Labour and education in the news

Below are recent news stories on labour and education related issues. Click the headline to be taken to the article. Some may require a subscription. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for article text.

November 10, 2025

Learning the hard way
Winnipeg Free Press
The Manitoba Human Rights Commission published the long-awaited results of a probe into how schools are teaching children to read — or failing to do so — at the end of October.

Manitoba Government Adds $1 Million to Accelerate Construction of Park Community Centre and Child-Care Facility in Brandon
Province of Manitoba
The Manitoba government is investing an additional $1 million in the Park Community Centre in Brandon, enabling the city to issue a request for proposal (RFP) and accelerate the revitalization of the Park Community Centre and non-profit child-care facility in downtown Brandon, Premier Wab Kinew and Municipal and Northern Relations Minister Glen Simard announced here today.

Students call on province to step up as colleges, universities take financial hit from permit cuts
Times Colonist
A representative of post-secondary students across B.C. is calling on the province to increase funding for universities and colleges, after major student-permit changes were announced this week that are expected to sharply cut international student enrolment.

Union rejects MSVU’s latest offer, strike reaches 2 weeks
101.5 The Hawk
The union representing hundreds of part-time workers at two Halifax universities has rejected the latest proposal from one of the institutions.

The False Economy of Education Cuts
McGill University Office for Science and Society
A public education system is the scaffolding of any democracy. It’s where young citizens learn not only arithmetic and grammar, but curiosity, empathy, and the habits of coexistence. Undermine it, and you don’t simply erode a talent pipeline, you corrode the social fabric itself.

Cornell agrees to $60 million deal to regain access to federal funds
MSNBC
Cornell University has agreed to pay $60 million to unfreeze $250 million in federal funding, money the Trump administration was withholding over claims that the Ivy League institution discriminated against Jewish students during campus protests over Israel’s actions in Gaza.

86,000 University of California workers to strike statewide Nov. 17-18
East Bay Times
In what would be considered the largest strike in the University of California’s history, more than 86,000 union nurses and healthcare professionals within its medical system announced plans Thursday to authorize a two-day strike Nov.17-18.

Not all degrees are a waste of time and money: This ‘life skills’ university has become a magnet for the Wall Street elite
Fortune
As Gen Z college graduates struggle to jumpstart their careers, skepticism about the value of higher education is reaching new heights.

Students and faculty at over 100 US universities protest against Trump’s attacks
The Guardian
Students, faculty and staff at more than 100 campuses across the US rallied against the Trump administration’s assault on higher education on Friday – the first in a planned series of nationwide, coordinated protests that organizers hope will culminate in large-scale students’ and workers’ strikes next May Day and a nationwide general strike in May 2028.

China’s threat to academic freedom in the UK
The Guardian
Your report (UK university halted human rights research after pressure from China, 3 November) is deeply alarming. Amnesty International UK’s own research shows that attempts by the Chinese state to intimidate and silence people extend far beyond its borders: a clear case of transnational repression, where governments reach across borders to stifle dissent.

Internal security review of Winnipeg hospitals sparks labour complaint by nurses' union
CBC
The head of the Manitoba Nurses Union says she's concerned about a lack of transparency at Shared Health after the union obtained a report commissioned by the provincial health agency that found "safety lapses" at Winnipeg hospitals five years ago.

Advocates concerned temporary immigration cuts don't address systemic issues
CBC
The Carney government’s first budget will significantly reduce the number of temporary immigrants it admits to Canada over the next three years.

Minister says he’s ready to allow big job cuts at Canada Post
Times Chronicle
What to do with Canada Post?

U.S. lawmakers urge Starbucks CEO to restart union talks
CTV News
Twenty-six U.S. senators and 82 House representatives have written to Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol, urging the company to resume talks with its workers union, the lawmakers said on Monday.

Tens of thousands in Portugal protest proposed labor reforms
The Canadian Press
Tens of thousands of people in Lisbon took to the streets Saturday to protest labor reforms put forth by the center-right government.

November 7, 2025

Canada adds surprise 67,000 jobs in October, unemployment rate drops to 6.9%
Winnipeg Free Press
Statistics Canada says the economy added 67,000 jobs in October, blowing past economists’ labour market expectations for a second month in a row.

Canada’s job market surprisingly expands, unemployment falls in October
Globe and Mail
Canada’s job market made a solid gain in October, reversing past declines and beating expectations, and its unemployment rate fell, data showed on Friday.

