Isaac Phan Nay

Migrant Workers Say Program Changes Would Hurt, Not Help | The Tyee Proposed new rules would allow employers to deduct up to 30 per cent of wages to pay for housing.

In internal documents provided to The Tyee, Employment and Social Development Canada proposed changing how migrant workers in the agriculture and fishing sectors are paid, housed and brought into the country. @isaacphannay.bsky.social reports. #canlab

Why Employers’ Back-to-Office Mandates May Backfire | The Tyee Research suggests workers won’t be happy. Or more efficient.

Working from offices may contribute to workplace culture and unity for employees.

But there's evidence that flexible work can help a company’s performance and inclusivity, while hard rules on either in-office or at-home work can negatively affect employee health, reports @isaacphannay.bsky.social.

Why Employers’ Back-to-Office Mandates May Backfire | The Tyee Research suggests workers won’t be happy. Or more efficient.

Why return to office mandates may backfire, by labour reporter @isaacphannay.bsky.social thetyee.ca/News/2025/07...

Ottawa’s Foreign Worker Cap Is Already Being Felt | The Tyee As fewer permits are approved, businesses scramble for staffing and migrants say they’ve been abandoned.

It's hitting workers the hardest.

“They felt there was a promise from the federal government that they would become permanent residents,” advocate Byron Cruz said. “The workers are feeling disposable.”

thetyee.ca/News/2025/07...

New limits on immigration are being felt across B.C. Ottawa's opening this year by issuing less work permits under the International Mobility program.

Ottawa’s Foreign Worker Cap Is Already Being Felt | The Tyee As fewer permits are approved, businesses scramble for staffing and migrants say they’ve been abandoned.

As the federal government issues fewer permits for foreign workers, migrant workers whose work permits are expiring say they feel abandoned, and some rural B.C. business owners say they’re looking at a staffing crisis.

@isaacphannay.bsky.social reports. #canlab

"Al is reshaping workplaces faster than the law can respond to it. Unions are doing what we can at the bargaining table, but we need a legislative floor for all workers." THE TYEE, JULY 21, 2025 SUSANNE SKIDMORE PRESIDENT BCFED

Screenshot of The Tyee. Headline: "Is BC Doing Enough to Protect Workers from Al?" Subhead: "The government is consulting on recommended changes. Critics say faster action is needed." Byline: Isaac Phan Nay

A really solid piece from @isaacphannay.bsky.social in @thetyee.ca today! As @susibcfed.bsky.social warns, "The govt needs to act on this quickly to make sure that we’re protecting workers and jobs. It really won’t take long before this impacts every level of our economy." thetyee.ca/News/2025/07...

What happens when a Canadian mining company, two competing Mexican unions and United States President Donald Trump collide? 🧵 1/3

#Trump
#CUSMA
#USMCA

Amazon Workers Win a Union as Company’s Tactics Slammed | The Tyee BC’s labour board grants automatic certification because of an unfair anti-union campaign. Amazon plans to fight.

Amazon workers in Delta are now unionized with Unifor Local 114, the B.C. Labour Relations Board ordered Thursday. It found Amazon had violated B.C.'s labour code in two major ways.

Amazon vehemently denies this and promises to fight the decision.

www.thetyee.ca/News/2025/07...

Hi Sarah, I'd love to speak. Send me an email and we can hammer out the details?

Send me an email, maybe we can work something out

Story Callout: Ever work remote?

For @thetyee.ca I'm writing about the ongoing push from some employers to have workers return to office. If you work remote or have recently been asked to fully or partially return to office, I'd love to hear from you!

Reply here or email at isaac@thetyee.ca

Is BC Doing Enough to Protect Workers from AI? | The Tyee The government is consulting on recommended changes. Critics say faster action is needed.

While the panel reviewing the Labour Relations Code, as well as some unions, are urging the government to take action, B.C. says it’s not ready to discuss AI legislation until a public consultation process is complete.

@isaacphannay.bsky.social reports. #bclab

Amazon Workers Win a Union as Company’s Tactics Slammed | The Tyee BC’s labour board grants automatic certification because of an unfair anti-union campaign. Amazon plans to fight.

Amazon workers in Delta have won the battle to unionize after the BC Labour Relations Board found the company committed “serious” offences to try and block an organizing drive. #bclab

Can Ethical Investment Boost Union Power? | The Tyee A big B.C. union hopes its new approach will provide long-term stability for members.

United Steelworkers Local 2009 has adopted a new investment strategy partnering with Community Savings Credit Union and NEI Investments.

According to the credit union, the money will be invested in companies aligned with pro-labour values, like co-operatives or unionized workplaces.

