Description: On Wednesday morning we woke to the news that 155,000 federal public servants had gone on strike. While the union has been asking for a 13.5% increase spread over three years, the federal government’s best offer is pegged at 9%. The striking workers include 35,000 from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), raising potential problems… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Financial Accounting
Meteorite Money
Description: Sonic booms and a bright fireball that could be seen in broad daylight marked the crashing meteor that left a trail somewhere near the Maine-New Brunswick border last Saturday. And now, all you have to do is find a one kilogram piece of the space rock in the woods to earn yourself a $25,000… Read more »
Blackberry Sells Patents
Description: Blackberry, that Canadian company once known for its namesake phones, is now rebranded as a software and messaging security organization. Consistent with this outlook, Blackberry has sold-off patents it no longer considers part of its core business for the tidy sum of $900 million. Part of the compensation is based on future royalties of… Read more »
‘Immediately stop’
Description: When it comes to wearing a favourite clothing brand, the phrase ‘Immediately stop’ gets your attention, doesn’t it? Health Canada has told Canadians to immediately stop wearing certain big brand name Helly Hansen hoodies and sweaters due to concerns over non-compliance with regulations regarding flammability. Roughly 130,000 garments have been subjected to this product… Read more »
Nike Sues Lululemon
Description: Last Monday Nike Inc. announced it was suing Lululemon Athletica for an unspecified amount of damages. Nike’s claims allege four articles in Lululemon’s footwear lineup – Blissfeel, Chargefeel Low, Chargefeel Mid and Strongfeel – infringe on Nike patents. Last year Lululemon was on the other end of the legal argument when it settled a… Read more »
Six Unions; Only One Contract
Description: Workers at six Starbucks locations in Alberta and British Columbia have formed unions. But so far, only in one store in Victoria has the new union actually reached a collective agreement with management. Until that first contract is in place, union members do not pay dues. It will be interesting to watch ongoing developments… Read more »
Swift Rebuke
Description: Taylor Swift called it “excruciating.” That’s her take on the fiasco that saw frustrated fans struggling to secure tickets for her upcoming tour after waiting it out for hours. Swift and others see this as a signal that Ticketmaster – and its parent company Live Nation – are broken. Calls are emerging to investigate… Read more »
Private Equity Firm Buying Rona
Description: Sycamore Partners, a private equity firm located in New York, is buying retailer Rona, along with several related parties, from Lowes. Lowes said it is making the sale in a move to simplify its business model. Sycamore is paying $400 million for the deal along with additional compensation that will depend upon performance. Date:… Read more »
Big Cuts at Twitter Coming?
Description: Elon Musk says that if he completes his planned acquisition of Twitter, then up to 75% of the employees could get their pink slips. Analyst Dan Ives stated that a 75 per cent cut in Twitter’s staff would create “stronger free cash flow and profitability,” both of which could attract investors to Musk’s deal…. Read more »
Quiet Firing
Description: On September 6, this blog featured a post on the trend of quiet quitting. Now comes the flip side: quiet firing. Nita Chhinzer a professor at the University of Guelph, speaks of employers who make “the workplace such a difficult environment that the employee feels that they have no choice but to leave,” saving… Read more »