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About the author
CKirkby
- earned degrees in language / literature and law (but is not currently a lawyer or a journalist);
- worked for over a decade on Parliament Hill;
- misses writing; and
- appreciates thoughtful comments, en anglais ou en français. (Email addresses are not published.)
June 2026 S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Categories
Archive
Tag Archives: unions
Happy union AGM day.
I had a private comment in response to my post on Friday about questions members could put to federal labour unions, say at an AGM today. It included counter-arguments others might have in mind, so I decided to respond publicly. … Continue reading
Posted in Employment, Law, Politics
Tagged return to office policies, rhetoric v. action, solidarity, unions
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Suggested questions to put to unions re: fighting in-office policies
I’ve learned that my former union’s Annual General Meeting is being held this Sunday, 17 November 2024, including by Zoom. My emails to the union about fighting the federal government’s return-to-office policy have gone unanswered. Presumably it’s easy to ignore … Continue reading
Posted in Employment, Health, Politics
Tagged covid, return to office policies, rhetoric v. action, solidarity, unions
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Role models
My reading continues, of heavy psychology books moreso than current events. The few news bits I’ve gleaned include that people have repeatedly shot at one of Kamala Harris’s campaign offices, it’s increasingly likely that Russia will use nuclear weapons, climate … Continue reading
So, how many federal employees caught covid this week?
I’ve been pondering what to write. I’ve been following political news only enough to be confirmed in my opinions that (1) the NDP is abandoning principles and veering right and (2) Justin Trudeau’s post-retreat governance strategy remains “I’m not as … Continue reading
Posted in Employment, Commentary, Law, Politics
Tagged covid, Justin Trudeau, labour, NDP, return to office policies, unions
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Doing some math on the federal government’s return-to-office policy
September approaches. September is the month when federal employees are expected to start donating their “free” time three days per week to commute to a job they’ve proven they can do from home, where there probably aren’t bats. 7.68 work … Continue reading
Posted in Employment, Commentary, Health
Tagged covid, government, return to office policies, unions
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Saturday night analysis of Ministerial directives under s. 107 of the Canada Labour Code
How’s that for an engaging title. I am, I would say unsurprisingly or even predictably, interested in the ongoing railway labour dispute. Although it’s not clear from the articles I’ve read, the relevant union seems to be fighting for some … Continue reading
Posted in Employment, Law, Politics
Tagged government, labour, legislative process, unions
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Voices against bad policy
It’s time for an update on the federal government’s garbage 3-day-in-office policy, in respect of which I remain an opinionated spectator. I had volunteered to help my former union but the only response I got was the general mailbox advising they had forwarded my message to the President’s office. This was unhelpful since my original email had already cc’ed the President’s office. Continue reading
Posted in Commentary, Employment
Tagged Justin Trudeau, return to office policies, solidarity, unions
1 Comment
Thoughts on fighting the new federal in-office policy
These pointless obligations have to come from the time contractually paid for by the employer, not from the employee’s personal time. Employers are not entitled to conscript employees’ non-paid time for the purpose of justifying expensive real estate and selling sandwiches. Continue reading
Posted in Commentary, Employment
Tagged employment, labour, return to office policies, unions
3 Comments
“Mischief”
Good article from Emily Leedham at PressProgress: “Ottawa Police Using ‘Intimidation Tactics’ Against Striking Workers, Canada’s Biggest Federal Public Sector Union Says” (15 Feb 2024). Continue reading
“Win a chance at adequate infrastructure!”
The CRTC is offering employees the chance to win the temporary use of private office space in exchange for a charitable donation. Federal employers who are forcing employees out of the “private office space” of their own homes and requiring … Continue reading →