Thursday, May 26, 2005
[IWS] CANADA: Weekly Work Report, 23 May 2005
IWS Documented News Service
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies Professor Samuel B. Bacharach
School of Industrial & Labor Relations Director, Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor Stuart Basefsky
New York, NY 10016 Director, IWS News Bureau
________________________________________________________________________
(The folllowing is courtesy of the Centre for Industrial Relations, University of Toronto)
Weekly Work Report for the Week of May 23, 2005
These highlights of the week's HR/IR news are prepared by the Librarians at the Centre for Industrial Relations for our subscribers, alumni, faculty and students, and are intended for their individual use only. Please visit the CIR website for terms of use and information about organizational subscriptions. This message is composed in MS Outlook Express and contains hyperlinks that require an HTML-enabled email program.
The WWR is protected by Canadian copyright law and should not be reproduced or forwarded without permission. For inquiries or comments, please contact the Editor, elizabeth.perry@utoronto.ca.
----------
MINIMUM WAGE IN NOVA SCOTIA TO RISE TO $6.80 PER HOUR: The government of Nova Scotia announced on May 25 that the minimum wage will increase by 30 cents to $6.80 per hour, effective October 1, 2005 and to $7.15 per hour on April 1, 2006. Since 2003, a Minimum Wage Review Committee conducts an annual review of the province's minimum wage and makes recommendations to the Minister of the Environment and Labour. Today's announcement implements the recommendations made by the Committee on April 8th.
A report by the Nova Scotia office of the Canadian Centre for Policy Analysis, also released on May 25, states that the minimum wage in Nova Scotia has not increased in almost 30 years if inflation is taken into account, and is contributing to the development of a low-wage economy in the province. The CCPA report calls for a minimum wage of $8.20 per hour and a long-term strategy that would include temporary tax breaks for small businesses and funding to help employers provide training and skills upgrading for workers.
LINKS:
Press release at the government of Nova Scotia website at <http://www.gov.ns.ca/news/details.asp?id=20050525002>
Time for a real raise: the Nova Scotia minimum wage (21 pages, PDF) at the Canadian Centre for Public Policy Nova Scotia website at <http://www.policyalternatives.ca/documents/Nova_Scotia_Pubs/2005/time_for_a_real_raise.pdf>
----------
MINORITIES IN THE CANADIAN LABOUR MARKET: A recent report by Professors Cheryl Teelucksingh and Grace-Edward Galabuzi for the Centre for Social Justice and the Canadian Race Relations Foundation examines the changing economic circumstances of racial groups and immigrants between 1996 and 2001. The study, titled Working Precariously: The Impact of Race and Immigrants Status on Employment Opportunities and Outcomes in Canada, contains extensive documentation on the labour market situation of minorities in Canada.
LINKS:
Summary and a link to Working Precariously: The Impact of Race and Immigrants Status on Employment Opportunities and Outcomes in Canada, (39-pages, PDF) at the Centre for Social Justice website at <http://www.socialjustice.org/>
Professional bodies racist: Crown corporation at the CBC website at <http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/05/17/racial-professions050517.html>
----------
GEORGE ADAMS APPOINTED TO MEDIATE IN STELCO REFINANCING: On May 19, Judge James Farley named the Honourable George Adams to mediate a restructuring plan for Stelco - a role he had previously performed in the restructuring of Algoma Steel. Mediation will focus on the terms of the pension payment plan: the restructuring proposal put forth by the company does not call for the full $1.3 billion deficit in the plan to be paid off until 2015. A coalition of employee groups, including active and retired salaried employees and 5 of the 6 unions at Stelco oppose this ten year schedule, but have all agreed to participate in the mediation process. United Steelworkers Local 1005, which represents workers at the Hamilton Stelco plant, has so far refused to participate. The Court has directed all participants in the mediation process to refrain from making public statements until the restructuring is finalized.
LINKS:
"Stelco employee groups grab for control" in the Globe and Mail (May 17) at <http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050517.wstella0517/BNStory/Business/>
30th Court Monitor's Report concerning the appointment of Judge Adams, May 18, 2005 (21 pages, PDF) at <http://www.mccarthy.ca/en/ccaa/docs/952.pdf>
Company and Court documents are compiled at the McCarthy Tetrault website at <http://www.mccarthy.ca/en/ccaa/ccaa_detailed.asp?company_id=1>
United Steelworkers statements re Stelco are compiled at <http://www.uswa.ca/program/content/2337.php>
Stelco Salaried Employees website at <http://www.sassea.ca/>
----------
ISSUES IN WHITE-COLLAR OFFSHORING: The Brookings Trade Forum, convened in May by independent U.S. think tank The Brookings Institute, presented analysis by academics, policy analysts, government representatives and business leaders on the issues related to offshoring of white-collar jobs. The Forum papers focus on the U.S. economy and include issues of productivity and competitiveness, India's rise, and detailed studies of offshoring in financial services, radiology, call centers, software, and semiconductors industries. According to the Trade Forum home page, "Brookings scholars believe the time has come for wage insurance to get displaced workers back to work faster and to provide incentives for employers to promote critical on-the-job training."
