Brock Labour Studies

Four Lessons From the UAW’s Turn Toward Class Struggle Chris Brooks, former chief of staff to United Auto Workers president Shawn Fain, was key to an attempt to transform a once mighty union hobbled by corruption and lethargy. Here’s what he learned from that process.

Chris Brooks, former chief of staff to United Auto Workers president Shawn Fain, was key to an attempt to transform a once mighty union hobbled by corruption and lethargy.

Here’s what he learned from that process.

McGill Spent Over $1 Million Fighting Unionization – The Rover Union organizers at the university say this is part of a broader trend towards corporatization of the public institution.

McGill found $1 million to fight its own workers rather than bargain with them. Imagine what that $ could do for teaching, research, or student support.

therover.ca/mcgill-spent...

#canlab #cdnpse

The trades remain a danger zone—especially for women workers This year opened with the murder of a Minnesota woman by ICE agents. Last year closed with a workplace murder of an American woman tradesworker, also in Minnesota. This is not mere coincidence. The sa...

"The same forces that devalue women’s lives and organize to attack us in our neighbourhoods are at play in both the killing of Renee Good and the life and death dramas that women are prey to in our construction workplaces."

NEW from @meganysta.bsky.social:

Job Opportunities Brock University

🚨Job Alert!🚨

We’re hiring instructors for a variety of Labour Studies courses in the Spring and Summer 2026 semesters.

Courses are delivered online.

Applications close February 18, 2026 at 11:59 PM.

For more details and to apply👇

brocku.ca/social-scien...

Canada's Labour Trafficking Problem Is Getting Worse: Intelligence Agency Public service journalism

"Internal reports warn traffickers are taking advantage of a growing number of foreign workers. But criminal charges are rare." #canlab #canpoli

theijf.org/article/labo...

Ubisoft Workers Mobilize Global Strike as Cost-Cutting Measures and Remote Work Reversal Spark International Labor Revolt Five French unions at Ubisoft have called for an unprecedented international strike targeting cost-cutting measures and remote work elimination. The action marks a potential turning point for labor ri...

GLOBAL: Ubisoft Workers Mobilize Global Strike as Cost-Cutting Measures and Remote Work Reversal Spark International Labor Revolt www.webpronews.com/ubisoft-work...

Blue-tinted portrait of civil rights activist and labor leader A. Philip Randolph with his quote: "Justice is never given; it is extacted, and the struggle must be continuous for freedom is never a final fact, but a continuing evolving process to higher and higher levels of human, social, economic, political, and religious relationship."

Acknowledged as the greatest Black labor leader in American history, A. Philip Randolph founded the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters and was a pioneer in advancing racial equality within the labor movement. #BlackHistoryMonth

Ubisoft's problems deepen as unions call international strike over job cuts and return-to-office mandate Ubisoft announced last week that it will restructure its internal operations in the coming months, refocusing its strategy around open-world games, live-service titles, and player-facing generative AI...

GLOBAL: Ubisoft's problems deepen as unions call international strike over job cuts and return-to-office mandate www.techspot.com/news/111117-...

AFGE Demands Resignation or Termination of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller for Smearing Slain AFGE Member Alex Pretti as “Domestic Terrorist” The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is the largest federal employee union representing 820,000 federal and D.C. government workers nationwide and overseas.

USA: AFGE Demands Resignation or Termination of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller for Smearing Slain AFGE Member Alex Pretti as “Domestic Terrorist” www.afge.org/publication/...

The last mile: Provincial child care expansion at the five-year deadline - CCPA Child care has become more accessible over the past five years but finding affordable spaces is still a frustrating experience for many parents

New from @policyalternatives.ca: Days before Canada’s ministers meet to talk about child care, a new report reveals that provinces are significantly off-track in meeting their promises for new non-profit child care spaces. www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...

Avi Lewis’s NDP Labour Plan Is A Remarkable Document The proposal complements the campaign’s other policy plans in housing, health care and the environment.

The forward looking nature of this labour policy document is fascinating.

Avi Lewis’s NDP Labour Plan Is A Remarkable Document

Labour and the NDP: Revisiting the Past, Looking to the Future | Perspectives Journal The NDP’s ability to credibly advance this alternative vision depends largely on whether the labour movement is itself willing and able to engage in such political and economic education.

The challenge for both the NDP and the labour movement is [...] putting forward an alternative vision and understanding of the economy that directly addresses their material interests in ways that unite workers through shared class interests.

FULL ARTICLE🔗

Opinion: Why Canada needs better data on strikes, unions and other labour issues Canada does a poor job of gathering labour relations information. In a period of rising inequality and renewed workplace conflict, stakeholders need better data.

Opinion: Why Canada needs better data on strikes, unions and other labour issues

Take Back the Power | LAWCHA Take Back the Power: The Fall and Rise and Fall of NYC’s Transport Workers Union Local 100, 1975-2009 by Marc Kagan (Boston MA: Brill, 2025). Available

At LaborOnline, Alan Singer reviews Marc Kagan's new book, "Take Back the Power: The Fall and Rise and Fall of NYC’s Transport Workers Union Local 100, 1975-2009."
lawcha.org/2026/01/19/t...

"Senior federal officials have openly acknowledged that international students fill labour shortages in retail, food service, logistics, and other low-wage sectors, while paying exorbitant tuition fees that subsidize underfunded institutions." #canlab #canpoli

Members of @lufappul.bsky.social have taken to the picket lines following months of negotiations.

