Latest news with #CSQ
Sky News AU
07-07-2025
- Business
- Sky News AU
State braces for 54,700-worker shortage as Olympic Games construction threatens to overwhelm infrastructure pipeline
Queensland is on a collision course with a critical workforce crisis, with fresh figures revealing the state will fall short by more than 50,000 construction workers just as it begins the mammoth effort to build venues for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games. As early as March 2026, when construction is expected to ramp up significantly, the shortfall is forecast to hit 54,700 workers, posing serious questions about the delivery of the broader $117 billion public infrastructure pipeline. Infrastructure Australia's most recent data shows that Queensland needs 83,300 workers to meet demand but has just 42,200 available - a staggering gap of 41,100 roles yet to be filled. Deputy Premier and Infrastructure Minister Jarrod Bleijie said the state is 'pulling all infrastructure levers' and banking on productivity reforms to help manage the demand surge. 'With a laser-like focus on productivity reforms and the biggest infrastructure capital budget in our history, the LNP is pulling all infrastructure levers available,' Mr Bleijie said, according to The Courier Mail. The data, based on committed projects through to 2028, paints a challenging picture. Only a few trades, including electricians, plumbers, carpenters and architects, are so far avoiding the vacancy crisis. By 2026, specific areas of concern include a 17,000-worker shortfall in concreting, 10,000 general construction and labourer vacancies, along with significant gaps in structural steel erectors and civil engineers. The last time Queensland had enough construction workers to meet demand was March 2021. Andrew Chapman, CEO of the Queensland Major Contractors Association, suggested even modest improvements in site operations could make a meaningful difference. 'If we are able to improve productivity through different delivery approaches, like use of technology, better industrial relations practices on site including flexible RDO schedule in line with the project schedule, managing hot weather impacts better than 28 degrees and work stops … then that peak demand will come down to something that is more manageable,' he said. Construction Skills Queensland (CSQ) projects the state will need up to 156,000 construction workers at the height of activity in 2026–27. That same year, Queensland is expected to be 50,000 workers short - mirroring Infrastructure Australia's warnings. CSQ has urged the state to take a longer-term view, pushing for stronger apprenticeship pathways and initiatives to improve retention, as dropout rates continue to undermine the pipeline of future tradies. Paul Bidwell, chief executive of Master Builders Queensland, said the Olympics may serve as a drawcard for workers but warned it wouldn't be enough to plug the annual gap of 18,000 workers over the next eight years.
CTV News
07-07-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Coalition against cuts in Quebec education network grows, petition nears 150,000 signatures
Éric Gingras, president of the Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ), photographed during a press conference on January 8, 2024, in Montreal. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press) Discontent over budget cuts in education is continuing steadily as the coalition grows and the petition on the National Assembly website nears 150,000 signatures. New groups have just joined the coalition 'Ensemble, unis pour l'école' (Together, united for school), the Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ) announced on Monday. They include the Quebec English School Boards Association (QESBA), the Quebec Intellectual Disability Society, and the Coalition de parents d'enfants à besoins particuliers du Québec, among others. Employers are finding themselves in the same coalition as unions representing teachers, support staff, and education professionals, as well as parents of children. 'The goal is to do something that has never been done before: bring all these people together and send a message that cuts to education cannot be tolerated,' said CSQ President Éric Gingras in an interview on Monday. At the end of the school year, Quebec announced that the network would have to reduce its spending by $570 million. Quebec denies that these are real cuts, saying it is simply slowing the pace of growth in the education budget, which will increase by 5 per cent instead of 7 per cent, as in previous years. This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on July 7, 2025.
