Night shift increases breast cancer
Washington, D.C. — Women who work the night shift may be at higher risk of developing breast cancer, according to two studies published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. The reports suggest that bright lights at night may decrease the production of melatonin and increase levels of estrogen — the hormone known to promote the growth of breast cancer tumours. One study from the Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Institute found women who worked night shifts were about 40 per cent more likely to have breast cancer than women who didn’t. That number increased to 60 per cent for women who worked night shifts for more than three years.
Where do we picket?
St. John’s — For the first time in Canada, oil workers on an offshore oil rig have unionized. The Communications Energy and Paperworkers union spent four years, trying to sign up the 400 workers at the Hibernia oil platform, which sits more than 315 km off the coast of Newfoundland. CEP has promised not to stop with just the Hibernia project and intends to unionize both the Sable Island and Terra Nova operations. The union blamed both the remote locations of the platform, as well as employer interference, for difficulty in winning certification. Hibernia is appealing the labour board’s decision to allow the certification.
Unfair EI premiums
Toronto— The Canadian arm of the United Farm Workers of American claims more than $11 million in employment insurance premiums was collected from migrant farm workers and their employers by the federal government last year, despite the fact that workers don’t qualify for benefits. The union suggests premiums should be directed into a separate fund under the management of a new national board consisting of the federal government and labour officials, and representatives from farm groups and community service agencies.
National strikes threatened
Johannesburg — South Africa is planning to launch a multi-million rand campaign to win the support of union members and counter claims that the government restructuring would result in massive job loses and price increases. About 40 per cent of workers in the country took part in an anti-privatization strike earlier this year and organized labour is threatening another nationwide walk-out if the privatization plan isn’t stopped.
Washington, D.C. — Women who work the night shift may be at higher risk of developing breast cancer, according to two studies published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. The reports suggest that bright lights at night may decrease the production of melatonin and increase levels of estrogen — the hormone known to promote the growth of breast cancer tumours. One study from the Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Institute found women who worked night shifts were about 40 per cent more likely to have breast cancer than women who didn’t. That number increased to 60 per cent for women who worked night shifts for more than three years.
Where do we picket?
St. John’s — For the first time in Canada, oil workers on an offshore oil rig have unionized. The Communications Energy and Paperworkers union spent four years, trying to sign up the 400 workers at the Hibernia oil platform, which sits more than 315 km off the coast of Newfoundland. CEP has promised not to stop with just the Hibernia project and intends to unionize both the Sable Island and Terra Nova operations. The union blamed both the remote locations of the platform, as well as employer interference, for difficulty in winning certification. Hibernia is appealing the labour board’s decision to allow the certification.
Unfair EI premiums
Toronto— The Canadian arm of the United Farm Workers of American claims more than $11 million in employment insurance premiums was collected from migrant farm workers and their employers by the federal government last year, despite the fact that workers don’t qualify for benefits. The union suggests premiums should be directed into a separate fund under the management of a new national board consisting of the federal government and labour officials, and representatives from farm groups and community service agencies.
National strikes threatened
Johannesburg — South Africa is planning to launch a multi-million rand campaign to win the support of union members and counter claims that the government restructuring would result in massive job loses and price increases. About 40 per cent of workers in the country took part in an anti-privatization strike earlier this year and organized labour is threatening another nationwide walk-out if the privatization plan isn’t stopped.
