Latest news with #bargaining
CTV News
a day ago
- Business
- CTV News
Alberta, provincial employee union agree to renewed mediation in last attempt at deal
Alberta Finance Minister Nate Horner presents the Alberta 2025 budget in Edmonton, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson Alberta and the union representing thousands of provincial government employees say they have agreed to a new round of mediated bargaining. Alberta Union of Provincial Employees president Guy Smith says the renewed talks are considered the final opportunity for getting a new deal for some 23,000 government workers after 18 months of bargaining. Smith credits Finance Minister Nate Horner for stepping in to restart talks and recognizing the importance of continuing negotiations. The union and the government have agreed not to disclose their bargaining positions publicly but Smith says the outstanding issues are pay and working conditions. In May, the union voted 90 per cent in favour of striking, and the strike vote will remain valid until mid-September. Smith says if the new round of talks goes well and ends with an agreement or settlement proposal, a vote of union members would take place in early September. 'Our goal is clear and supported by our members: a fair agreement that addresses the real concerns of the front-line workers who carry this province on their shoulders every day,' Smith said. 'We are prepared to work around the clock to get there.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 28, 2025. The Canadian Press
National Post
4 days ago
- Politics
- National Post
Squamish municipal workers vote 100 percent in favour of strike action
Article content SQUAMISH, British Columbia — 'This 100 percent strike vote demonstrates that our members are deeply concerned about the lack of progress at the bargaining table and the unwillingness of the District of Squamish to address important issues affecting its frontline workers,' says CUPE 2269 President Celeste Bickford. Article content 'We've continued to see significant increases to the cost of living in our region with people leaving the community because they simply cannot afford to live here anymore,' said Bickford. Article content Article content Bargaining started last fall, and the two parties have met eleven times since negotiations began in October of 2024. The two parties reached impasse earlier this month. Key outstanding issues include wage increases in line with other recent regional settlements, and scheduling that allows a better work life balance for workers and their families. Article content 'With a public spotlight on negotiations, we're hoping that District representatives will be more willing to work towards a fair and reasonable contract that protects public services and supports the workers who provide them,' said Bickford. 'Our members love serving this community and want to go back to focusing on that work.' Article content Before taking any strike action, essential service levels would need to be negotiated, and the union would have to serve 72-hour strike notice. Article content CUPE 2269 members represent approximately 250 workers who provide integral community services to residents, businesses, and visitors in Squamish including water and wastewater treatment, swimming lessons, children's programs and camps, recreation services, facilities maintenance, parks and trails maintenance, bylaw and animal control, snow removal, emergency program administration, and administrative and operations support for the RCMP. Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Contacts Article content For more information: Article content
National Post
18-07-2025
- Business
- National Post
Canadian Union of Postal Workers urges workers to reject contract offer
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers is urging workers to reject Canada Post's latest contract offer. Article content Union national president Jan Simpson says a strong no vote would not only reject the offer, but also protect the integrity of the bargaining process. Article content Article content The Canada Industrial Relations Board will hold the vote on the proposed deal starting next week. Article content Canada Post is at an impasse with the union representing roughly 55,000 postal service workers after more than a year and a half of talks. Article content Article content Article content Federal Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu last month asked the board to step in and put the Crown corporation's latest offer to a vote. Article content The offer would see wage hikes of more than 13 per cent but also add part-time workers Canada Post says are necessary to keep the postal service afloat. Article content
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Canadian Union of Postal Workers urges workers to reject contract offer
OTTAWA — The Canadian Union of Postal Workers is urging workers to reject Canada Post's latest contract offer. Union national president Jan Simpson says a strong no vote would not only reject the offer, but also protect the integrity of the bargaining process. The Canada Industrial Relations Board will hold the vote on the proposed deal starting next week. Canada Post is at an impasse with the union representing roughly 55,000 postal service workers after more than a year and a half of talks. Federal Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu last month asked the board to step in and put the Crown corporation's latest offer to a vote. The offer would see wage hikes of more than 13 per cent but also add part-time workers Canada Post says are necessary to keep the postal service afloat. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 18, 2025. The Canadian Press
The Guardian
15-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Guardian
Dad has never been afraid to bargain. The day I bought my car, I saw a master at work