CTV News
30-06-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Quebec unions lodge complaint over education cuts
A classroom in an elementary school, photographed in Toronto on Jan. 9, 2024. (The Canadian Press/Chris Young) Two federations affiliated with the Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ) are filing a complaint with the Ombudsman regarding budget cuts in education. In their complaint filed on Monday, the Fédération du personnel de soutien scolaire (federation of school support Staff) and the Fédération du personnel professionnel de l'éducation (federation of professional education staff) are asking the Ombudsman to launch an investigation into the impact of budget cuts and the hiring freeze on services to students. They are also asking the Ombudsman to intervene publicly with the Ministry of Education and to make recommendations to ensure that students have access to the services they need. Quebec has announced budget cuts of $570 million for the new school year. But the president of the Fédération du personnel de soutien scolaire, Éric Pronovost, stressed that these cuts are in addition to the hiring freeze in effect since Nov. 1, and cuts to infrastructure projects. He cited several types of cuts: reduced hours for special education technicians and attendants for students with disabilities, for example. Other scenarios have been raised by other stakeholders in the education sector, such as employees on disability or maternity leave who are not being replaced, tighter criteria for access to specialized classes, and reduced extracurricular activities. Pronovost reported that some members are going on summer vacation without knowing what their duties will be when they return or how many hours they will be working. 'There is a lot of uncertainty right now. Our people are writing to us. They find it deplorable. Parents are writing to us. Many associations are writing to us. Humanely speaking, these cuts... waiting until the end of June to make these cuts is unacceptable, it's appalling,' he said. The process of investigating and publishing a report requested by the Ombudsman could take some time. 'We know it's going to be a long process, but as organizations, we had to file this complaint to put additional pressure on them because nothing is happening,' Pronovost said. He made no secret of the fact that he hopes the complaint filed by the two CSQ federations will have a deterrent effect. 'What we hope in all this is that the Minister [of Education, Bernard] Drainville will change his mind and back down on his budget cuts.' Why file a complaint with the Ombudsman rather than the Student Ombudsman, he was asked. One does not exclude the other, he replied. 'It's an avenue we are currently exploring.' Petition and Drainville Meanwhile, the petition calling for an end to budget cuts in education, sponsored by PQ MNA Pascal Bérubé and launched on Monday, June 23, had gathered more than 120,000 signatures by Monday noon. Minister Drainville has already asked school administrators to minimize cuts to direct services to students. He denied that these were cuts, stating that the government would slow the rate of growth of the education budget, which will increase by 5 per cent instead of 7 per cent in previous years. 'Since the CAQ came to power in 2018, the education budget has increased by 58 per cent. These are record investments! To those who are crying foul over cuts, look at the numbers. No government has ever invested so much, so quickly, in our schools,' the minister said last Thursday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on June 30, 2025.
CTV News
16-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Unions challenge education hiring freezes before Quebec labour tribunal
Quebec imposed a hiring freeze in the public education sector as of Nov. 1 due to its tight financial situation. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press) On Monday, the Administrative Labour Tribunal is hearing arguments about Quebec's hiring freeze for staff who do not provide direct services to students. Quebec imposed the hiring freeze in the public sector on Nov. 1 due to its tight financial situation. The Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ) and four of its federations believe that the hiring freeze for staff who do not provide direct services to students constitutes an obstacle to union activities, in that it prevents the implementation of clauses in collective agreements that were just negotiated. Certain clauses in the collective agreements offer greater job stability and improved employment prospects for employees with precarious work status. For example, they could have access to a regular contract after a certain period of time. However, the merits of the case have yet to be heard. The Attorney General filed a preliminary motion with the court, arguing that too much time has elapsed between the time the CSQ became aware of the Treasury Board's intention to impose a hiring freeze and its complaint of obstruction. Such a complaint must be filed within 30 days, under the Labour Code. During the hearings last March, the parties heard witnesses on the time limit, touching on the specific comments made, when they were made, by whom, to whom, and which job titles were to be affected, among other details. Administrative Judge Michel Maranda will hear the lawyers' arguments on this matter on Monday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on June 16, 2025.