The loyalty deficit: Most Canadians workers feel they give more than they get and the deal is broken
Globe and Mail
“These days, employers expect loyalty from workers but do not show loyalty to workers in return.”

Labour and immigration: it’s not so simple
Winnipeg Free Press
Immigration is a hot-button political issue. High unemployment rates for young Canadians, housing shortages and skyrocketing rents have many politicians calling for dramatic changes to Canadian immigration policies. For example, some have been calling for an end to critical programs like the Temporary Foreign Worker program and slashing the number of new permanent residents.

Alberta teachers union launches two court challenges against province's back-to-work legislation
Edmonton Journal
Alberta teachers are back in class, but their union’s lawyers were in court Thursday, issuing two separate legal challenges to the province’s back-to-work order.

What's going on with the Canada Post strikes?
CBC
More than a month into rotating Canada Post strikes, workers and the businesses that use the national postal service are grappling with uncertainty.

Federal budget cuts to public sector will weaken services, unions warn
Rabble
The federal public service will lose 40,000 full-time equivalent jobs by the 2028-2029 fiscal year according to the first federal budget from Mark Carney’s government tabled on Tuesday. This marks a 10 per cent reduction in the public service workforce since its peak in 2023-2025.

Ontario avoids public hearings on bills; one would boost education minister's powers
Collingwood Today
Ontario Premier Doug Ford's government is limiting debate and skipping public hearings on an education bill that would make it easier for the minister to take control of school boards and a housing bill critics say will make life harder for renters

Billions siphoned to wealthy, corporations, as Ontarians struggle with affordability, unemployment
CUPE
As millions in the province struggle to pay rent, buy groceries, and find jobs that let them make ends meet, the Ford Conservatives are playing a shell game of hidden tax dodges and loopholes that benefit the rich and big business, said CUPE Ontario in its review of today’s Fall Economic Statement, FES.

PCs letting unsafe bosses skirt rules, making workers pay, says OFL
Ontario Federation of Labour
While the PCs work hard at distractions, court data shows they are giving a free ride to employers who skirt safety laws, says OFL president Laura Walton.

‘Very bad sign’ Trump has moved to deploy National Guard troops to quell protests, Chretien says
CTV News
Canada’s premiers are too quick to use the notwithstanding clause for “marginal reasons” and have lost sight of its original purpose, former prime minister Jean Chrétien said Wednesday evening.

Unions condemn federal government's plans to change collective bargaining rules
Yahoo
Federal public service unions are condemning the government's proposed amendments to collective bargaining rules — though they admit they know little at this point about what those changes could entail.

Grand Theft Auto studio accused of 'union busting' after sacking workers
BBC
Grand Theft Auto (GTA) maker Rockstar Games has been accused by a trade union of sacking staff in the UK to stop them from unionising.

Université de Sherbrooke workers agree to contract extension
CUPE
At a special general meeting held, 93% of the attending members of the Syndicat des employées et employés de soutien de l’Université de Sherbrooke (SEESUS) adopted an extension of the collective agreement between their union and the university. Expired on March 31, 2025, the agreement is renewed until March 31, 2027.

Concordia defers sabbaticals, offers retirement program due to foreign student drop
Global News
Concordia University says it’s deferring sabbaticals and won’t be renewing some teaching contracts in response to federal and provincial immigration policies.

University of Calgary takes $35M hit from previous foreign student cap as feds further pare visas
Calgary Herald
The federal government’s planned cuts to immigration in the 2025 budget could put further strain on post-secondary institutions, whose own financial plans had already been affected by caps imposed in 2024.

MUN might be saying goodbye to its Harlow campus
CBC
Memorial University might have to say goodbye to its campus in the United Kingdom, as staff work to address the institution's $20 million deficit and declining student enrolment at home.

To adopt or to ban? Student perceptions and use of generative AI in higher education
Nature
The rapid rise of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) tools such as ChatGPT has sparked debate regarding their impact on higher education. While these technologies have the potential to transform traditional educational practices and enrich personalised learning experiences, they also raise ethical and organisational concerns, including the potential for misinformation and a lack of scientific rigour. This study surveyed 1366 university students from 24 Italian higher education institutions to examine their use of GenAI for academic and personal purposes, their perceptions of its individual and societal implications, their ethical considerations and their expectations regarding institutional policies and future developments. The findings revealed a gender disparity in GenAI usage, with male students being more likely to engage with them than female students. While 69.2% of respondents had used GenAI for personal projects, only 38.7% had applied it to academic tasks. This discrepancy is likely influenced by social desirability bias, as many respondents viewed the use of GenAI to assist in the completion of assignments to be ethically questionable and worried about its impact on critical thinking. Nevertheless, most students indicated that the university should regulate the use of these tools, rather than ban them. The findings also suggest that while students do not perceive an immediate threat to their education or career prospects, they expressed apprehension about AI’s broader societal impact. Overall, the study highlights the need for educators and policymakers to develop clear, balanced regulations that integrate GenAI into education while addressing ethical challenges.

