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Striking corrections workers have begun returning to work, according to a statement released by Alberta Justice. In addition, “picketing activities have substantially declined throughout the province.” However, Alberta Justice also reports that there are some workers who want to return, but feel “intimidated” by their own union.

The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees said that corrections workers at remand centers in Medicine Hat and Red Deer have decided to return to work. However, CBC’s Briar Stewart reports that around 70 corrections officers are still picketing outside the Edmonton Remand Centre.

Robin Southcombe, an inmate at the Fort Saskatchewan Correctional Centre, described the mood as “tense” on the women’s side, but even worse on the men’s side, where inmates have been acting out and attempting to start riots.

She points to the delays in the delivery of meals and medicine as the source of discontent. “Right now I feel, really, it's like on eggshells right now, it's very on edge,” said Southcombe.

The guards union has stated that the strike will continue until their concerns have been properly addressed.

Flickr Photo by: sarah_poo

STORY WRITTEN BY: SPOON JUNG

The Greek parliament has approved 15-thousand state employee job cuts to guarantee enough bailout money from global creditors.

The BBC is reporting that over 4-thousand civil servants will be jobless by the end of this year. 

Another 11-thousand could lose their jobs by 2015.  

The three parties putting together the ruling coalition support the new bill but critics say the law will only raise Greece’s record 27 percent unemployment rate.

Flickr Photo by: Paspro

STORY WRITTEN BY: NATASHA TAGGART

Rescue workers continue to search for survivors after a garment building collapsed in Bangladesh, killing over two hundred people.

Officials announced that two thousand garment workers have been pulled safely from the debris as of Thursday morning.

The Associated Press reported that cries can be heard from people still trapped inside.

The collapse occurred on Wednesday after cracks were discovered in the building’s walls.

However, various clothing factories housed inside the complex ignored orders to evacuate the building on Tuesday.

The eight-storey building collapsed the next day.

It’s unknown exactly how many people were inside at the time.

Some of the factories in the building are believed to have manufactured clothing for major North American retailers like Wal-Mart and Canadian brand Joe Fresh.

In response, the CBC Radio program, As It Happens, is asking Joe Fresh to directly address the safety conditions of workers at its factories and to justify its decision to outsource to Bangladesh in the first place.

STORY WRITTEN BY: ALYSSA TREMBLAY 

Hosted by: Catlin Spencer

Stories by: Chloe Deneumoustier, Alyssa Tremblay, Aisha Samu & Daniel Rowe

Produced by: Jenna Monney-Lupert