Occupations added to Alberta’s PNP; Workers back CAW-Magna deal; Union goes green; Apprenticeships on the rise
Occupations added to Alberta’s PNP
Edmonton — Alberta has expanded the list of occupations in hospitality and manufacturing covered by the provincial nominee program, which helps employers hire foreign workers. In the hospitality sector, “front desk agent/clerk,” “food and beverage servers” and “room attendants” have been added. In the manufacturing sector, “manufactured housing production worker” and “prefabricated housing assembler” have been added.
Workers back CAW-Magna deal
Windsor, Ont. — Workers at the Windsor Modules plant are the first to vote in favour of the Magna International and Canadian Auto Workers’ “Framework of Fairness” agreement, under which workers give up the right to strike in exchange for binding arbitration and a no-lock-out clause. About 87 per cent of the more than 250 workers at the plant, which produces door components for Chrysler, ratified the three-year agreement, which includes an immediate $3-an-hour wage increase.
Union goes green
Ottawa — A new workplace environmental guide will help members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees create greener, more sustainable workplaces. Health, Clean & GREEN: A Workers’ Action Guide to a Greener Workplace, shows members what they can do at work and at home to tackle pressing environmental problems such as climate change. The guide is available online at www.cupe.ca/
environment/enviroguide.
Apprenticeships on the rise
Ottawa — Registrations in apprenticeships increased in all major trade groups in 2005, according to Statistics Canada. In 2005, there were 293,835 registered apprentices, an increase of 9.7 per cent from 2004. The biggest increases were seen in the building construction trades, with 68,705 registered apprentices, up from 8,100 in 2004. The number of women in apprenticeships is also increasing, more than tripling from 8,225 in 1992 to 28,755 in 2005.
