New book alert! My latest effort, with Fiona McQuarrie, is hitting the shelves this month. It is a boring undergrad textbook but still a good read if you want to learn about labour relations.
Fair enough. Yeah, tough times. Hoping for the best for you.
Well, not really. But some places are not as bad as others. It is a tough time.
My 2025 State of the Craft Beer Industry in Canada is out! I have crunched the latest numbers to assess the health of craft beer. I find that we are fully in a period of contraction, albeit it moderate. All the gains of the past four years have been erased. Read my post:
onbeer.org/2025/12/trea...
Attended the launch of a new documentary about undocumented kids being denied the right to go to school. Proud to be a part of the campaign with Alberta Workers Association for Research and Education and @MigranteAlberta
80’s New Wave alert! Saw Spoons in concert for first time in forever last night. Still remember most of the lyrics. Arias and Symphonies is a classic Canadian album. No one will disabuse me of that opinion.
A bit late getting to this but I was on CBC’s The Current last week to discuss the teachers’ strike. I think it is still informative.
www.cbc.ca/listen/live-...
I was invited onto @canadaland.com to talk teachers’ strike and govt interference in bargaining. Give it a listen here:
www.canadaland.com/podcast/1257...
Spent the afternoon canning salsa from our tomatoes and garlic with local peppers and onions. 18 jars in total. Also did up 2 pickled jalapenos because we had extra.
A good piece in the Tyee looking at the strategies in the AB teachers’ strike, quoting myself and my colleague Susan Cake.
thetyee.ca/News/2025/10...
I was on Real Talk with Ryan Jesperson today to talk about the Alberta teachers’ strike. You can hear it here:
podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/b...
Sneaky! Underhanded! Undemocratic!
My latest post commenting on the new radio campaign by @beercanada.bsky.social targeting federal excise duties. I take exception with their overheated rhetoric and fast and loose use of statistics. Beer policy can be fun!
onbeer.org/2025/09/snea...
Harvested the basil today and made enough pesto for the winter.
A note to young and emerging labour scholars. Say yes to media requests. I have done 22 interviews in the last two weeks (6 today) 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.
It seems calling it the Ministry of Peace is more on brand for them. But I get your point entirely,
Who is behind the burgeoning “parental rights” movement attacking public education? Learn more at Parkland Institute webinar releasing our latest report. Thursday at Noon.
ualberta-ca.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Gotta be an imposter 😂. Or a case of blind squirrel finds a nut.
Thanks for the kind words. The impending teacher’s strike has kept me busy the last few days.
Was interviewed this afternoon on 880 CHED about the looming teachers' lockout/strike. The heart of the issue is the Alberta government's unwillingness to fund public education properly.
Give it a listen if you want:
open.spotify.com/episode/02hA...
I would vote for you. And also mock you if you wanted me to.
Ted! Turn around and head into Angry Hen Brewing. It is right behind you.
Well, duh, Charles. It not for the feds Alberta would have at $15 billion surplus, negative unemployment and a pony. We have been very done wrong.
But, Rebecca, don’t you see we are heading for a $5 billion deficit next year. We’re broke!! At least when at the bargaining table. But not when it is time for an unneeded tax cut that benefits the rich more than the poor.
My latest onbeer.org post offers a slightly delayed analysis of two beer policy reversals by the AB govt. A mea culpa on beer markups and an inexplicable capitulation to Donald Trump on US liquor bans.
onbeer.org/2025/06/albe...
This week I am featured on CBC’s West of Centre podcast talking about burgeoning labour unrest among Alberta’s public sector workers. We discuss why they are so angry and the longer term origins of this strife.
podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/w...
@poliscirish.bsky.social is right on here. Smith’s agenda has been clear since the beginning. Create chaos to distract in the interests of a radical libertarian, neoliberal agenda.
Why would any world leader take a meeting in the Oval Office with this lunatic? He does not act in good faith, eschews diplomatic tradition, and lies all the time (as you all know). So why do it? Say screw off and let underlings do the negotiations.
I focused on the ones made in house. There were some creative options. The one we tried on air -a vanilla latte cream ale - was particularly well done.
Today my CBC beer column introduced listeners to the first AB location for BC’s Old Yale Brewing. The first ever brewery in Beaumont!!
I spent the afternoon at a celebration of life for Dave Werlin. Former AFL president, lifelong union activist and passionate advocate for social justice. I had the great privilege of being a comrade in the struggle with him and the even greater honour of being able to call him a friend. RIP Dave.
Not until the Oilers also win, brother. Then it is a sign.
