3:58 AM
We don't want to be "in their midst"? I know lots of people who've cut back on or stopped US travel, but none who've said it's because of not wanting to be 'amongst Americans'. Canadians are generally directing their ire at the US gov't, not at Americans. www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...
In contrast to the CLC, the Ontario Fed of Labour (OFL), our largest provincial union federation, has zero info on its homepage about how or why to unionize. The site's got a "join a union" page, but you have to dig for it via the search function. And when you do find it, the information is scant.
December 16, 2025 at 2:32 PM
In contrast to the CLC, the Ontario Fed of Labour (OFL), our largest provincial union federation, has zero info on its homepage about how or why to unionize. The site's got a "join a union" page, but you have to dig for it via the search function. And when you do find it, the information is scant.
Two labour reactions to the antisemitic terrorism in Australia, from Canada's CLC and the US's AFL-CIO. I can find no formal statements from either, just these social media postings.
December 15, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Two labour reactions to the antisemitic terrorism in Australia, from Canada's CLC and the US's AFL-CIO. I can find no formal statements from either, just these social media postings.
Maybe it's been there for a while and I just didn't notice it, but there's now a "Get Into a Union" tab on @canadianlabour.bsky.social website’s homepage. I often whine about the puny amount of organizing-related info provided by central labour bodies in Canada, so this is good news.
December 14, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Maybe it's been there for a while and I just didn't notice it, but there's now a "Get Into a Union" tab on @canadianlabour.bsky.social website’s homepage. I often whine about the puny amount of organizing-related info provided by central labour bodies in Canada, so this is good news.
Great essay -- excellent to read it again.
I recall what Robert Christgau said about the lyrics...
I recall what Robert Christgau said about the lyrics...
December 13, 2025 at 4:12 AM
Great essay -- excellent to read it again.
I recall what Robert Christgau said about the lyrics...
I recall what Robert Christgau said about the lyrics...
Labour relations in Globe & Mail yesterday, and labour relations in Globe & Mail today.
December 10, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Labour relations in Globe & Mail yesterday, and labour relations in Globe & Mail today.
You wouldn't know it from the communications of the @oflabour.bsky.social or the Canadian Labour Congress, but union members in Ontario have ratified some good new contracts in 2025. Here's a graph of average annual wage gains, compared to inflation, in a selection about ~300 new deals this year.
December 10, 2025 at 2:35 AM
You wouldn't know it from the communications of the @oflabour.bsky.social or the Canadian Labour Congress, but union members in Ontario have ratified some good new contracts in 2025. Here's a graph of average annual wage gains, compared to inflation, in a selection about ~300 new deals this year.
Some private sector collective agreements ratified by union members in Ontario this year, all with average annual wage increases 4% or better. I don't think our national, provincial, or regional labour bodies celebrated or promoted any of these contract settlements.
December 9, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Some private sector collective agreements ratified by union members in Ontario this year, all with average annual wage increases 4% or better. I don't think our national, provincial, or regional labour bodies celebrated or promoted any of these contract settlements.
At the same time as we report these opinions to pollsters, inflation-adjusted median wages have been growing.
December 7, 2025 at 8:53 PM
At the same time as we report these opinions to pollsters, inflation-adjusted median wages have been growing.
Calibration check for outdoor hockey tonight
December 5, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Calibration check for outdoor hockey tonight
The new National Security Strategy of the United States mentions Canada just once, but says"Our goals for the Western Hemisphere can be summarized as “Enlist and Expand.”"
share.google/aN6ByZAccS1E...
share.google/aN6ByZAccS1E...
December 5, 2025 at 6:30 PM
The new National Security Strategy of the United States mentions Canada just once, but says"Our goals for the Western Hemisphere can be summarized as “Enlist and Expand.”"
share.google/aN6ByZAccS1E...
share.google/aN6ByZAccS1E...
Stuck in amongst the boatload of other intriguing stuff in this book is this: in 1812, a majority of people living in Canada were US-born, and a short 30 years later in 1842, the US-born share of the population had fallen to 7%.
November 29, 2025 at 10:48 PM
Stuck in amongst the boatload of other intriguing stuff in this book is this: in 1812, a majority of people living in Canada were US-born, and a short 30 years later in 1842, the US-born share of the population had fallen to 7%.
Labour law for federally regulated sectors allows union certification via a “one-step” process with no vote if >50% of workers sign union cards. Rob Ashton appears to propose replacing one-step union certification with … one-step union certification. This seems doable. robashton.ca/worker-power...
November 21, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Labour law for federally regulated sectors allows union certification via a “one-step” process with no vote if >50% of workers sign union cards. Rob Ashton appears to propose replacing one-step union certification with … one-step union certification. This seems doable. robashton.ca/worker-power...
Great to be back amongst cows last night at the Royal. And, as is customary, there was some beer, some rye, and much discussion in the barn after the show.
November 16, 2025 at 3:48 AM
Great to be back amongst cows last night at the Royal. And, as is customary, there was some beer, some rye, and much discussion in the barn after the show.
Durand Jones & The Indications put on a fine show Saturday night in Toronto.
November 8, 2025 at 5:13 AM
Durand Jones & The Indications put on a fine show Saturday night in Toronto.
What are the chances that Avi Lewis suddenly grows a beard and starts wearing a black suit everywhere.
November 5, 2025 at 2:21 AM
What are the chances that Avi Lewis suddenly grows a beard and starts wearing a black suit everywhere.
In today's Globe and Mail, written by my pal and mentor Brando Paris about our union colleague Leo Gerard. (No on-line link yet.)
November 4, 2025 at 12:38 PM
In today's Globe and Mail, written by my pal and mentor Brando Paris about our union colleague Leo Gerard. (No on-line link yet.)
Reaction to ON's "Reagan & tariffs" ad is all over the map.
The NDP premiers of Manitoba & BC liked it. A new Angus Reid poll says 69% of NDP voters support it.
On the other hand, 47% of Conservatives oppose it. PM Carney now says he regrets it. And Ontario's labour federation said it was wrong.
The NDP premiers of Manitoba & BC liked it. A new Angus Reid poll says 69% of NDP voters support it.
On the other hand, 47% of Conservatives oppose it. PM Carney now says he regrets it. And Ontario's labour federation said it was wrong.
November 1, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Reaction to ON's "Reagan & tariffs" ad is all over the map.
The NDP premiers of Manitoba & BC liked it. A new Angus Reid poll says 69% of NDP voters support it.
On the other hand, 47% of Conservatives oppose it. PM Carney now says he regrets it. And Ontario's labour federation said it was wrong.
The NDP premiers of Manitoba & BC liked it. A new Angus Reid poll says 69% of NDP voters support it.
On the other hand, 47% of Conservatives oppose it. PM Carney now says he regrets it. And Ontario's labour federation said it was wrong.
A few more contributions from people at yesterday's well-attended No Kings rally in Buffalo.
October 20, 2025 at 12:43 AM
A few more contributions from people at yesterday's well-attended No Kings rally in Buffalo.
I'm a dual Cdn/US citizen. I wanted to see the No Kings shindig today and to pitch in. So, I went to the Buffalo, NY rally. Very big turnout. People were into it. Plenty of "Not my faux-king President" signs. One guy carried a red & white lettered sign that read "Be like Canada".
October 19, 2025 at 1:07 AM
I'm a dual Cdn/US citizen. I wanted to see the No Kings shindig today and to pitch in. So, I went to the Buffalo, NY rally. Very big turnout. People were into it. Plenty of "Not my faux-king President" signs. One guy carried a red & white lettered sign that read "Be like Canada".
Here's a selection of ten private sector collective agreements ratified by union members in Ontario this year, all with first year increases to median wages of 6% or better. I don't recall any of these contracts being promoted as 'good news' by the provincial labour federation.
October 16, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Here's a selection of ten private sector collective agreements ratified by union members in Ontario this year, all with first year increases to median wages of 6% or better. I don't recall any of these contracts being promoted as 'good news' by the provincial labour federation.
Here are 12 collective agreements ratified in 2025 by union members in Ontario's broader public sector, all with first year increases to median wages of 6% or better. I don't recall any of these contracts being promoted as 'good news' by the provincial labour federation.
October 16, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Here are 12 collective agreements ratified in 2025 by union members in Ontario's broader public sector, all with first year increases to median wages of 6% or better. I don't recall any of these contracts being promoted as 'good news' by the provincial labour federation.
We in Canada often note that people in the US don't know a lot about our country, but the book review section in today's Globe and Mail says Ben Franklin was president of the US. (www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/book...)
October 13, 2025 at 2:56 AM
We in Canada often note that people in the US don't know a lot about our country, but the book review section in today's Globe and Mail says Ben Franklin was president of the US. (www.theglobeandmail.com/culture/book...)