MPs’ credentials

 Federal, Member  No Responses »
Nov 302013
 

By Judy Haiven, associate professor in the Management Dept. at the Sobey School of Business at Saint Mary’s University and member of Solidarity Halifax.

This comment was sent as a letter to the editor and published in the Globe and Mail.

After Monday’s by-election wins, Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau said the NDP “is no longer the hopeful, optimistic party of Jack Layton, it is the negative, divisive party of Thomas Mulcair.”

How insulting – especially since it is Mr. Mulcair who has been holding down the fort in Parliament, and hammering the Prime Minister on wrongdoings in the Senate and in the PMO.

Mr. Mulcair is carrying on the fight for Mr. Trudeau, whose attendance during Question Period has been sporadic and whose participation in the debate on Senategate is all but non-existent.

— Judy Haiven, Halifax

 

Note: Articles published by Solidarity Halifax members do not necessarily reflect positions held by the organization.

 

Suicide – the last straw at Halifax Shipyard

 Labour, Member, Rally  No Responses »
Nov 292013
 
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By Judy Haiven, associate professor in the Management Dept. at the Sobey School of Business at Saint Mary’s University and member of Solidarity Halifax.

This piece was originally published on the Halifax Media Co-op.

The tragic suicide by a worker with 38 years’ seniority at Halifax Shipyard on Wednesday, sparked a walk out of more than 300 shipyard workers on Thursday. First thing this morning, workers found out that on learning of their comrade’s death, workers on the previous night’s shift had refused to work . At about 8 am Thursday, the day shift, who had just arrived, downed tools and walked out.

While union leaders went to the Shipyard’s office to demand an end to  management bullying and hounding employees, more than 300 workers and some supporters poured out of the yards and blocked traffic on Barrington Street at morning rush hour.  Management quickly decided to lower the flags at half-mast, and promised to look into the events that lead to the worker’s death.

Co-workers said that the deceased was a  well-liked and conscientious worker, who was no troublemaker.  His foreman saw him doing something minor incorrectly and hassled him. The situation  escalated and the man  was given a 30-day suspension without pay.  “This close to Christmas, and suspending him with no pay? That’s wrong,” said one welder still outside the plant.

The welder also suggested that because the deceased man was an older worker near pensionable age, the Shipyard wanted to get rid of him.  A metal worker said, “Management thinks they are gods in there — that is the problem. This was the last straw for our co-worker.”

Two other workers said if management refuses to address the suspension of their co-worker, and commit to end management’s bullying, the workers will protest again Friday morning and even stay off the job.

 

Note: Articles published by Solidarity Halifax members do not necessarily reflect positions held by the organization.

 

Taking a closer look at EI

 Community, Economy, EI, Federal, Labour, Member  No Responses »
Nov 202013
 

Larry Haiven with the Canadian Centre For Policy Alternatives, Professor of Management at Saint Mary’s University, and Solidarity Halifax member, talks to CBC Information Morning about proposals to privatize Employment Insurance and the defense of social services.

>>LISTEN HERE

Note: Statements by Solidarity Halifax members do not necessarily reflect positions held by the organization.

Upcoming Elsipogtog solidarity events

 Environment, Indigenous, Meeting, Music, Racial Justice, Rally, Uncategorized  No Responses »
Nov 122013
 

*Stay tuned for detail updates*

  • Monday, December 2: INFORMATION PROTEST “Mother Earth ‘Mondays'” – protest at Irving on Quinpool (6515), 8am-9am. Facebook event.

 

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  • Saturday, November 30: FUNDRAISER Elsipogtog benefit concert. First Location: Mi’kmaq Native Friendship Center,  6-8:00pm: Cultural Showcase, Vendors & Silent Auction! Second Location: The Marquee Ballroom (19&Up) 8pm-2am: Fashion Show, Stand-Up Comedy, Solo Singers and 4 Live Bands! Tickets $30. Event details.

 

*PAST EVENTS*

 

  • Friday, November 15: FUNDRAISER for Traditional Healers, at the Mi’Kmaq Friendship Centre, 2158 Gottingen St, 7-10pm. Traditional dinner, Silent Auction, Music by Johnt & Umoja Drumers. Tickets $30, available at Good Food Emporium and the Mi’Kmaq Friendship Centre.

 

  • Saturday, November 16: PROTEST MARCH, part of a Canada-wide day of action against fracking, pipelines, the Tar Sands, etc. 12:00 noon at the Seaport Market (1209 Marginal Rd). Facebook event.

 

  • Saturday, November 16: FILM SCREENING “Do the Math” a film about climate change. Hosted by the Shambhala Centre (1084 Tower Rd), 7pm. Free. Facebook event.

  • Monday, November 18: FILM SCREENING and discussion on fracking (tentatively, “Gasland 2”), at the lecture theatre of the Dalhousie Architecture School, 5410 Spring Garden Road, back entrance), 7pm. Free. Facebook event.

 

  • Thursday, November 21: SPOKEN WORD Speak! Series in Halifax. Featuring Mohawk artist Kahsenniyo Wilson and the youth of CENTERLINE STUDIO, located at the corner of Uniacke and Gottingen as they raise funds for Youth Now! radio on CKDU. Performed at The Company House (2202 Gottingen St). 8:30pm. Facebook event.

 

  • Friday, November 22: SPOKEN WORD Speak! Series event at the Elsipogtog Community Hall. Featuring Kahsenniyo Wilson, El Jones, Rebecca Moore and Ardath Whynacht. 7:30pm – 10:30pm. 7:30pm – 10:30pm. Facebook event.