I was nine when Dad first gave me the advice that would be a golden thread, a parable of wisdom conveying all his hard-earned knowledge in a few words. He had just finished a long week at the mixed business we owned in the city, and we were at Menai Marketplace in Sydney's south for a very special purchase. I was desperate for a PlayStation 1. I pointed at the Big W price tag and asked: 'Dad, is this expensive?' He said that nothing was expensive for us, as long as I got good marks in my tests. We went to the counter. The saleswoman was a blond middle-aged lady. 'Now, tell me, my dear,' he began. 'Is this your best price?' I went outside to let Dad work the trade. On the way home, PlayStation in tow, I asked him why he always did that. He told me that I should never be afraid to bargain: 'If you don't ask, you don't get!' Dad has been putting this maxim to the test every day of his life. In theory, it might sound like some lofty invocation to be courageous, to tackle every challenge boldly. In practice, it's the more banal reality of him asking the guy at the Aldi counter if there are any further reductions on liquorice bullets. In 2022, more than 20 years after the release of the PlayStation 1, I follow Dad into a Volkswagen dealership. Now hunched with sciatica, he still has a purposeful confidence and a rugged but wearied charisma about him. He wants me to feel satisfied with a purchase that will make me proud for a long time after I drive away. He also thinks I'm stupid with salespeople, liable to say and pay too much. There is only one car we're really interested in, and it's not even a Volkswagen. Dad says European cars are too hard to maintain. I give the game away almost immediately, spotting the 2004 Kia Cerato, which Dad discovered after extensive digging online, parked outside with all the other pre-owned vehicles. I tell him it looks like it's in good shape. Dad pulls me aside abruptly and tells me, in Arabic, not to let the dealers know I like the car. Inside the dealership, Dad begins his predatory shark game. His face is grave: vague curiosity, little expression. He circles the gleaming, air-conditioned lot. With his walking stick, he hits a hub cap here and strikes a bonnet there. He is declaring his presence. In his home city – El-Qantara el-Sharqîya, a small town on the Suez canal – fishermen would throw their lines into the canal and wait for hours for fish to take the bait. Today, Dad is also baiting his catch, deliberately provoking the sales staff – standard issue white guys in navy blue polyester suits. Who is the hungriest fish? I follow him from afar, swallowing my frustration and preparing myself for a drawn out pursuit. After about 10 minutes, someone approaches. Dad asks the skinny salesman what he thinks of the Kia. The salesman says it doesn't matter what he thinks, what matters is what Dad thinks. With this, he opens the Cerato's door and gestures for us to sit down. Dad lumbers laboriously into the front seat. He examines the freshly detailed interior. The steering wheel, the rear-view mirror, the glove compartment. He glances at the logbook. Nothing escapes his gaze or his barrage of questions about the previous owners, registration dates and thoroughness of the last service. Dad pulls the car on to the street. I'm in the passenger seat and the salesman is in the back. The salesman reminds us of the 50km/h speed limit. Dad puts his loafer down hard on the accelerator. 'Acceleration a bit slow,' Dad says as he charges down a shopping strip, causing a small woman to jump back from the pedestrian crossing and knock over her fabric wheelie trolley. We arrive back at the dealership. The salesman's composure is intact and Dad's face is like a slate of old granite in the Valley of the Kings. I'm anxious about the possibility that I will not take this car home today, because Dad won't like the price. The salesman says the car is in great condition, and asks if we would like to drive home with it today. Dad mumbles some protestations about the condition of the car. That's when our salesman surprises me. He tells us there are plenty of other buyers interested in the car, and that he won't waste our time if we won't waste his. He is made of firmer stuff than he looks. We learn later that he's from Donnybrook, about 200km from Perth, which, like Dad's home town near Port Said, is the lesser town to a more famous city. My father and the salesman have some things in common. Both men are hungry, both appreciate the value of a dollar and both have nothing else on today. Dad says we're interested, we just need a fair deal. He starts listing extenuating circumstances that might sway this austere salesman to our favour. They include me having a perfect driving record and being able to pay in cash today. I was suspended for speeding twice and the only thing in my wallet is an expired Medicare card. The salesman looks unconvinced. That's when Dad reveals his juiciest bait. We also have a good car for trade-in, he announces and offers the salesman a key. The salesman, eyebrows raised, takes the key and trudges outside to look at my sister's 1999 Toyota Yaris, which I've been driving for five years. A few minutes later, he returns with his manager. Dad leans over to me with a warning, that he's going to say some bullshit about what's wrong with the car. Sure enough, we're told about a 'thumping noise' emitted by the gearbox, scratches to the exterior and the age of the vehicle. They can only offer a deduction of $2,000 on the asking price. Dad scoffs and says they must be joking. The manager – a man of quieter gravity than his protege – speaks up. He tells Dad that he can see how serious we are about making a purchase, but that with all these liabilities in mind and the state of the market, he can't go any lower without losing money for the dealership. My heart drops. I turn to my father, my eyes pleading. I'm on the verge of tears. 'I'm afraid $14,500 is the best I can do, Mr Nour,' the manager says. Dad tells him that for $14,000, I will shake his hand today. This is all too much. My head feels light and there's a catch in my throat. I need a break. I go to make a cup of coffee at the courtesy De'Longhi espresso machine. When I come back, I find the salesman grinning and Dad chuckling softly. Something has changed between these two men – game recognises game. The real arbitration, however, is between Dad and the manager. The manager wearily says he can't budge further. 'It's $14,200 or nothing.' Dad turns to me seriously, with his eyes wide in a questioning stare. He has fixed the contest, but mine is the deciding vote. Will I accept the terms? I reach forward to shake the manager's hand. After a half-hour session of contract-signing and payment transactions, Dad stops on the way out, looking to see if I will say anything else. I surprise myself and ask if they can throw anything else in to sweeten the deal. Dad laughs. I drive off that day with a new car, two branded umbrellas and a feeling that I have just scored the freshest gaming console on the market and finished all my homework. This is an edited extract from How to Dodge Flying Sandals and Other Advice for Life ($29.99; Affirm Press)