ICE agents’ arrest of daycare teacher sparks outrage in Chicago
Globe and Mail
An employee of a Chicago daycare centre and preschool was detained by immigration agents at work as children were being dropped off Wednesday, according to witnesses, reflecting the Trump administration’s increasingly aggressive enforcement tactics.

November 6, 2025

Manitoba Government to Help Students Learn About Climate Change and Climate Action in Schools
Province of Manitoba
As part of its new Path to Net Zero strategy, the Manitoba government is developing a provincewide climate change education framework, including strengthening curriculum to enhance climate literacy and climate action education in classrooms from kindergarten to Grade 12 students, Environment and Climate Change Minister Mike Moyes and Education and Early Childhood Learning Minister Tracy Schmidt announced today.

UM Announces Transformative $5.4 million Gift to Establish the Chiu Centre for Business Serving Community
Education News Canada
The University of Manitoba (UM) is proud to announce a transformative $5.4 million gift from Drs. Wayne [BSc(ME)/80, LLD/23] and Eleanor Chiu to establish the Chiu Centre for Business Serving Community, a visionary initiative housed within the I.H. Asper School of Business.

Plans to cut number of international students in Canada raises alarm bells at Manitoba universities
CBC
University officials and students in Manitoba say they are disappointed after the federal government announced plans to significantly decrease the number of international students who will be permitted to study in Canada.

Winnipeg police investigating ‘financial misconduct incident’ at high school
CTV News
A private high school in Winnipeg said it experienced a “financial misconduct incident” allegedly involving a former employee, prompting an investigation by police.

Over 5,000 researchers oppose order to share 25 years of federal grant applicant data
CTV News
More than 5,000 researchers have signed an open letter pushing back against a parliamentary committee order that they say draws parallels with the U.S. government’s crackdown on equity, diversity and inclusion funding in health and science research.

University of Alberta education students protest teachers being forced back to work
CBC
University of Alberta education students say they are weighing their future job options after the province legislated 51,000 teachers back to work using what they describe as a heavy-handed tool — the Charter’s notwithstanding clause.

Supreme Court to decide whether it will weigh in on Saskatchewan’s school pronoun law
Winnipeg Free Press
The Supreme Court of Canada is set to announce today whether it will hear appeals in a challenge of Saskatchewan’s school pronoun law.

Federal Budget 2025: Postsecondary schools cheer funds for talent, bemoan foreign student caps
Globe and Mail
Much lower caps on international students announced in Tuesday’s federal budget threaten to exacerbate financial strain in the postsecondary system, but the country’s big research universities say they’ll benefit from the major funding set aside for talent attraction and infrastructure.

Press Release – U15 Canada welcomes new investments in Budget 2025
U15 Canada
U15 Canada welcomes the ambitious talent recruitment strategy outlined in today’s budget. We are pleased to see the government recognize that investing in highly-qualified talent is the foundation for Canada’s future prosperity, resilience, and security.

Laurentian University welcomes new board vice-chair with financial expertise
Sudbury.com
Laurentian University alumna with expertise in the financial sector was recently appointed the vice-chair of the university’s board.

Budget cuts international student permit targets by 65 per cent in 2026
University Affairs
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government has slashed international study permit targets by 65 per cent for 2026 in its first federal budget, announced today.

Postal workers in tough position at outset of busy holiday season, labour expert says
CTV News
A year after a Canada Post strike brought mail and parcel delivery to a halt during the busy holiday season, postal workers remain at odds with their employer but now face bigger existential questions amid intervention from the federal government.

Employers asking labour minister to implement law and end STM public transit strike
CTV News
Major economic organizations joined forces on Wednesday to ask Labour Minister Jean Boulet to bring forward the implementation of his law, due to the impact of strikes at the Montreal public transit authority (Société de transport de Montréal - STM).

