|
|
 |
|
Spotlight: |
|
|
| You are here: Home > Spotlights > Labour
Unrest in British Columbia |
Labour Unrest in British Columbia
By Jay Makarenko
June 1, 2004
In May 2004, a last minute settlement saved British Columbia from
a province-wide general strike. Private and public sector union
members were prepared to go on strike to support provincial healthcare
support workers. The dispute was between healthcare employers
and Liberal Premier Gordon Campbell's provincial government,
and had escalated following the government’s decision to
introduce Bill 37, which legislated a settlement for the workers
and forced them back to work. The healthcare support workers
had been on strike for almost a week, causing cancellations and
delays in hospitals across the province.
The following examines this issue. Specific topics include:
-
- What is a union?; Why are unions formed?; Rates of union
coverage in Canada and by province; Strikes and lockouts
by country; and Wage increases through collective bargaining
by industry.
-
- Introduction to important dates and events in the history
of Canadian unionism.
-
- Background on the dispute between the BC government and healthcare
support workers.
-
- Overview of the settlement and reaction by the unions, government
and opposition parties.
-
- List of relevant internal and external links
|
