Robin Whitaker
@rgwhitaker.bsky.social
Cyclist
Anthropologist
Trade unionist
Malcontent
Anthropologist
Trade unionist
Malcontent
Pinned
Robin Whitaker
@rgwhitaker.bsky.social
· Jun 26
Fellow cyclists: I'm planning a playful educational piece for @independentnl.bsky.social's Making Connections column on 'things cyclists wish drivers knew.' Share your wishes here or by DM & tell me how you want to be credited (eg: Robin in St. John's wishes..) thx! theindependent.ca/commentary/i...
Introducing ‘Making Connections’ – The Independent
Welcome to The Independent’s new series on transportation in Newfoundland and Labrador
theindependent.ca
Resharing this post for additional thoughts.
Fellow bicyclists: absent bikelanes, what would make sharing the road safer and more pleasant? What do you wish non-cyclist drivers understood about biking (including the good stuff, why we choose to do it, etc.)? Details below #cycling #transportation
Fellow bicyclists: absent bikelanes, what would make sharing the road safer and more pleasant? What do you wish non-cyclist drivers understood about biking (including the good stuff, why we choose to do it, etc.)? Details below #cycling #transportation
"There’s a direct link between the poverty Gates claims to care so much about and the wealth he fails to mention."
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
I wish we could ignore Bill Gates on the climate crisis. But he’s a billionaire, so we can’t | George Monbiot
Money talks – and his essay denouncing ‘near-term emissions goals’ at Cop30 mostly argues the case for letting the ultra-rich off the hook
www.theguardian.com
November 9, 2025 at 11:27 AM
"There’s a direct link between the poverty Gates claims to care so much about and the wealth he fails to mention."
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
November 7, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Reposted by Robin Whitaker
As universities and colleges cut academic programs, close programs, and slash 13,000+ jobs, Budget 2025 halves international student enrolment without boosting core funding.
November 4, 2025 at 10:21 PM
As universities and colleges cut academic programs, close programs, and slash 13,000+ jobs, Budget 2025 halves international student enrolment without boosting core funding.
"..suppressing teachers’ rights is exactly what the UCP intended to do...And if the UCP can take the rights away from 50,000 of them, then nobody’s safe."
@acifa.bsky.social's @drmacd.bsky.social & CAFA's Lee Easton on why we must fight Bill 2. @caut.bsky.social
edmontonjournal.com/opinion/colu...
@acifa.bsky.social's @drmacd.bsky.social & CAFA's Lee Easton on why we must fight Bill 2. @caut.bsky.social
edmontonjournal.com/opinion/colu...
Opinion: If the UCP can take away teachers' rights, no one is safe
But Bill 2 does far more than end a strike. It turns fifty-thousand Albertan teachers into second-class citizens.
edmontonjournal.com
October 31, 2025 at 5:07 PM
"..suppressing teachers’ rights is exactly what the UCP intended to do...And if the UCP can take the rights away from 50,000 of them, then nobody’s safe."
@acifa.bsky.social's @drmacd.bsky.social & CAFA's Lee Easton on why we must fight Bill 2. @caut.bsky.social
edmontonjournal.com/opinion/colu...
@acifa.bsky.social's @drmacd.bsky.social & CAFA's Lee Easton on why we must fight Bill 2. @caut.bsky.social
edmontonjournal.com/opinion/colu...
Reposted by Robin Whitaker
“No government that purports to uphold the rule of law and fundamental rights and freedoms of its citizens would ever take away the right to free collective bargaining and the right to strike."
The Canadian Association of University Teachers condemns the Alberta government for overriding constitutionally protected rights and imposing a rejected contract offer on members of the Alberta Teachers’ Association.
Read more: www.caut.ca/news/caut-co...
Read more: www.caut.ca/news/caut-co...
October 29, 2025 at 3:30 PM
“No government that purports to uphold the rule of law and fundamental rights and freedoms of its citizens would ever take away the right to free collective bargaining and the right to strike."
Reposted by Robin Whitaker
The St. Francis Xavier Association of University Teachers is pleased to stand with our colleagues at CUPE 3912 by making a donation of $1000 to support their ongoing efforts to achieve a fair and equitable agreement.
October 29, 2025 at 8:19 PM
The St. Francis Xavier Association of University Teachers is pleased to stand with our colleagues at CUPE 3912 by making a donation of $1000 to support their ongoing efforts to achieve a fair and equitable agreement.
Thank you Parliamentary Secretary @kbardeesy.bsky.social for taking time to speak to @caut.bsky.social about the importance of public Postsecondary Education and Research to Canada's future.
