The government of Saskatchewan is currently undertaking a controversial overhaul of the province’s labour legislation into the mammoth omnibus Bill 85. But those that might be concerned about the rather rash decision to overturn 107 years of labour legislation in the period of a few months need not worry, because what the Saskatchewan government is actually doing is modernizing our labour laws. That’s a relief, “modernizing” has such a new shiny ring to it! Who could be against “modernizing” anything? This legislation must really be cutting edge stuff, thinking outside-the-box, labour legislation 2.0 and all that! So what innovative and pioneering changes are in this legal basket of advanced modernity?
Entries Tagged as 'Employment and Labour'
On the Abuse of Language: “Modernizing” Labour Relations
May 13th, 2013 · Simon Enoch · Employment and Labour, Saskatchewan
National Day of Mourning: Past Sacrifice, Present Struggle
April 26th, 2013 · Erika Shaker · Employment and Labour
Weekends aside, there’s still a lot to thank unions for.
Maternity leave top-up. Employment Insurance. Child labour laws.
Numerous studies—past, and more recent—have identified the degree to which unions have contributed to more equitable, safer societies, and jobs where the normally stubbornly persistent gender pay gap has been virtually eliminated.
But on the eve of the National Day of Mourning for persons killed or injured in the workplace, it’s important to address in very concrete terms why unions are so important.
Because they save lives.
Crowley’s Red Hot Labour Market
April 22nd, 2013 · Angella MacEwen · Employment and Labour
Brian Lee Crowley’s latest column shows he’s a glass-half-full kinda guy. We shouldn’t be worried about unemployment because a) it’s old-fashioned, b) Boomers had it worse (and now they’re getting old) c) we’re doing better than the U.S., and d) it’s really only young people and immigrants that are unemployed.
This is a relief.
So I shouldn’t worry that Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey indicates that real average hourly wages have risen by only twenty cents between 2009 and 2012 (an annualized growth rate of 0.3%). Or, that at the same time, real median hourly wages have actually fallen, indicating that any wage growth is limited to a few at the top end.
Build a Better Nova Scotia: the Alternative Provincial Budget shows the way
March 25th, 2013 · CCPA-NS · Economy & Economic Indicators, Employment and Labour, Gender Equality, Household Debt, Housing, Maritime Provinces, Nova Scotia, Poverty and Income Inequality
The Nova Scotia provincial government is set to introduce its promised balanced budget this year. The Nova Scotia Alternative Budget, released today, proposes some concrete choices rooted in Nova Scotia communities. Rather than pay down debt, the NS-APB prioritizes balancing the social debt threatening Nova Scotia.
Can a budget really be considered balanced when unemployment is 9.3%, and 47,000 Nova Scotians are ready, willing, and actively looking for work that isn’t there?
No CommentsTags: Economy & Economic Indicators·Employment and Labour·Gender Equality·Government Finance·Nova Scotia·Unemployment·Women
New Shoes and a Haircut: Budget 2013 not so pretty for women in Canada
March 21st, 2013 · Kate McInturff · Child Care, Employment and Labour, Federal Budget, Gender Equality
The Finance Minister got a new pair of shoes. Canadians got a new federal budget. And women in Canada got another haircut.
Budget 2013 is all about Jobs! Jobs! Jobs! And who wouldn’t like a job. Maybe some training. Maybe even a full-time job. With benefits. And a pension plan. Oh go crazy, let’s throw in equal pay.
Not so fast girls! NO JOB FOR YOU!
Why not?
1. Women and the Extractive Industry
2 CommentsTags: Child Care·Employment and Labour·Gender Equality·Women
Why gender equality will make you rich and popular
March 7th, 2013 · Kate McInturff · Gender Equality, Income Inequality
Closing the gender gap would transform the world we live in–for men, for women, for the better. Just imagine a world in which you have more time to spend doing the things you love, with the people you love. Imagine a world in which you have secure, decent work in an economy that is growing. Imagine a world in which nobody feels they are carrying the burden of caring for their families alone. Imagine relationships with less bickering and more ch-ck-a-bow-wow.
How?
3 CommentsTags: Child Care·Employment and Labour·Gender Equality·Income Inequality
Marc’s Enbridge Testimony
January 16th, 2013 · Marc Lee · British Columbia, Economy & Economic Indicators, Employment and Labour, Environment
Testimony to the Joint Review Panel on the Enbridge Northern Gateway Project
By Marc Lee, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
January 16, 2013
My name is Marc Lee, and I have served as an economist for the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives for more than 14 years. Most recently I have been Senior Economist and the Co-Director of the Climate Justice Project, a multi-year SSHRC-funded research project with the University of British Columbia, in collaboration with a large team of academics and community groups.
No CommentsTags: British Columbia·climate justice·Employment and Labour·pipeline
Implementing Budget 2012: No Rest for Women
November 29th, 2012 · Kate McInturff · Employment and Labour, Federal Budget, Gender Equality
The current government’s economic policies, being rolled out in a series of omnibus bills and ‘administrative changes,’ come at a high price to women. These policies do not create jobs in industries where women work; these policies increase the tax burden on working women while decreasing their access to pension and income supports; they continue to undermine basic equality rights; and they do so in a manner that allows for little public debate or scrutiny.
Stagnant economy may mean more cuts to come
November 13th, 2012 · David Macdonald · Economy & Economic Indicators, Employment and Labour, Federal Budget
The federal government released its annual fall update on the country’s finances today. Despite the upbeat messaging around the “Update of Economic and Fiscal Projections” there are concerning underlying trends with the country and its finances.
For regular Canadians, there is no explosive growth expected in the job market to make up for the crash after the 2008-2009 recession. There has been no revision to the unemployment rate projections for next year which remain at 7.2%, slightly below the current rate of 7.4%.
No CommentsTags: Economy & Economic Indicators·Employment and Labour·Federal Budget
Welcome to the Wageless Recovery
November 2nd, 2012 · Armine Yalnizyan · Economy & Economic Indicators, Employment and Labour, Uncategorized
The Harper government likes to remind Canadians that we’ve done better than most developed nations in bouncing back from the global economic crisis. But digging into the data shows why many people might be having trouble cheering this news: wages have not kept pace with inflation, and new hires are making 40 per cent less than the average worker.
Tiff Macklem, senior deputy governor of the Bank of Canada, recently brought home the official storyline: The level of employment is now higher than it was before the crisis; jobs are mostly being created in the private sector, most are full-time and are emerging in industries that pay above-average wages.
No CommentsTags: Economy & Economic Indicators·Employment and Labour
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