But the real paradox is that notwithstanding the decline in union membership in Australia, the resources available to trade unions have actually increased and there is little evidence to indicate waning influence.
Source: Union political influence strong even as membership plunges | The Australian
Thousands of trade unionists today converged on Westminster to lobby their MPs to vote against the Trade Union Bill.
The TUC says the Bill, which is also opposed by Amnesty International, Liberty and the British Institute of Human Rights, is an attack on unions ability to organise in the workplace and a threat to UK workers’ right to strike.
If passed, it will allow employers to bus in agency workers to break strikes, force councils, health trusts and other public bodies to break agreements with unions over the collection of union subscriptions, create a powerful Certification Officer with legal powers to raid union offices even when there has been no complaint, restrict the way some unions collect money for the Labour Party, introduce new restrictions on picketing and protests during a strike, including forcing strike leaders to wear armbands to identify themselves and making unions having to tell police and employers what they might post on social media two weeks in advance.
Source: USI – Union Solidarity International | Thousands of trade unionists head to Westminster to lobby MPs
The office of the Prime Minister-designate confirmed in a Monday press release that Justin Trudeau will attend four international conferences in November and early December — in Turkey, the Philippines, Malta, and France.
He’ll begin with the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Antalya, Turkey (November 15, 16), followed by the APEC Economic Leaders’ meeting in Manila, Philippines (November 18, 19); the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Malta (November 27-29); and the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris (November 30 to December 11).
The press release didn’t clarify how long Trudeau will remain at the UN Climate Change Conference, where he’s expected to be joined by the majority of Canada’s premiers.
“Canada must be fully and firmly committed on the international stage, not only for our own success, but also for the success of others around the world,” Trudeau says in the release.
“Being engaged internationally is critical for creating economic growth, good-paying jobs for the middle class, and broad-based prosperity for all Canadians.”
The Huffington Post reported last week that Trudeau will ask the Governor General to deliver the speech from the throne shortly after he returns from the UN Climate Change Conference, opening up the new session of Parliament and outlining the new government’s priorities.
On Wednesday morning, Trudeau and his cabinet will be sworn in at Rideau Hall, the official residence of the Governor General.
Source: https://ipolitics.ca/2015/11/02/trudeau-confirms-attendance-at-four-international-summits/
Canada’s Ecofiscal Commission Calls for Pilot Studies of Congestion Pricing in Canadian Cities to Help Deal With Traffic Problems
Andrew Phillip Chernoff 