kimsiever

[kimsiever]

Calgary distillery workers ask for 40% raise

Early this month, Local 401 of the United Food & Commercial Workers published an update on contract negotiations for workers employed with Alberta Distillers. The current contract for these 70 or so people working at the company’s plant in Calgary expires at the end of this month. Included in that collective agreement are forklift operators, tankhouse workers, warehouse workers, shippers,…

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Lethbridge Polytechnic faculty get 12% raise

Back in March, the Lethbridge Polytechnic Faculty Association published an update on their website regarding negotiations on a new collective agreement. Their previous collective agreement expired in June 2024. According to the update, the bargaining committee for the faculty had reached a tentative agreement with Lethbridge Polytechnic. The agreement included a 12% wage increase over the life…

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I knew I hated that job, but it was not until I got my autism diagnosis that I knew why.

The worst job I had as an autistic person

Since I was diagnosed with autism last month, I have been reviewing my life in this new paradigm. Things that did not make sense before are starting to make sense now. One thing I have reevaluated was the worst job I have ever had. I was laid off a little over 15 years ago from a place I had worked at for 9 years. I had been hired as a website developer, and during the time I worked there, I…

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“The government has immense power to improve our material conditions. At the snap of a finger, the government can create jobs without waiting for market demand. They can build and staff schools. They can build and staff hospitals. I’m sure everyone here can think of a highway in Alberta that can be twinned. Even if you are pro oil and gas, the provincial government has the power to drill for natural gas and mine bitumen, to refine it, and to convert its products into all sorts of products, ranging from retail fuel to plastics and medical supplies. They have the power to increase worker wages. They’re able to build housing. They can fully fund post-secondary education, eliminating tuition and administrative fees. Not only will we have more jobs, higher wages, and housing, but our education, health, and living standards will improve as well.”

My opening remarks from Progress Publics

Hey, fellow workers. My name is Kim Siever, and I’m the founder of an independent media startup called The Alberta Worker, where I write daily news stories and regular editorials, record videos, and publish a podcast. I started what is now The Alberta Worker a little over 5 years ago, just a few weeks into the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to that, I didn’t really spend a lot of time delving into…

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[kimsiever]

The worst job I had as an autistic person

Since I was diagnosed with autism last month, I have been reviewing my life in this new paradigm. Things that did not make sense before are starting to make sense now. One thing I have reevaluated was the worst job I have ever had. I was laid off a little over 15 years ago from a place I had worked at for 9 years. I had been hired as a website developer, and during the time I worked there, I…

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VIA Rail reaches new deal after workers vote to strike

Next month, VIA Rail workers will see their current collective agreement expire. They’ve been trying to negotiate a new agreement with their employer since last October. The workers include about 1,800 who work in station services, headquarters, maintenance centres, and onboard trains and are represented by Unifor Council 4000. It also includes about 700 diesel engine mechanics, electricians,…

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ALRB certified 5 more unionized workplaces

The Alberta Labour Relations Board publishes a list of all the certificates they’ve issued for unionized workplaces in the province. They update it every month, with the latest update being 2 June 2025. I thought I’d report on 4 certificates that the ALRB awarded in May 2025. AgeCare Skypointe The first certificate that the ALRB issued last month was actually two certificates at the same…

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Alberta painters get 10% raise in new contract

Last week, the Mediation Services department of Alberta Jobs, Economy, and Trade published the May 2025 Bargaining Update. This monthly report provides information about the unionized workforce, primarily in Alberta. In May, Mediation Services received settlement information regarding 27 private sector and 22 public sector bargaining settlements, covering 19,771 and 17,459 workers…

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Northern AB cleaners get 4% raise in new contract

Last week, the Mediation Services department of Alberta Jobs, Economy, and Trade published the May 2025 Bargaining Update. This monthly report provides information about the unionized workforce, primarily in Alberta. In May, Mediation Services received settlement information regarding 27 private sector and 22 public sector bargaining settlements, covering 19,771 and 17,459 workers…

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An archivist from a museum in Lethbridge added me on LinkedIn the other day and I was so surprised because I don't know them (and I'm only a sort of an archivist myself, but I think that was the reason) but I do know of Lethbridge because of you and the podcast. It took me a long while to realise that it's probably a coincidence. But still, it was a cool "huh small world" kind of a moment. Like now I know of two people in Lethbridge. :D

Ha ha! That’s pretty cool.

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Whitecourt area ed workers to vote on 12% raise

Late last week, the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees published an update on their website regarding contract negotiations for education workers in the Whitecourt area. The 100 or so workers are employed by the Living Waters Catholic Separate School Division, which oversees 8 schools in Edson, Slave Lake, and Whitecourt. These workers include secretaries, educational assistants, library…

[kimsiever]

My opening remarks from Progress Publics

Hey, fellow workers. My name is Kim Siever, and I’m the founder of an independent media startup called The Alberta Worker, where I write daily news stories and regular editorials, record videos, and publish a podcast. I started what is now The Alberta Worker a little over 5 years ago, just a few weeks into the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to that, I didn’t really spend a lot of time delving into…

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Fort Mac trade workers want to expand union

Last week, the Alberta Labour Relations Board published their second new applications report for June 2025. In it was an application for certification modification. Local 707-A of Unifor filed the application on 2 June 2025 on behalf of workers employed by SMS Equipment. SMS Equipment is based out of Acheson, Alberta, but has locations throughout Canada (and two in Alaska). The company is a…

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On my way to Calgary to present at a conference. I’m participating in two sessions.

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Happy birthday, Che.

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Calgary car rental workers file to unionize

Earlier this week, the Alberta Labour Relations Board published their second new applications report for June 2025. In it was an application for union certification. Local 362 of the Teamsters filed the application on 2 June 2025 on behalf of workers employed by Hertz Canada Ltd at their Calgary International Airport location. The ALRB has scheduled a hearing for this application, which will…