Amazon Workers Win a Union as Company’s Tactics Slammed | The Tyee BC’s labour board grants automatic certification because of an unfair anti-union campaign. Amazon plans to fight.

Amazon workers in Delta are now unionized with Unifor Local 114, the B.C. Labour Relations Board ordered Thursday. It found Amazon had violated B.C.'s labour code in two major ways.

Amazon vehemently denies this and promises to fight the decision.

www.thetyee.ca/News/2025/07...

What Really Happened to Katica? A Tyee Investigation | The Tyee Did the police and coroner dismiss a homicide as an overdose?

Katica Dusanic died in a man's SRO room in 2021. Police were investigating the death as suspicious. Then, the coroner showed up, and swiftly declared the death an accidental overdose - a decision that pretty much shut down the police investigation. thetyee.ca/News/2025/07...

But if these talks drag on long enough, it could be public opinion — what you think — that tips the scales here.

So what do you think?

5/5

It's all pretty business-y and bureaucratic, sure.

But it also all adds up to unprecedentedly tough labour talks between the province and public servants.

There's no telling how negotiations end and both parties are committed to reaching negotiated agreement at the table. For now.

4/5

The B.C. gov't's top expense is employee compensation.

The gov't has also reached a nearly $11 billion budget deficit and it needs money to bolster public services if #Tump trade chaos causes economic fallout. 3/5

The provincial government has offered people who deliver public services in B.C. — think firefighters and teachers — wages that don't keep up with inflation.

Unions say that's not enough. They don't want to see members see real wage loss.

It puts the government in a tough spot. 2/5

Tough Battles Ahead for BC Government Unions in ‘Crazy’ Times | The Tyee As contract talks begin, the first wage offers from the province fall below the inflation rate.

Here's what's going on behind the scenes of your public services.

#BCPoli

thetyee.ca/News/2025/07...

At a Canadian-Owned Mine, a Mexican Union Alleges Dirty Tactics | The Tyee A North American labour dispute panel is examining allegations union members were threatened into joining a competing union.

Now, workers are calling for the U.S. and Canada to act before Trump negotiates a new trade deal — which may put the investigation into jeopardy. 3/3

thetyee.ca/News/2025/06...

Vancouver-based company Orla Mining owns a gold and silver mine in Zacatecas, Mexico.

Workers say the company violated labour laws enshrined in the Mexico's constitution. It alleges when workers tried to strike, they were instead intimidated into joining a company-friendly union.

2/3

What happens when a Canadian mining company, two competing Mexican unions and United States President Donald Trump collide? 🧵 1/3

#Trump
#CUSMA
#USMCA

Unions Hope a Federal ‘Scab’ Worker Ban Will Bring Wins | The Tyee Alberta’s union head calls on Danielle Smith to create similar protections for the province’s workers.

How will new federal "anti-scab" legislation affect labour disputes in B.C.? A report from @isaacphannay.bsky.social #canlab thetyee.ca/News/2025/06...

At a Canadian-Owned Mine, a Mexican Union Alleges Dirty Tactics | The Tyee A North American labour dispute panel is examining allegations union members were threatened into joining a competing union.

Via @isaacphannay.bsky.social - owners of this mine - Orla Mining - are from Vancouver. They won't answer questions. orlamining.com/about-us/#le...
At a Canadian-Owned Mine, a Mexican Union Alleges Dirty Tactics via @thetyee.ca thetyee.ca/News/2025/06...

AI May End Some Jobs. It Will Create Others | The Tyee Computer science researcher Vered Shwartz says she’s taking AI hype with a grain of salt. A Tyee Q&A.

“My main concern at the moment is the widespread adoption, reliance and trust in LLMs, despite a very serious technical limitation — the hallucination problem.”

@isaacphannay.bsky.social interviews "Lost in Automatic Translation" author @veredshwartz.bsky.social.

Who’s Looking Out for the Seafarers? | The Tyee The Tyee goes inside a surprise ship inspection at Vancouver’s port to uncover working conditions.

Very cool reporting by @isaacphannay.bsky.social taking you inside the world of trying to protect the rights of seafarers, from accessing fresh food to helping get workers home when they're stranded at a port or have family emergencies.
thetyee.ca/News/2025/06...

Who’s Looking Out for the Seafarers? | The Tyee The Tyee goes inside a surprise ship inspection at Vancouver’s port to uncover working conditions.

Life at sea offers steady employment and, for workers from many countries, above-average wages. But it also brings the risk of exploitation and abuse. Seafarers are far from home, dependent on the shipping company and often unaware of their few legal protections.

thetyee.ca/News/2025/06...