LUFA members have endured years of instability and made extraordinary sacrifices following the university’s unprecedented use of the CCAA.

Read more: www.caut.ca/news/laurent...

Labour and the NDP: Revisiting the Past, Looking to the Future | Perspectives Journal The NDP’s ability to credibly advance this alternative vision depends largely on whether the labour movement is itself willing and able to engage in such political and economic education.

"The NDP’s ability to credibly advance this alternative vision depends largely on whether the labour movement is itself willing and able to engage in such political and economic education." – NEW from @brocklabour.bsky.social @profsavage.bsky.social in Perspectives Journal no. 5

🔗 FULL ARTICLE

19 January 1984: Rif uprising Mini podcast of radical history on this date from the Working Class History team.

📣 New Podcast! "19 January 1984: Rif uprising" on @Spreaker #amazigh #history #morocco

Ontario snowstorm ‘proof’ hybrid work is needed after Doug Ford’s return-to-office mandate, unions say The government told the Star it was up to managers to decide on flexible work options for its employees. Despite this, many were scrambling Thursday morning, one union says.

The last minute stress of a severe snow storm is avoidable with a comprehensive hybrid work policy.

www.thestar.com/politics/pro...

#canlab #onpoli

Iran: ITUC condemns brutal repression of workers and trade unionists amid escalating crisis The ITUC strongly condemns the violent repression of workers, trade unionists and social movements in Iran, as protests and strikes have spread nationwide since late 2025 in response to a deepening…

Canada’s unions condemn the brutal actions of the Iranian government against its own people. We join the global labour community in calling for an immediate end to the violence and stand in solidarity with the workers and trade unionists in Iran:
www.ituc-csi.org/iran-ituc-co...

Korea: Teachers win breakthrough on political rights after hunger strike and relentless campaign After more than 60 days of sit-ins and a seven-day hunger strike, the Korean Teachers and Education Workers’ Union (KTU) has secured a landmark agreement with the National Assembly to establish a cons...

SOUTH KOREA: Teachers win breakthrough on political rights after hunger strike and relentless campaign www.ei-ie.org/en/item/3193...

Why Canada needs better data on strikes, unions and other labour issues Canada does a poor job of gathering labour relations information. In a period of rising inequality and renewed workplace conflict, stakeholders need better data.

ICYMI: How a dispute between @lacsn.bsky.social and the Montreal Economic Institute over inflated strike numbers underscores the need for better labour relations data.

theconversation.com/why-canada-n...

#canlab #cdnpoli

A rare conviction shows how inadequately Canada enforces worker safety Employers rarely face convictions in court for egregious breaches of worker safety.

A rare conviction shows how inadequately Canada enforces worker safety #canlab

🚨New Publication with @pgraefe.bsky.social & @sjkiss.bsky.social for @broadbent.bsky.social

We examine class voting in #Canada and show how the working class feels politically alienated and disaffected that their interests are not being pursued by politicians

perspectivesjournal.ca/changing-cla...

Opinion: Why Canada needs better data on strikes, unions and other labour issues Canada does a poor job of gathering labour relations information. In a period of rising inequality and renewed workplace conflict, stakeholders need better data.

Opinion: Why Canada needs better data on strikes, unions and other labour issues

Why Canada needs better data on strikes, unions and other labour issues Canada does a poor job of gathering labour relations information. In a period of rising inequality and renewed workplace conflict, stakeholders need better data.

In a period of rising inequality and renewed union-management conflict, @profsavage.bsky.social and Adam King make the case that Canada needs better and more accurate labour relations data.

theconversation.com/why-canada-n...

#canlab @theconversation.com

Why Canada needs better data on strikes, unions and other labour issues Canada does a poor job of gathering labour relations information. In a period of rising inequality and renewed workplace conflict, stakeholders need better data.

At a time when official statistics are under political pressure elsewhere, Canada has an opportunity & a responsibility to strengthen its own commitment to open, reliable labour relations data. Adam King & I explain why:

theconversation.com/why-canada-n...

#cdnpoli #canlab

Editorial — From the Ashes? | Special Issue - Winter 2026 | Perspectives Journal The politics of the centre are no match for the challenges that face humanity. We do, it seems, face a choice between socialism or barbarism.

Prof. Simon Black guest edited and co-authored an editorial for this special issue of @broadbent.bsky.social Perspectives Journal on the future of social democracy.

@profsavage.bsky.social also contributed a chapter on labour & the #NDP.

perspectivesjournal.ca/editorial-wi...

#cdnpoli #canlab

Labour and the NDP: Revisiting the Past, Looking to the Future | Perspectives Journal The NDP’s ability to credibly advance this alternative vision depends largely on whether the labour movement is itself willing and able to engage in such political and economic education.

Has the NDP lost its labour roots? My new piece for @broadbent.bsky.social traces how the union–party relationship has frayed, and why that matters for Canadian politics today.

Labour and the NDP: Revisiting the Past, Looking to the Future

perspectivesjournal.ca/labour-ndp-p...

#cdnpoli #canlab

Mark the inauguration of New York City Mayor #ZohranMamdani with Brock Labour Studies!

Win Prof. Simon Black’s Social Reproduction and the City—on welfare reform and childcare struggles in NYC.

Like❤️, RT🔄 & follow @brocklabour.bsky.social to enter! 3 copies up for grabs. Contest ends Jan 5.