Associated Press
07-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Ryan Kavanaugh Defeats Ethan Klein
As published in CSQ on April 5th, 2025. Court Upholds Major Defamation Ruling in Favor of Mega Producer Ryan Kavanaugh Against Podcaster Ethan Klein - Is This Just the Beginning? Landmark decision marks a turning point in the battle against online defamation. LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESS Newswire / April 6, 2025 / Today Kavanaugh's legal team is celebrating a landmark win. As published in CSQ Magazine. In a dramatic turn of events that could shake the foundations of influencer culture, controversial YouTuber Ethan Klein-best known for his H3H3 podcast empire and often referred to as professional Troll-has suffered a major legal defeat in a defamation case brought by film producer Ryan Kavanaugh. The California Court of Appeal has affirmed a previous court ruling, dismissing Klein's appeal and holding him and his company legally accountable for knowingly spreading false, harmful narratives against Kavanaugh. Klein, often self-described as a provocateur and satirist, has long come under fire for using his platform-followed by millions, many of whom are minors-to target individuals with relentless smear campaigns. But in the case of Ryan Kavanaugh, Klein may have gone too far. According to court documents and extensive digital evidence, Klein launched a coordinated effort to tarnish Kavanaugh's reputation after being accused of illegally streaming a pay-per-view boxing match produced by a company Kavanaugh was affiliated with. Rather than respond with legal clarity, Klein retaliated publicly-weaponizing his fanbase and social channels to paint Kavanaugh as a villain in hundreds of podcast episodes and clips, many of which were riddled with falsehoods and personal attacks. Worse, Klein reportedly encouraged his audience, many of whom are estimated to be under the age of 15, to manipulate search engine results and vandalize Kavanaugh's Wikipedia page. The strategy? Use Reddit and other forums to circulate defamatory clips and articles, then boost them with engagement to ensure they dominate search algorithms. Kavanaugh's legal team described it as 'digital mob warfare' led by a self-proclaimed influencer who knows how to exploit social platforms-and young followers-for personal vendettas. Klein publicly claimed victory in the lawsuit and misled his audience about the outcome. In reality, the courts not only rejected his anti-SLAPP motion-designed to dismiss frivolous suits-but also cleared the way for Kavanaugh to pursue what could amount to more than tens of millions in damages. This ruling significantly bolsters Kavanaugh's claim that Klein acted with actual malice and deliberate intent to defame. Beyond the legal ramifications, the case casts a harsh light on Klein's broader pattern of behavior: recruiting an army of online followers-many too young to discern fact from fiction-to do his dirty work. Multiple individuals over the years have reported harassment, doxing, and threats after becoming targets on the H3H3 podcast. This included Klein engaging people specifically to 'vandalize' Kavanaugh's Wikipedia page and have his followers send 'hundreds of death threats to Kavanaugh and his family including his ex-wife and kids'. This time, however, the consequences have gone beyond YouTube comments and trending hashtags-they've entered the courtroom. The last major similar media case involved Gawker and Hulk Hogan who was awarded $140 Million dollars Ryan Kavanaugh's lawyer, Amy McCann Roller of Meier Watkins Phillips Pusch 'This is an important case about the growth of online and professional trolling, which required a real analysis of when free speech is no longer a harmless opinion. In this case, Ethan Klein used his large fan base to recklessly and knowingly spread malicious lies about my client Ryan Kavanaugh, harming him immeasurably. Klein has tried, unsuccessfully, to dodge responsibility at every turn. But Mr. Kavanaugh is willing to take this all the way, to set the record straight and hold Klein accountable for spreading malicious lies. The appellate court's decision sends a powerful message to those who think the California anti-SLAPP creates a zone where people can lie and hurt others with impunity. Hopefully this ruling can help others who are being wrongfully targeted and whose lives are being upended by those who act irresponsibly without regard for the harm they cause to others.' And now, with the court firmly siding against Klein, a chilling question emerges: Does this pave the way for the others he's targeted to finally step forward and seek justice? Given how many others have come public with horror stories of how Klein has intentionally targeted them in a similar manner it won't be surprising to see similar cases in the near future. Contact:
