I finally have a hard copy of Bob Barnetson’s and my new book. Four years in creating it and it is fimally across the finish line

With great sadness I learn of Raj Pannu’s passing. I had the great honour of working with him for a number of years. He was an exemplar of what politics could be. He exuded dignity, grace, kindness and humanity. A person of principle and never ending hope for a better world.

A timely webinar from Parkland Institute. Learn what is really going on with so-called $10 a day child care. I am attending and you should too.

As school support workers strike, the Alberta government sits on its hands and claims it can’t get involved in a “local bargaining matter.” But the UCP’s own secret mandates are the reason school boards can’t negotiate a decent deal with their workers. cbc.ca/news/canada/ca…

Why are education workers still on strike? UCP interference in public sector bargaining, that’s why. A new op-ed from me, Bob Barnetson and Susan Cake. ⁦Parkland Institute⁩ edmontonjournal.com/opinion/column…

Parkland is hosting a webinar on the disaster that is the UCP’s private surgery plan. Higher costs, longer wait lists. Come hear about it.

I had a great conversation with Christopher Balkaran on his Open Minds podcast about the growth of the TFWP. The episode is out now.

Was just interviewed on 880 CHED about the looming teachers' lockout/strike. Government ramped up the rhetoric today trying to deflect from their unwillingness to invest appropriately in education. Listen in if you want: open.spotify.com/episode/02hAoM…

The last time teachers went on strike in Alberta was over 20 years ago. Why are we so close to one now? “This seems to be bubbling up from the members themselves. They're angry and want to see change,” says Parkland’s director. cbc.ca/listen/live-ra…

“In the last decade, inflation’s gone up by 25% — but workers’ wages sure haven’t. What we’re seeing now is workers pushing back across industries, across the country.” Listen to this interview with Parkland’s director, Jason Foster. cbc.ca/listen/live-ra…

School library book crackdowns, anti-LGBTQ+ policies, and calls for privatization: all under the banner of “parental rights.” Find out what’s behind this political strategy trying to reshape Alberta’s schools. Join our free webinar — tomorrow! ualberta-ca.zoom.us/webinar/regist…

The UCP says it can’t afford fair wages for teachers. Parkland’s director Jason Foster points out: “Just in the last budget, the government implemented a gigantic tax cut. So they’re making choices that mean whether they have or don’t have money.” ctvnews.ca/edmonton/ctv-m…

The UCP’s announcement of a new ad campaign smearing Alberta teachers will only push them closer to strike action: “The government is less interested in figuring out a deal and more concerned about political optics,” says Parkland director Jason Foster. thecanadianpressnews.ca/business/exper…

A note to young and emerging labour scholars. Say yes to media requests. I have done 22 interviews in the last two weeks on various labour issues. Yes it gets in the way of the rest of our work but it matters. We need knowledgeable, pro-worker voices talking about labour issues.

I was on Real Talk with Ryan Jespersen today to talk about the teachers’ strike. Here are some highlights.

I had a good conversation with the Tyee for their story examining the parties' strategies in the ongoing teachers' strike.

I had a good interview today with Markham Hislop about what could happen when the government passes Back-to-Work legislation on the teachers next week.

I was invited onto to CANADALAND to talk teachers and govt interference in bargaining in Canada. Thanks for having me! You can listen to it here: canadaland.com/podcast/1257-s…

A bit late getting to this but I was on The Current on CBC Radio last week to talk about the teachers’ strike. Worth a listen still. cbc.ca/listen/live-ra…

Today on my CBC Radioactive beer column we talked beer advent calendars; what options are out there and how to organize your own. And we opened the first day’s beer - a couple days early - from the hand curated one from ⁦Sherbrooke Liquor⁩ . ⁦Jessica Ng 吳 芮 芬⁩