Latest news with #Gunness
CBC
05-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Hudson's Bay backtracks on cutting workers' commission pay, but still won't offer severance
Social Sharing Hudson's Bay Co. has backtracked on its decision last month to cut commission pay earned by hundreds of cosmeticians and fragrance advisers during liquidation sales, CBC News has learned. The retailer's sudden change of heart follows a grievance filed by its union, Unifor, which represents dozens of the workers, and CBC News coverage. CBC reported two weeks ago that several cosmeticians and fragrance advisers (also knows as beauty advisers) said they were distraught over the loss of commission pay, as it would significantly reduce their take-home pay. "It wasn't a good look for them to treat employees that way," said a beauty adviser in B.C., in response to Hudson's Bay backtracking. "I'm just so grateful that I'm getting the commission back," said the person, adding that it provides at least an extra $10 an hour on top of base pay — which is just above minimum wage. "We're ecstatic that we're going to be able to pay bills now." CBC News is withholding the worker's name due to fear of repercussions from the retailer for speaking with the media. In March, cash-strapped Hudson's Bay was granted creditor protection as it considered bids for segments of the company. The iconic retailer's more than 9,300 employees are expected to lose their jobs by June 15 — the closing date for all 96 Bay and Saks-branded stores. Beauty advisers earn commission on products sold, on top of a base salary. On April 8, Hudson's Bay gave these workers 12 days' notice that the company would start paying them base pay only, according to a company-issued letter seen by CBC News. It was another in a series of blows to Hudson's Bay workers, who learned last month the retailer won't pay severance to laid-off employees. In a grievance filed against Hudson's Bay, Unifor argued the commission cut violated its members' collective agreement. "You can't just, midstream, [reduce] someone's pay," said Dwayne Gunness, president of Unifor Local 40, which represents 40 beauty advisers. WATCH | Hudson's Bay pays big bonuses to executives but no severance for workers: Hudson's Bay to pay $3M in bonuses, but no severance for workers 1 month ago Duration 2:04 Hudson's Bay workers are speaking out after learning they will receive no severance pay as the company confirms it will pay out $3 million in bonuses to executives and managers handling the liquidation of most stores. Two weeks later, the company reversed course and said commission pay would remain with no interruptions, according to Unifor and a Hudson's Bay note sent to beauty advisers that CBC News has seen. The note did not state a reason for the decision. The retailer did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Hudson's Bay starts laying off workers Gunness says that last Friday, Hudson's Bay laid off 157 workers at its online distribution centre in Toronto. It marks the first round of non-corporate layoffs. The company terminated around 200 corporate employees on April 4, according to court documents. Although Hudson's Bay has reinstated commission pay, it won't be paying any workers severance once they're laid off. "I'm having a really hard time accepting the fact that we don't get severance," said Hazel Harris (no relation to this reporter), one of the 157 laid-off distribution centre workers. "It's very heartbreaking what's going on." Harris, 60, has worked for Hudson's Bay for more than seven years. She says severance pay would have provided a much-needed safety net. "I'm scared because with the trade war looming like an umbrella over us, we don't know how many jobs there will be out there," she said. "When you join the older community, it's even more difficult to find a job, so it's going to be a tough road ahead." Unifor, which represents a total of 595 Hudson's Bay employees, says some members are entitled to upwards of $35,000 in severance pay. Gunness says once all the 595 workers are laid off, Unifor will file a grievance over the issue, as severance is also included in the workers' contract. "We have a collective agreement which is legally binding," he said. applying for financial assistance through a federal government program for workers laid off by insolvent companies.
