Latest news with #workersRights
National Post
09-07-2025
- Business
- National Post
Members Vote to Ratify New Three-Year Contract With Canadian Hearing Services
Article content TORONTO — Concluding an 11-week strike, members of CUPE 2073 voted this week to ratify a new collective agreement with Canadian Hearing Services (CHS). Article content Workers were buoyed by support from leading Deaf organizations and individuals throughout the strike. A testament to the strength of the local, 97 per cent of members cast ballots with 172 voting to accept the new contract. Article content Article content 'From the beginning, we wanted a contract that gave us and our clients stability. The initial offer was for a one-year deal. I'm proud we have a new three-year contract that provides increases to our pension and benefits, better wages, mileage rates and a meal allowance,' said Mara Waern, CUPE 2073 president and an employment consultant with 35 years' experience at CHS. 'I'm pleased our members have some peace of mind and I'm incredibly grateful for the solidarity we experienced from the Deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, and labour communities.' Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content
CTV News
08-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Laid off Amazon workers rally in Quebec, say some still waiting for severance pay
Laid off Amazon workers in Quebec and their supporters rally during a demonstration in Montreal on Tuesday, July 8, 2025. (Matt Gailmour/CTV News) Despite Amazon closing its Quebec warehouses months ago, former employees still have demands for the company during the online retail giant's annual Prime Days. While consumers shop for the latest deals, the laid-off workers have a warning about working conditions at the company. Former worker Assia Malinova says Prime Days are 'a time when many workers get injured because of the additional pressure created by the extra volume of packages.' She and her former colleagues rallied Tuesday to denounce their former employer for closing operations, leaving thousands without a job and facing longstanding financial challenges. 'Workers haven't received the proper severance that is awarded to them under the law,' said Mostafa Henaway of the Immigrant Workers Centre. Felix Trudeau says he's missing severance pay. 'We're missing four weeks of severance but I know of drivers who are missing 10 weeks of severance according to the law,' Trudeau said. In a statement, Amazon says it 'offered impacted employees in Quebec a package that included up to 14 weeks' pay.' A spokesperson goes on to add: 'Amazon is working with services Quebec … to ensure that former employees have access to all the resources available to them.' When Amazon closed its Quebec facilities and laid off thousands of workers, a boycott movement was started. But has it lasted? Reactions were mixed when CTV News asked people on the street in Montreal. Some say they avoid Amazon, while others say it's just too difficult. 'I don't shop online actually anymore,' one person said. 'If I don't find it anywhere then I will go to Amazon, but it's my last choice,' another one said. Retail analyst Carl Boutet says the boycott movement has faded. 'I think things like geopolitical [issues] and tariffs have hurt them a lot more than consumer sentiment, as warranted as it is and as upset as we should be around the fact that they closed seven warehouses,' he said. The former workers are calling for a meeting with Quebec. The provincial employment minister said he has not received any meeting requests, but that support has been put in place to help workers search for new employment. 'We invite the government to do the right thing. Come and talk to us about the issues we are still facing after the closures,' Malinova said. Former workers say they are concerned because they were essentially replaced by subcontractors. So they say, despite closing up shop in Quebec, Amazon is still going strong.
Reuters
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
UK plans to ban employers from using NDAs to silence workers subject to abuse
LONDON, July 7 (Reuters) - Britain plans to ban non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) that are used by employers to silence those who are subject to harassment or discrimination, as part of a broader bill to protect workers' rights, the government said on Monday. The government is due to table amendments to its employment rights bill, which is passing through parliament, to void NDAs which are used by employers against employees who have been subjected to harassment, including sexual harassment or discrimination in the workplace, it said in a statement. If passed, any confidentiality clauses in settlement agreements or other agreements that seek to prevent a worker speaking about an allegation of harassment or discrimination would be null and void, allowing victims to speak freely about their experiences. "We have heard the calls from victims of harassment and discrimination to end the misuse of NDAs. It is time we stamped this practice out ... The Employment Rights Bill will ban any NDA used for this purpose, so that no one is forced to suffer in silence," Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said in the statement. The government has called the planned legislation, which was set out in October, the biggest upgrade to workers' rights in a generation.
