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2014 Regional Seminars begin this month
The annual cross-country round of Agriculture Union Regional Seminars kicks off later this month and continues through March.
US audit uncovers familiar problems with Canada’s meat safety system
According to the audit, basic sanitation problems and cleanliness concerns continue to haunt facilities that produce ready to eat products and meat slaughter facilities whose products are eaten by Canadians and Americans alike.
MPs misled about changes to diminish health and safety in the Canada Labour Code
Agriculture Union blows the whistle on Employment Skills Development Canada officials who misled Parliamentarians concerning amendments to water down health and safety provisions of the Canada Labour Code.
Strike preparation courses underway for CFIA members as employer makes a farce of serious negotiations
Parliament Hill news conference part of growing momentum to halt proposed gutting of workplace health and safety protections
Agriculture Union National President Bob Kingston is warning that workers will be forced to choose between their job and their health or even life if the Harper government’s planned gutting of current workplace health and safety protections proceeds.
Kingston’s pointed comments came as part of his remarks to a November 20 Parliament Hill news conference called to condemn the watering down of workplace health and safety protection contained in the Harper government’s omnibus budget bill, C-4.
C-4 encourages unsafe workplaces
Ottawa – Work will be more dangerous if proposed changes to health and safety laws in Ottawa’s latest omnibus budget measure, Bill C-4, become law, according to Rob Ellis, whose teenage son was killed at work during his second day on the job.
Ellis, a workplace health and safety advocate, and Bob Kingston, President of the PSAC’s Agriculture Union, are in Ottawa today to urge parliamentarians to change the Bill.
Our Social Justice Fund donates $10,000 to Philippines typhoon relief
The Agriculture Union Social Justice Fund is making a $10,000 contribution to the massive relief effort now underway following the devastating typhoon that struck the Philippines with incredible force on November 8.
The donation, which was moved by the National Executive, is being made to Oxfam Canada. As the federal government has pledged to match private contributions dollar-for-dollar, the impact of our donation will be doubled.
Conservatives’ changes to health and safety protections will literally put your life at risk
The Conservative government is set to ram through unprecedented changes to federal labour laws that will dramatically undercut your workplace rights and our ability to protect you and advance your interests.
These radical actions were buried in a massive ‘omnibus’ budget bill tabled in the House of Commons on October 22. The measures – amendments to various labour laws, including the Public Service Labour Relations Act and the Canada Labour Code – were brought down without either advance warning or consultation.
Donation from our Social Justice Fund will help rebuild lives in wake of last summer’s Lac-Mégantic tragedy
The Agriculture Union Social Justice Fund is making a one-time $10,000 donation to help the people of Lac-Mégantic, Quebec rebuild their community – and their lives – following last summer’s horrific train car explosion.
The request for the donation was made by Jacquelin Carrier, President of Local 10008, whose work as a meat inspector often took him to the picturesque Eastern Township town.
More food inspectors lost due to federal cuts
Thunder Bay/Chatham, ON — The Conservative federal budget Bill, C-45, contains amendments to the Canada Grain Act that will remove requirements that protect grain producers from multinational grain companies, by eliminating the impartial weighing inspection of grain being received at terminal elevators. It will also increase self-regulation and decrease overall inspections.
Canadians kept in the dark for days after US border closed to XL Food products
Canadians kept in the dark for days after US border closed to XL Food products
Ottawa – United States authorities closed the border to products from the E. coli 0157:H7-tainted XL Foods plant in Brooks, Alberta days before Canadian consumers were advised and a product recall was launched in Canada.
New food safety law needs enforcement teeth
Ottawa – The food safety bill introduced this afternoon is a good start at improving the safety of our food, according to the Agriculture Union which represents federal food inspectors.
“Generally speaking, the bill is a good start but we need to ensure that the proposed appeal mechanism does not give industry too much power to undermine the work of CFIA inspectors,” said Bob Kingston, President of the Union.