Thread by @alex_mckeen

Tomorrow's copy of @starvancouver will be the last. I've been wanting to do a #thread before it comes to an end on what it's been like to report on labour here in B.C.

Spoiler: it's been humbling and challenging and great. #bclab

@starvancouver A little more than a year ago I spent a week at the @bcfed convention. I tweeted that I was there and asked union folks for a follow. The response I got was overwhelming.

(I just tried to scroll back to find the tweet, but it turns out I Tweet too much...)

@starvancouver @bcfed That experience revealed to me just how many labour-related stories were going untold in this province. It had been a long time since, as @rodmickleburgh likes to remind us, newspapers like the Vancouver Sun had not one but *two* full time #bclab reporters

@starvancouver @bcfed @rodmickleburgh Some of those stories had to do with the labour movement itself -- the precedent-setting strikes and causes championed by unions that made their way into government policies (examples next)

@starvancouver @bcfed @rodmickleburgh The agreement that followed this port worker lockout, for example, contains language on automation that unions in other sectors are already looking to as an example. Because yes, robots are coming:

thestar.com/vancouver/2019…

@starvancouver @bcfed @rodmickleburgh And at a time when B.C. has its first NDP government in well over a decade, it's good to know who the union leaders are who have the Premier's ear (I'm looking at
@Laird4bcfed)

thestar.com/vancouver/2018…

@starvancouver @bcfed @rodmickleburgh @Laird4bcfed These things are important. They help us understand policy changes. And there were a LOT of labour policy and law changes in the last two years (cc: @HarryBainsSN )

Reforms to labour code, ESA. A new law to protect temporary foreign workers

@starvancouver @bcfed @rodmickleburgh @Laird4bcfed @HarryBainsSN The stories I became most eager to tell, though, had little to do with policy and labour disputes.

The very best labour stories are about human resilience, and the often unfair circumstances that require some of the country's most marginalized to use it. #bclab

@starvancouver @bcfed @rodmickleburgh @Laird4bcfed @HarryBainsSN These B.C. Hydro janitors fought tooth and nail to keep their jobs, as well as their hard-won seniority, and union protections. Ultimately, they won.

thestar.com/vancouver/2019…

@starvancouver @bcfed @rodmickleburgh @Laird4bcfed @HarryBainsSN Joy Ortiz, who came to this country to work as a nanny, fought in court to get her due severance when she was dismissed. thestar.com/vancouver/2018…

@starvancouver @bcfed @rodmickleburgh @Laird4bcfed @HarryBainsSN Recently, Ravinder Singh set an example for temporary foreign workers around the country who want to leave potentially abusive employment situations. thestar.com/vancouver/2019…

@starvancouver @bcfed @rodmickleburgh @Laird4bcfed @HarryBainsSN There's more, but if you've made it this far down the thread (thank you!) I want to add that there are so many *fun* worker-related stories out there.

Like... how workers actually get to work in areas unserved by rapid transit... thestar.com/vancouver/2019…

@starvancouver @bcfed @rodmickleburgh @Laird4bcfed @HarryBainsSN And seldom-used strike tactics where people go around labeling logs as "hot" (this strike is still going by the way)

thestar.com/vancouver/2019…

@starvancouver @bcfed @rodmickleburgh @Laird4bcfed @HarryBainsSN It's been a joy and an honour to cover workers' stories here in B.C. for @starvancouver. Thank you very much for those who have followed along. I will keep you posted re: what's to come. /End