The Independent
07-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Government to ban ‘appalling' NDAs in cases of harassment and discrimination
Businesses are set to be banned from imposing non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) on victims of harassment and discrimination as part of Labour's bid to boost workers' rights. Ministers have put forward an amendment to the Employment Rights Bill, currently in the House of Lords, that would void NDAs against employees who have been subject to harassment or discrimination in the workplace. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said the Government had 'heard the calls from victims of harassment and discrimination' and was taking action to prevent people having to 'suffer in silence'. The move follows repeated calls by campaigners and Labour politicians, including former transport secretary Louise Haigh, to allow victims to speak freely about their experiences. Recent years have seen several high-profile cases of NDAs being used to silence victims of sexual harassment or bullying, including that of jailed former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, whose accusers had to breach such agreements to come forward. And, last month, the Commons Women and Equalities Committee called on the Government to ban NDAs to tackle misogyny in the music industry. Zelda Perkins, Weinstein's former assistant and founder of the campaign group Can't Buy My Silence UK, said the move was 'a huge milestone'. She said: 'For years, we've heard empty promises from governments whilst victims have continued to be silenced, to see this Government accept the need for nationwide legal change shows that they have listened and understood the abuse of power taking place. 'Above all though, this victory belongs to people who broke their NDAs, who risked everything to speak the truth when they were told they couldn't. Without their courage, none of this would be happening.' Ms Haigh, who has raised the issue several times in Parliament, said the decision was 'an incredible victory for victims and campaigners' after years of 'tireless campaigning'. She said: 'This victory belongs to them. Organisations like Can't Buy My Silence, led by the indefatigable Zelda Perkins, have exposed the harm caused by this toxic practice. 'Today's announcement will mean that bad employers can no longer hide behind legal practices that cover up their wrongdoing and prevent victims from getting justice.' Ministers had previously indicated they were considering a ban on NDAs in cases of harassment and discrimination, while employment minister Justin Madders also called for a 'cultural shift in employers' earlier this year. Announcing the amendments, Mr Madders said: 'The misuse of NDAs to silence victims of harassment or discrimination is an appalling practice that this Government has been determined to end. 'These amendments will give millions of workers confidence that inappropriate behaviour in the workplace will be dealt with, not hidden, allowing them to get on with building a prosperous and successful career.' Peers will debate the amendments when the Employment Rights Bill returns to the Lords on July 14 and, if passed, will need to be approved by MPs as well.
The Guardian
07-07-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
UK bosses to be banned from using NDAs to cover up misconduct at work
Bosses in the UK will be banned from using non-disclosure agreements to silence employees who have suffered harassment and discrimination in the workplace as part of the government's overhaul of workers' rights. Ministers will on Monday night table amendments to the government's employment rights bill to prohibit the widespread practice of using legally enforceable NDAs to conceal unacceptable behaviour at work. If passed, the rules would mean any future confidentiality clauses in settlement agreements that sought to prevent a worker speaking about an allegation of harassment – including sexual harassment – or discrimination would be null and void. They would also allow victims to speak freely about their experiences, while any witnesses – including employers – would be able to call out poor conduct and publicly support victims without the threat of being sued. The changes being introduced to the bill, due to return to the Lords next week, would not affect NDAs for legitimate commercial use, such as commercially sensitive information or intellectual property in business transactions. But they would create one of the toughest protection regimes in the world, giving millions of workers, including those in low-paid jobs, more confidence that inappropriate behaviour in the workplace would be dealt with. After years of campaigning by activists, ministers have looked beyond high-profile cases linked to the #MeToo movement to address concerns about workers in regular employment who may not have the means or confidence to pursue their employers through the courts to challenge 'gagging orders'. Announcing the change, Angela Rayner, the deputy prime minister, said: 'Victims and witnesses of harassment and discrimination should never be silenced. As the Guardian has reported on widely, this is not an issue confined to high-profile individuals or the most powerful organisations. 