New Montreal mayor gives deadline to end transit strike as employers ask minister to intervene
CTV News
Montreal’s incoming mayor wants to get Metro and bus service moving again as the impasse between the STM and the maintenance workers’ union stretches into another day.

Liberal government wants to change arbitration rules for public servants
Ottawa Citizen
Within the federal budget tabled on Tuesday, Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government said it will propose amendments to the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations Act to change arbitration for public servants.

Union representing 16,000 Alberta nurses and health care aides vote 98 per cent in favour of striking
Edmonton Journal
The union representing thousands of nurses and health care staff says 98 per cent of members have voted to strike.

‘Historic’ motion over worker violence
Yahoo
CFMEU NSW delegates have unanimously approved a landmark motion calling on state and federal governments to introduce pre-qualification checks on builders and contractors on government projects over fears of “violence and intimidation” against union officials.

November 5, 2025

Manitoba Government Strengthens Early Reading Screening and Supports for Young Students
Province of Manitoba
The Manitoba government has passed Bill 225, the Public Schools Amendment Act (Universal Screening for Learning Disabilities), which ensures every young student in the province receives early reading screenings to identify and address potential reading difficulties, Education and Early Childhood Learning Minister Tracy Schmidt announced today.

Manitoba early reading screening legislation passes final test
Winnipeg Free Press
Manitoba’s poor literacy rate has prompted MLAs of all political stripes to unanimously endorse a private member’s bill to increase teacher monitoring and support for struggling readers.

Liberal bill on universal student screening for learning disabilities endorsed by NDP
CBC
Manitoba's NDP government has agreed to support a Liberal bill on universal screening for learning disabilities in early grades.

Ontario college support staff ratify new collective agreement after nearly 5-week strike
CBC
The union representing more than 10,000 full-time college support staff at Ontario's 24 public colleges says its members have ratified a new, three-year contract.

Budget proposes more than $1B for student and youth employment
University Affairs
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government proposes some investments in youth and students in its 2025 budget, which projects a $78 billion deficit for fiscal year 2025-26.

Fighting for the right to a public university
CCPA
The Dalhousie Faculty Association (DFA) was locked out by the university three weeks ago (August 20^th). The DFA’s calls for fair wages and supportive measures for newer and precariously employed faculty resist right-wing trends experienced throughout the world that seek to limit intellectual freedom. By fighting for equitable salaries, the DFA is fighting for the integrity of education and helping ensure that academics will be fairly compensated for their labour.

U of T union to spend up to $100,000 on fightback against shift to in-person work
The Varsity
At the most recent membership general meeting of United Steelworkers (USW) Local 1998, the U of T administrative and technical staff’s union, the membership approved spending up to $100,000 on a fightback to U of T’s announcement that a “critical mass” of in-person administrative staff must work full-time five days a week.

Athabasca University: Employer's new wage offer still isn’t good enough
AUPE
AU refuses to move on other key issues

Alberta unions promise ‘big and bold’ response — but can they deliver?
CBC
Alberta’s labour movement is flirting with a tactic that its leaders say would be “big and bold and unprecedented,” but they’re still not quite ready to flip the switch.

Budget promises mean 40,000 job cuts, programs terminated: Canada's top public servant
CBC
The head of the federal public service says the budget commitment to spend less and invest more will result in the loss of 40,000 jobs as programs are scaled back or eliminated.

Young people are facing a crisis of high unemployment. Here’s how the budget addresses that
CBC
As Canada’s young people continue to struggle with a challenging labour market, the federal government has outlined its plans to address a crisis that has produced some of the highest youth unemployment rates in more than a decade.

Carney's first budget gives corporations a free ride and leaves working Canadians behind
CUPE
CUPE, Canada’s largest union, says Mark Carney’s first federal budget gives corporations a free ride while leaving working Canadians behind with major austerity and cuts to programs and services.

FIRST READING: Another NDP bill threatens to jail Canadians for speech
National Post
For the third time in two years, a member of the NDP has introduced a private member's bill that would jail Canadians for speech.

From the Shop Floor to “World Court”: the Right to Strike and the Scope of International Labor Law
OnLabor
Since 1919, the International Labor Organization (ILO) (now a UN specialized agency) has been setting global labor standards through a unique, tripartite process that involves not only governments but worker and employer organizations. Further, workers and employers also assist in the supervision of these standards through their participation in various committees. However, disputes over the interpretation of a convention occasionally arise and may eventually require judicial intervention. Per the ILO Constitution, this means a referral to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).