October 29, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Thank you Parliamentary Secretary @kbardeesy.bsky.social for taking time to speak to @caut.bsky.social about the importance of public Postsecondary Education and Research to Canada's future.
"government money for training should flow to educational institutions not private businesses." @opseusefpo.bsky.social says the
Skills Development Fund "should be used for college and university programs...[that] offer better outcomes than private training."
www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/edit...
Skills Development Fund "should be used for college and university programs...[that] offer better outcomes than private training."
www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/edit...
Globe editorial: The real issue with Ontario’s training fund
Programs like these, which allow the government to pick winners, are all too predictably taken advantage of
www.theglobeandmail.com
October 25, 2025 at 10:55 AM
"government money for training should flow to educational institutions not private businesses." @opseusefpo.bsky.social says the
Skills Development Fund "should be used for college and university programs...[that] offer better outcomes than private training."
www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/edit...
Skills Development Fund "should be used for college and university programs...[that] offer better outcomes than private training."
www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/edit...
Reposted by Robin Whitaker
CAUT flying pickets out on the picket lines this morning in support of @cupe3912.bsky.social as they fight for a fair deal!
October 24, 2025 at 2:01 PM
CAUT flying pickets out on the picket lines this morning in support of @cupe3912.bsky.social as they fight for a fair deal!
Reposted by Robin Whitaker
When teachers fight, students win! Education is too vital to be put on the backburner.
#solidarity
@albertateachers.bsky.social
#abed #ableg
#solidarity
@albertateachers.bsky.social
#abed #ableg
October 24, 2025 at 3:46 PM
When teachers fight, students win! Education is too vital to be put on the backburner.
#solidarity
@albertateachers.bsky.social
#abed #ableg
#solidarity
@albertateachers.bsky.social
#abed #ableg
Reposted by Robin Whitaker
Oh, hey! I’m still on strike as a CUPE Part-Time professor at SMU. Here’s a fun little graphic: according to Maclean’s Magazine, SMU is ranked #3 in Canada for small universities.
How does the PT pay for faculty compare across the top 10 schools?
Oh. Oh dear.
How does the PT pay for faculty compare across the top 10 schools?
Oh. Oh dear.
October 24, 2025 at 12:51 AM
Reposted by Robin Whitaker
The union said its #SMU members are among the lowest-paid university instructors in the country and don’t have a health plan, pension, job security or a route to permanent employment.”
#canlab #cdnpse #SMUstrike #MSVUstrike #MakeItFair #FairDealNow @cautdefencefund.bsky.social
#canlab #cdnpse #SMUstrike #MSVUstrike #MakeItFair #FairDealNow @cautdefencefund.bsky.social
"'Our working conditions are students’ learning conditions. Our fight today makes for a better classroom tomorrow,' local vice-president and SMU instructor Erica Fischer said in a release."
https://www.saltwire.com/nova-scotia/saint-marys-university-msvu-part-time-faculty-picket
https://www.saltwire.com/nova-scotia/saint-marys-university-msvu-part-time-faculty-picket
Part-time SMU, MSVU faculty hit the picket lines in Halifax
The professors and instructors at SMU walked off the job Thursday morning joining colleagues from Mount St. Vincent in striking.
www.saltwire.com
October 24, 2025 at 12:08 AM
The union said its #SMU members are among the lowest-paid university instructors in the country and don’t have a health plan, pension, job security or a route to permanent employment.”
#canlab #cdnpse #SMUstrike #MSVUstrike #MakeItFair #FairDealNow @cautdefencefund.bsky.social
#canlab #cdnpse #SMUstrike #MSVUstrike #MakeItFair #FairDealNow @cautdefencefund.bsky.social
Reposted by Robin Whitaker
Canada’s unions agree: Employers who are negligent regarding the health, safety, and lives of workers must feel the whole weight of the law.
#EnforceWestray #CanLab
www.thesafetymag.com/ca/topics/oh...
#EnforceWestray #CanLab
www.thesafetymag.com/ca/topics/oh...
Family of Calgary worker killed on the job calls for criminal accountability for employers
‘We need punishment that makes them say, “whoa”’
www.thesafetymag.com
October 24, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Canada’s unions agree: Employers who are negligent regarding the health, safety, and lives of workers must feel the whole weight of the law.
#EnforceWestray #CanLab
www.thesafetymag.com/ca/topics/oh...
#EnforceWestray #CanLab
www.thesafetymag.com/ca/topics/oh...
I stand with @cupe3912.bsky.social MSVU and SMU Part-Time Academic Staff. Calling on @smuhalifax.bsky.social and @msvuhalifax.bsky.social to give them a fair deal now!