 

  • Tuesday, November 26: The Halifax Coalition Against Fracking PLANNING MEETING. This action and planning meeting, which will include a potluck, is for all people in Halifax concerned about fracking and destructive resource extraction in Atlantic Canada or across Mi’kmaki. The big oil and gas companies have a future in mind for us; we must come together and plan a different one. This group is a coalition that includes concerned Indigenous and non-Indigenous individuals as well as representatives of groups including NOFRAC, Solidarity Halifax, NSPIRG, Council of Canadians, the Ecology Action Centre and the Sierra Club. Come with some food to share if you can, or just bring yourself. All are welcome! Bloomfield Centre, Halifax. 5pm – 7pm. Facebook event.

 

 

Elsipogtog benefit concert in Halifax, November 30

 Environment, Indigenous, Music, Racial Justice  1 Response »
Nov 112013
 

ElsiPoster

 

**Don’t miss it!! A Powerhouse of Aboriginal Talent from across the East & West Coast!!!**

**Just $30 bucks to see Candy Palmater, a Cultural Showcase, Fashion Show, Comedy Stand-Up, 2 Solo Singers & 4 Live Bands**

*Concerts stacked with performers so it includes 2 parts, 2 venues, just 2 mins from each other*

*Although the benefit includes an all Aboriginal Line-Up this event is open to everyone!! We’d love to see peeps from all different backgrounds come out!*

*CULTURAL SHOWCASE*

6-8pm: Cultural Showcase, Vendors & Silent Auction!
Mi’kmaq Native Friendship Centre – 2158 Gottingen St.

Our Cultural Showcase features an internationally renowned group of Mi’kmaq singers, “Eastern Eagle”, as our host drum group, “Stoney Bear Singers” and “All Nations Drum”. We also have dancers from all powwow styles and a Hoop Dance Exhibition. The Silent Auction will include Fancy Shawl and Jingle dresses, artwork, hand drums, one night stay at Lord Nelson, and anything else people would like to donate. We are still looking for items/donations for the silent auction. All vendors are welcome and can contact us to reserve a table.

*CONCERT*

The Marquee Ballroom (19 & Up)
8pm-2am: Fashion Show, Stand-Up Comedy, Solo Singers and 4 Live Bands!

To begin, we have one super funny Mi’kmaq, recently voted as Halifax’s BEST Comedian, nominated by the ECMA’s, and host of “The Candy Show”, Candy Palmater, as our nights event host!! The Fashion Show will showcase HeadRush, The Vault and InkStarz Native designs by “Natasha Patles” and “Dwayne Everett Ward“- which will include both female and male Mi’kmaq models. We then have special guest, “Ryan McMahon“, a hilarious Ojibway Comedian, who’s flying in from Winnipeg to do Stand-Up Comedy for us! Our stacked music line-up includes Listiguj’s very own “Melissa Girvan” and “Gmanwolf Productions”, “Jocelyn Marshall”, “Kicking Krotch”, and two Aboriginal Hiphop Music groups who were recently nominated by the East Coast Music Awards for Aboriginal Recording Of The Year, “City Natives” and “Black & Grey” to perform for us LIVE!!!

Official DJ: CJ Bernard
Official Stage Manager: Ardath Whynacht
Official Photographer: Michael W Barnaby
Official Make-up Artist for Fashion Show: Lola Vicaire

Background: Elsipogtog and allies are currently fighting to protect their water from fracking in Kent County. Since they began protesting in May, they’ve had over 50 people who were unlawfully arrested for peacefully protesting. Many women, elders and men have been hurt but they continue defending their territory for their children, grandchildren and for those to come. We now have four warriors, which includes three youth, who were incarcerated on Oct. 17th. I personally know these youth and know they’re good kids. All they wanted was to help Elsipogtog’s struggle, to protect our women and elders who were harmed by SWN’s security in June & July, and to protect our land & water. We want to support Elsipogtog/Rexton by raising funds to provide them with warm winter gear and shelter, and we’d like to raise legal funds for our young warriors who are still incarcerated. Please come out, help out or support in any way you can!! ♥ Visit Sacred Fire: The People United Against Fracking for additonal information.

Ticket Sales Contacts:
Elsipogtog: Charmaine Sock
Indianbrook: Bella Marblel
Afton/Antigonish: Molly Jean Peters
Pictou Area: Sallot Sipu
Halifax: Shelley A. Young/Sara Swasson at Dal’s NECU/Lee Merrigan Thomas/Mi’kmaq Friendship Center/Good Food Emporium/Darryl Leroux at SMU
Eskasoni: Marina Ann Young
Miramichi: Keetha Metallic
Listiguj: Dwayne Ward
OR via EMT (Online Banking) in which ticket can be mailed or reserved at the door for you, by msg’n Shelley A. Young or Molly Jean Peters via FB or by emailing us at shelley.young@iwk.nshealth.ca, mollypeters01@gmail.com.

Hotel Discounts:
“Lord Nelson Hotel & Suites” on Spring Garden Road for $109 per night. Quote “Elsipogtog” or “30070” when booking.

“Delta Halifax” is also offering us $99 per night- but the price doesn’t include parking, which is roughly $20 per day. Also quote “Elsipogtog”.

This is gonna be an awesome event!! Spread the word! #ElsipogtogBenefit #Halifax #SaturdayNOV30th

This event is sponsored by:
Canadian Union of Public Employees
Cape Breton University Press
Dalhousie Student Union
Fernwood Publishing
Headrush
Mayworks Halifax
Nova Scotia Public Interest Research Group
Public Service Alliance of Canada
Solidarity Halifax
Vas Media

 

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