On March 11 the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global health pandemic. Tens of millions worldwide have been infected and hundreds of thousands have been killed. In Canada, over 9,000 people have died. The pandemic has had profound impacts on workers and the economy. Millions in Canada have lost their jobs or saw their hours cuts. Some who worked through the pandemic on the frontlines put their bodies at risk. Racialized, migrant and women workers have born the brunt of the economic fallout. Racialized and women workers are experiencing the highest levels of job loss. Migrant and racialized workers on the frontlines have seen a disproportionate rates of infections. For Labour Day, Spring compiled a list of our articles that focus on workplace issues that reflect both the profound challenges facing workers and the inspiring organizing the working class has engaged in since March.
The outbreak
COVID-19 lessons from Italy by Alessandro Delfanti and Beatrice Busi
Shipping and receiving during a pandemic by Alex Medley
Workers speak out against capitalism’s epidemic of unemployment by Michael Speers
Life in the time of COVID-19 by Randi Wallace
Workers versus the coronavirus by Peter Hogarth
COVID capitalism and the fight for the future by Loretta Fisher
Parks work during a pandemic by Alex Medley
On the frontlines
Stocking shelves in a pandemic by Rechev Browne
Social work during a pandemic by Alex Medley
Restore pandemic pay and make it permanent by Rechev Browne
Essential work deserves essential protections by Valerie Lannon
It’s time for grocery militancy by Dan Darrah and Ben Elvin
Migrant rights
Done Waiting: Permanent Status Now! by Valerie Lannon
Pandemic response needs migrant justice by Jesse McLaren
How many more deaths? Justice now for migrant workers by Valerie Lannon
We need healthcare for all, during and after COVID-19 by Jesse McLaren
Fighting for racial justice
Fighting racism: The boardroom vs the shop floor by Adam Lee
Black workers matter: The life and politics of Bayard Rustin by Jesse McLaren
‘Nurses fought COVID, now we’ll fight the police’ by Spring Magazine
Capitalism, Prisons and COVID-19: On ‘Surplus Labour’ by Jessica Evans
Courage is contagious: What we can learn from the NBA players’ strike by David Bush
Education workers
Notes from a teacher on #SafeSeptember by Mary-Alexis
‘We need smaller class sizes’ by Alex Kerner
Safe schools need paid sick days by Peter Hogarth
BC’s school reopening plan fails to make the grade by Spring Magazine
Parents, students & education workers demand a #SafeSeptember by Mina Rajabi Paak
Healthcare on the frontlines
Chronic understaffing in healthcare system makes pandemic worse by Faiz Ahmed
Excluded healthcare workers fight back: Join them! by Valerie Lannon
Health for all: COVID-19 and global health by Iman Ahmed
“We’re constantly worried about getting sick”: nurses during COVID-19 by Graeme Cheadle
Interview: Coronavirus and care homes by Graeme Cheadle
Interview: Working in care homes by Graeme Cheadle
‘Solidarity is fundamental’: Lessons in pandemic response by Srinivas Murthy
Fighting for paid sick days
‘Before It’s Too Late’: Paid sick days for all by Megan Brown
Paid sick days for all by D’Arcy Briggs
Why and how the 1% denies paid sick days for all by Jesse McLaren
Labour and the economy
Now is the moment to expand public services by Alex Hunsberger
The real hoarders by David Bush
COVID or capitalism: What’s causing the food crisis? by Jesse McLaren
The other second wave: jobs and the economy by David Bush
COVID-19: How should the economy be reopened? by Jesse McLaren
TC Energy: pipelines and pandemic by D’Arcy Briggs
Workplace rights
COVID-19 and the right to refuse unsafe work by Geoff Cross
Collective power wins safety: Beyond the right to refuse unsafe work by Geoff Cross
Ford rewriting labour laws to line the bosses’ pockets by Andrew Hills
Fighting for an alternative
CERB and income security by Matthew Tracey
Defending CERB and Fighting the Right by Alex Hunsberger
Mothering Through the Pandemic by James Cairns
Work/life collapse and collective struggle by Mani Moksha
Fasting for our Jobs: Unite Here! Local 40 Demand Change by D’Arcy Briggs
Don’t Subsidize Corporations, Democratize the Economy by David Bush
CFL bailouts: A trick play by Adam Lee
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