“The Ontario Labour Relations Board ruled [on February 25th] that couriers working for Foodora are, as Foodsters United and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers argued, dependent contractors – which means they have the legal right to organize and certify a union. Until now, Foodora misclassified the couriers as independent contractors, which allowed them to avoid certain employer responsibilities, and does not entail the right to union certification. But the union’s argument prevailed.”

“Jan Simpson, CUPW National President, said ‘This decision shows that the tide is turning towards justice for thousands of gig workers in Ontario and soon these workers will have the right to their union. CUPW is proud to be part of challenging the big app-based employers, and reshaping the future of work in favour of workers’ rights, safety, and respect.’”

“This clears a significant hurdle on the path toward bargaining agent certification. The case has been keenly watched by many gig workers and unions, bringing app-based working conditions into the spotlight, and prompting many calls for better regulation and recognition of the workers’ issues and their rights.”

CUPW, February 25, 2020: “With Historic Win, Foodora Couriers a Big Step Closer to Union Certification”

Ontario Labour Relations Board, February 25, 2020: “OLRB Case No: 1346-19-R” (40 pages, PDF)

CBC News, February 25, 2020: “Foodora couriers are eligible to join union, labour board rules,”

VICE, February 26, 2020: “Why It's a Big Deal that Foodora Workers Can Unionize,” by Zaid Noorsumar

PressProgress, February 26, 2020: “Foodora Workers Just Won The Right to Unionize And It Might Disrupt the Gig Economy’s Business Model”

"Bill 74 is a private member’s bill put forward by Monte McNaughton, Tory MPP for Lambton-Kent-Middlesex, which would amend the Ontario Labour Relations Act to end the bargaining rights recognized by certain working agreements entered into before May 1, 1979 between an employer and a council of trade unions."

"This amendment would address the absolute bargaining rights electricians and sheet metal workers currently claim with EllisDon through a 1958 agreement."

"The Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) upheld the unions’ position in early 2012".

The Globe and Mail, September 26, 2013: Ontario Liberals, Tories seek to ‘ram through’ bill benefiting construction firm, Horwath says," by Adrian Morrow

Daily Commercial News, September 12, 2013: "Queen’s Park support builds to change agreement which ties EllisDon to using unionized workers."

"PC bills that would be pushed through include a measure that would free construction company EllisDon from having to use unionized labour."

The Globe and Mail, September 22 2013: "Ontario PCs aim to back Liberal bills in bid to set agenda," by Adrian Morrow

TheStar.com, August 30, 2013: "Ontario bill would give EllisDon relief from union deal: EllisDon is looking to the Ontario legislature for a law giving it the right to hire non-unionized workers and well as union members."

TheStar.com, September 9, 2013: "Kathleen Wynne and Tim Hudak agree EllisDon legislative change needed: Liberal Premier Kathleen Wynne and Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak agree on one thing: helping EllisDon is about boosting business not campaign fundraising."

"That big-business political parties take their marching orders from the financial elite will come as no surprise to class-conscious workers. Nor will it raise many eyebrows that politicians and business executives circulate through a revolving door between legislative chambers, political back rooms, and corporate executive suites. But there generally has been an attempt on the part of big business, the politicians and corporate media to maintain a pretense of “distance,” so as to promote the fiction that government policy is determined by fair-minded august lawmakers weighing up the public good."

"Today, however, as the ruling class gorges on an ever-larger share of the national income and repudiates ever-more openly democratic principles and norms, such pretenses are more and more seen as relics.

"Thus, Matt Gurney, editorial board member of the National Post newspaper, cynically writes that the exposure of the Conservative’s pandering to a major construction firm is really no big deal. That Conservative support for Bill 74 was tied by senior party officials to corporate donations from EllisDon is not “as bad as it sounds,” writes Gurney. “The worst that can be said is that the Tories saw an opportunity to ingratiate themselves to a large company that traditionally favoured a rival party and thought it would be a good idea to take it.”

World Socialist Web Site, September 14, 2013 : "Ontario: The EllisDon affair, worker rights, and the political charades at Queen’s Park," By Carl Bronski

Lancaster House, May 2, 2013: Teachers' concerted withdrawal from voluntary extracurricular activities is an unlawful strike, Ontario's Labour Board declares

CanLII, April 11, 2013: Trillium Lakelands District School Board v Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario, 2013 CanLII 20262 (ON LRB) (78 pages, PDF)

Lancaster House Headlines, January 15, 2013: OLRB declares Ontario teachers' 'day of protest' an "unlawful strike,"...

"In a brief decision issued following a hearing which stretched from 3:00 pm on January 10, 2013 until the wee hours of January 11, Ontario Labour Relations Board Chair Bernard Fishbein issued a ruling declaring that the province-wide day of protest planned by the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario ("ETFO") for January 11, 2013, would constitute an unlawful strike contrary to section 79 of the Ontario Labour Relations Act.