@msvufa.bsky.social @smufu.bsky.social
@msvufa.bsky.social @smufu.bsky.social
Screenshot and share this post to to your own page and tag MSVU and tell them CUPE 3912 Part-Time Academics deserve a fair deal now!
October 23, 2025 at 6:18 PM
I stand with @cupe3912.bsky.social MSVU and SMU Part-Time Academic Staff. Calling on @smuhalifax.bsky.social and @msvuhalifax.bsky.social to give them a fair deal now!
@msvufa.bsky.social @smufu.bsky.social
@msvufa.bsky.social @smufu.bsky.social
Reposted by Robin Whitaker
Rejoignez-nous mercredi prochain, le 22 octobre, pour le webinaire de la Semaine de l'équité d'emploi. Inscrivez-vous dès maintenant pour écouter la Dr Kendra Strauss parler de la liberté académique et de la précarité.
Pour plus d'info: www.caut.ca/fr/evenement...
Pour plus d'info: www.caut.ca/fr/evenement...
October 15, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Rejoignez-nous mercredi prochain, le 22 octobre, pour le webinaire de la Semaine de l'équité d'emploi. Inscrivez-vous dès maintenant pour écouter la Dr Kendra Strauss parler de la liberté académique et de la précarité.
Pour plus d'info: www.caut.ca/fr/evenement...
Pour plus d'info: www.caut.ca/fr/evenement...
Reposted by Robin Whitaker
Join us next Wednesday, Oct. 22 for the #FairEmploymentWeek keynote! Register for the webinar now to hear Dr. Kendra Strauss discuss academic freedom and precarity.
More information: www.caut.ca/event/a-disc...
More information: www.caut.ca/event/a-disc...
October 15, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Join us next Wednesday, Oct. 22 for the #FairEmploymentWeek keynote! Register for the webinar now to hear Dr. Kendra Strauss discuss academic freedom and precarity.
More information: www.caut.ca/event/a-disc...
More information: www.caut.ca/event/a-disc...
Reposted by Robin Whitaker
Panel discussion to support contract academic staff - Oct 20. CAS across Canada face precarity. Find out what's happening in NS, w/research & solidarity. Full panel now confirmed. Register-ansut.ca @caut.bsky.social @cupe3912.bsky.social @stfxaut.bsky.social @msvufa.bsky.social @cbufa.bsky.social
October 10, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Panel discussion to support contract academic staff - Oct 20. CAS across Canada face precarity. Find out what's happening in NS, w/research & solidarity. Full panel now confirmed. Register-ansut.ca @caut.bsky.social @cupe3912.bsky.social @stfxaut.bsky.social @msvufa.bsky.social @cbufa.bsky.social
Bearing the brunt of climate change in Nunatsiavut theindependent.ca/news/lji/bea...
Bearing the brunt of climate change in Nunatsiavut – The Independent
Inuit in the self-governing region of Labrador speak about the ways climate change is impacting their mental health, food security and culture
theindependent.ca
October 2, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Bearing the brunt of climate change in Nunatsiavut theindependent.ca/news/lji/bea...
Decolonizing climate action theindependent.ca/news/lji/inu...
Decolonizing climate action – The Independent
Inuit governance and knowledge are at the core of Nunatsiavut's climate change strategy
theindependent.ca
October 2, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Decolonizing climate action theindependent.ca/news/lji/inu...
Paris has it right. We need to pause for a real conversation about what we want, weighing actual gains & harms. On energy alone, we face losing every scrap of gain from 'clean' energy, as the tech will use it all & still want conventional energy. Industry wants to give us no time to think too hard.
where to even start. no evan, the problem with AI is about so much more than privacy and deepfakes. what about ai psychosis, environmental impacts, workers’ rights? why are you pushing firms to adopt tech that isn’t creating real productivity benefits? why does tech need to be solely about profit?
AI minister denies that Canada needs to 'catch up' with global industry | Power & Politics
YouTube video by CBC News
www.youtube.com
October 2, 2025 at 7:58 AM
Paris has it right. We need to pause for a real conversation about what we want, weighing actual gains & harms. On energy alone, we face losing every scrap of gain from 'clean' energy, as the tech will use it all & still want conventional energy. Industry wants to give us no time to think too hard.
Reposted by Robin Whitaker
The last three years (so far) account for more than a quarter of all hectares burned by wildfire in Canada over the last 43 fire seasons.
September 30, 2025 at 4:04 PM
The last three years (so far) account for more than a quarter of all hectares burned by wildfire in Canada over the last 43 fire seasons.