'The use of NDAs to cover up abuse and harassment is growing – and sadly amongst those in low-income or insecure employment across multiple industries and workplaces. 'This cannot go on. That is why we are stamping out this practice and taking action to ban any NDAs used for this purpose. My message is clear: no one should suffer in silence and we will back workers and give survivors the voice that they deserve.' The legislation represents the biggest overhaul of workers' rights in a generation, introducing day one rights, establishing collective bargaining bodies in vital sectors and strengthening family-friendly entitlements, as well as going further on bereavement leave and tackling 'fire-and-rehire'. Over time NDAs have become the default solution for many organisations, corporations and public bodies to settle cases including sexual misconduct, racism, and pregnancy discrimination. Their original purpose was to protect intellectual property or other commercial or sensitive information, but reports have shown they have become commonly used to prevent people speaking out about horrific experiences in the workplace. There have been many high-profile cases of NDAs being used to prevent victims from speaking about crimes, often forcing women and vulnerable individuals to feel stuck in unwanted situations, through fear or desperation. They have proliferated especially in lower-income, insecure employment including sectors such as retail, hospitality and accommodation, with non-disparagement clauses also typically attached. A report by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) last year found the use of NDAs was relatively common, with 22% of respondents to a survey of 2,000 employers saying their organisation used them when dealing with allegations of sexual harassment. In contrast, 44% said they did not use NDAs in this way and a further 34% did not know, highlighting that awareness around their use in some organisations may be low. The CIPD also found that most employers would not strongly object to the removal of NDAs in the workplace. Nearly half (48%) of employers would support a ban, with just 18% opposing, while 20% were ambivalent, and a further 14% did not know. Zelda Perkins, a former PA to Harvey Weinstein who spearheads the campaign group Can't Buy My Silence, said of the government's plans: 'This is a huge milestone, for years we've heard empty promises from governments whilst victims have continued to be silenced. 'To see this government accept the need for nationwide legal change shows that they have listened and understood the abuse of power taking place. 'Above all though, this victory belongs to the people who broke their NDAs, who risked everything to speak the truth when they were told they couldn't. Without their courage, none of this would be happening. 'This is not over yet and we will continue to focus closely on this to ensure the regulations are watertight and no one can be forced into silence again. If what is promised at this stage becomes reality, then the UK will be leading the world in protecting not only workers but the integrity of the law.' Louise Haigh, a former cabinet minister, said: 'Victims of harassment and discrimination have been forced to suffer in silence for too long. Today's announcement will mean that bad employers can no longer hide behind legal practices that cover up their wrongdoing and prevent victims from getting justice.' Legislative changes have already been made in Ireland, Canada and the US so that NDAs cannot prohibit disclosure of sexual harassment, discrimination or bullying without it being the expressed wish of the employee. A landmark survey of sexual harassment at work has found that one in four women have suffered work-related sexual assault. Britain's largest trade union, Unite, polled approximately 300,000 female members on whether they had experienced sexual harassment at work, travelling to work or from a colleague in or out of work hours. Of the 6,615 respondents, 25% said they had been sexually assaulted and 43% had been inappropriately touched. More than 3,000 said they had been the recipient of sexually offensive jokes and/or experienced unwanted flirting, gesturing or sexual remarks. And 28% had been shared or shown pornographic images by a manager, colleague or third party, while 8% had been a victim of sexual coercion – when a person pressures, tricks, threatens or manipulates someone into engaging in sexual activity without genuine consent – at work. While the perpetrator in the bulk of these incidents was a member of public in the workplace, such as a patient or a passenger, 3% said they had been sexually assaulted by a manager and 6% by a colleague.