Al Jazeera
31-03-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Myanmar-Thailand earthquake updates: 1,700 killed, aftershocks cause panic
Update: Date: 18h ago (16:50 GMT) Title: That's a wrap from us Content: Thank you for joining our live coverage of the aftermath of the devastating earthquake that struck parts of Myanmar and Thailand on Friday. You can continue following the story by reading our up-to-date news piece here. And you can also check out our report from Sagaing, the central Myanmar city closest to the epicentre of the magnitude 7.7 quake, here. We also have a picture gallery from both Myanmar and Thailand here. Update: Date: 18h ago (16:40 GMT) Title: Here's what happened today Content: We'll be closing this live page soon, so let's bring you up to speed with the day's main developments: Update: Date: 18h ago (16:22 GMT) Title: Ethnic armed group criticises Myanmar military government over attacks Content: The Karen National Union, one of Myanmar's oldest ethnic armies, has issued a statement criticising the military government for continuing to carry out air attacks 'targeting civilian areas, even as the population suffers tremendously from the earthquake'. The group said under normal circumstances, the military would be prioritising relief efforts, but instead is focused on 'deploying forces to attack its people'. There was no immediate comment from the military government. This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. End of dialog window. This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. Update: Date: 19h ago (16:00 GMT) Title: Calls for Myanmar no-fly zone, humanitarian access Content: Chris Gunness, the director of Myanmar Accountability Project, has accused Myanmar's military government of using 'disproportionate and indiscriminate force against the very people who they say they are trying to assist'. 'This is an utter abomination. Even as the earthquake was striking, junta jets were attacking targets in Sagaing, the very epicentre of the earthquake,' he told Al Jazeera. Gunness urged the UN Security Council to adopt a resolution enforcing an extended humanitarian pause that would explicitly ban the usage of fighter jets, helicopters, motor paragliders and drones. 'There must be a no-fly zone imposed; we cannot see the junta using jets to bomb people,' he said, also calling for humanitarian access across the country and the restoration of telecommunications. 'If we are going to have a proper aid operation, that needs to come to force,' Gunness added, urging the international community to work with local, non-military government groups and ensure their protection. Update: Date: 19h ago (15:45 GMT) Title: Myanmar military government: What to know Content: Myanmar's military government seized power in a 2021 coup, led by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, ending the country's short-lived experiment with democracy after nearly 50 years of military rule. The military government is now fighting several rebel and ethnic groups across the country, all of whom oppose military rule. Its operations are largely funded through state-controlled businesses and international financial transactions, despite widespread sanctions. Military-controlled entities such as the Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited generate significant revenue for the current government. In addition, the military government has secured substantial arms deals with countries like Russia and China, giving it access to advanced weaponry. Update: Date: 19h ago (15:30 GMT) Title: Military government continues bombing parts of Myanmar Content: Myanmar's military government has continued to carry out attacks, even as Myanmar's main rebel movement announced a unilateral partial ceasefire to aid rescue efforts following the devastating earthquake. Air attacks have been reported on Pauk township in the country's northwest. Military forces also attacked Bhamo, in Kachin state, which borders China. As we've been reporting, Myanmar has faced widespread conflict since the 2021 military coup, with ethnic rebel groups fighting the military government. Update: Date: 19h ago (15:15 GMT) Title: 'We tried everything to save her' Content: We have some more information about Mathu Thu Lwin, the pregnant woman who was pronounced dead shortly after being pulled from a collapsed apartment block in Mandalay. Rescuers had to amputate the 35-year-old's leg in order to be able to release her after more than two days of entrapment in the wreckage of the Sky Villa Condominium. Chinese and Myanmar rescuers used a drill, a chainsaw and rotary saws to penetrate the concrete trapping her. She was eventually brought out soon after 8pm (02:30 GMT) and doctors examined her, performing CPR on a gurney, but she was pronounced dead shortly afterwards. 'We tried everything to save her,' AFP quoted one of the medical team members as saying. Mathu Thu Lwin lost too much blood during the leg amputation to survive, and a makeshift operating theatre that had been prepared in an outbuilding to stabilise her went unused. Update: Date: 20h ago (15:00 GMT) Title: Photos: Search operation continues as night falls in Bangkok Content: Update: Date: 20h ago (14:45 GMT) Title: Pregnant woman trapped in Mandalay building pronounced dead after being freed Content: We have a regrettable update about the effort to save the pregnant woman who was under the wreckage of the Sky Villa apartment complex in Myanmar's second city of Mandalay. AFP is reporting that its journalists at the scene saw that Mathu Thu Lwin was pronounced dead shortly after she was freed after more than 55 hours under the rubble. Rescuers thought they had saved the life of the 35-year-old but they were unable to resuscitate her after extracting her from the ruins. Update: Date: 20h ago (14:30 GMT) Title: US pledges $2m in aid for quake-affected communities Content: The United States Embassy in Myanmar has issued a statement saying the US government will provide up to $2m 'through Myanmar-based humanitarian assistance organizations' to support communities affected by the earthquake. It added that an emergency response team from the US Agency for International Development (USAID), which is underergoing massive cuts under the administration of US President Donald Trump, is deploying to Myanmar 'to identify the people's most pressing needs, including emergency shelter, food, medical needs, and access to water'. 'The United States stands with the people of Myanmar as they work to recover from the devastation. We offer our deepest condolences for the loss of life and infrastructure in this difficult time,' the statement concluded.
