Ontario Crossroads Election

Ontario’s June 7 election has heated up, not only because of the participation of Doug Ford, the so-called Canadian Donald Trump and apparent front runner, but because the outcome of the election itself is by no means certain. Since the New Year, Ontario politics have been anything but dull. At the start of 2018, it […]

Continue Reading

Ontario College Lecturers

Ontario College Faculty, 5 weeks on strike, reject employers’ offer – Liberal Government brings in back to work legislation Over 12,000 full-time professors, partial-load instructors, counsellors and librarians, from 24 colleges across the province, had been on strike for a record 33 days when, on November 17, Kathleen Wynne’s government introduced back to work legislation. […]

Continue Reading

Toronto Airport Teamsters Strike

Tim Heffernan of Socialist Alternative interviewed Harjinder Badial, Vice-President Teamsters Local 419. Since July 27, 700 members of Teamsters Local 419 have been on strike at Toronto’s Pearson International airport. They are in dispute with Swissport, which services some 30 airlines including Air Transat, British Airways and Sunwing. The workers are baggage handlers, cargo handlers, cabin […]

Continue Reading

How Ontario won $15 Minimum Wage

Bruno-Pierre Guillette (Alternative Socialiste, CWI in Quebec) interviewed Tim Heffernan (Socialist Alternative Canada). In May, the Ontario government, to the surprise of many, announced its plan to introduce a $15 an hour minimum wage, beginning with $14 in January 2017 and reaching the full $15 the following year. Given that the existing minimum is $11.75 […]

Continue Reading

Socialist Alternative Magazine #5

Poverty: A Political Choice The Struggle of Youth Today Fracked Gas – Bad News Ontario: Hydro Privatization Disaster BC Liberals Out Indigenous People Fight for the Environment New Workers Party in Montréal? Beware of Basic Income Trudeau Continues Harper’s Health Cuts … and more from Canada and the world If you would like to order […]

Continue Reading

Toronto Airport – workers mobilizing

Sean Smith (in interview).  The following is an interview with Sean Smith, Mobilization Co-ordinator, UNIFOR 2002 and Representative, Toronto Airport Workers Council. Tim Heffernan (Socialist Alternative) is asking the questions. The interview was conducted in April 2016. Here is a useful background story from the Toronto Star, April 2015. TIM: Okay, so Sean, first question. […]

Continue Reading