LINKS:
Brookings Trade Forum homepage, with links to documents in PDF format at <http://www.brookings.edu/es/commentary/journals/tradeforum/agenda2005.htm>
----------
POLICIES FOR CAREGIVERS: Policy Profiles for Caregivers: Ten Countries was recently released by the Maritime Data Centre for Aging Research and Policy Analysis at Mount Saint Vincent University. The Profiles summarize the national policies for direct and indirect financial compensation (i.e. allowances and tax relief) for family caregivers in ten countries: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Israel, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom and the United States. The research is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and is part of a larger research and teaching focus into gerontology and aging policies at Mount Saint Vincent University.
LINKS:
Policy Profiles for Caregivers: Ten Countries at <http://www.msvu.ca/Mdcaging/policyprofiles.asp>. (Each country is available in a separate 4 page PDF file)
Maritime Data Centre for Aging Research and Policy Analysis at <http://www.msvu.ca/Mdcaging/>http://www.msvu.ca/Mdcaging/
----------
SURVEY OF THE CORPORATE HOUSING MARKET IN CANADA: The annual Canadian Corporate Housing Industry Report was released by real estate company Royal LePage on May 24. It examines 14 major centres in Canada and provides information about costs and supply of corporate housing for short-term employee assignments (from one month to one year). Predictably, Toronto is the largest market, followed by Calgary; Vancouver is the most expensive, at a cost of $2,950 per month for a 1-bedroom rental. Fort McMurray, Alberta with a population of only 56,000, has the third largest number of corporate housing units, the lowest vacancy rate, and the third most expensive rental rates.
LINKS:
Press release at Royal LePage website at <http://www.rlrs.com/press/documents/CorporateHousingReport_PR_May05_ENG.pdf>
The full report is available upon request from Royal Lepage Relocation Services at <http://www.rlrs.com/library/whitepapers.htm>.
----------
NEW PRESIDENT OF THE ALBERTA FEDERATION OF LABOUR MAKES FORT MCMURRAY OIL SANDS HIS FIRST PRIORITY : At its 44th Constitutional Convention in Edmonton from May 12 to 15th, the Alberta Federation of Labour elected Gil McGowan as president, and Kerry Barrett as Secretary Treasurer, heralding what the federation calls "a generational shift in leadership for Alberta's labour movement". McGowan and Barrett are both 37 years old.
According to the AFL press release, the new president's first priority will be the bargaining situation at the Fort McMurray Oil Sands, specifically the Horizon Oil Project, where the AFL accuses the provincial government of undermining traditional unions and helping employers to import temporary foreign workers. The convention adopted four policy papers, relating to pensions, the Fort McMurray Oil Sands, smoking in the workplace, and the future of the AFL.
LINKS:
AFL Convention highlights, including links to four policy papers, at <http://www.afl.org/about-afl/convention.cfm>
Policy Paper: Forging our Future (9 pages, PDF) at <http://www.afl.org/upload/forging our future policy paper.pdf>
Policy Paper: Horizon Oil Sands Project Policy (4 pages, PDF) at <http://www.afl.org/upload/horizon oil sands.pdf>
Battleground Fort McMurray at the AFL website at <http://www.afl.org/campaigns-issues/fortmcmurray/default.cfm>
----------
FEWER RETIREMENTS HELPS TO END ONTARIO TEACHER SHORTAGE: An article in the quarterly magazine of the Ontario College of Teachers, Professionally Speaking, reports that there is no longer a shortage of teachers in Ontario, although shortages remain in certain specialties such as French, physics, chemistry and mathematics. The shortage has been stemmed as a result of an increase in the number of teachers entering the profession, the falling retirement rate and fewer teachers leaving the profession early in their careers. Between 1998 and 2002, the retirement rate peaked at approximately 7,000 per year; by 2003, it fell to 5,500, and it is expected to return to a more normal rate of approximately 4,500 per year by the end of the decade.
LINKS:
News release at the College of Teachers website at <http://www.oct.ca/en/CollegePublications/news-archive/20050525_e.asp>
"The teacher shortage is over" in Professionally Speaking (June 2005) (7 pages, HTML) at <http://www.oct.ca/en/CollegePublications/PS/june_2005/shortage.asp>
----------
EACH YEAR IN SCHOOL BRINGS INCREASED INCOME: A Statistics Canada study released on May 19 uses historical data to demonstrate the positive relationship between compulsory school attendance and income. The study, by Professor Philip Oreopoulos, shows that compulsory school attendance is an effective way to increase an individual's income and decrease the likelihood of him or her being unemployed or in a manual occupation.
LINKS:
Canadian Compulsory School Laws and Their Impact on Educational Attainment and Future Earnings (Catalogue # 11F0019MIE2005251) (41pages, PDF) at the Statistics Canada website at <http://www.statcan.ca:8096/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=11F0019MIE2005251>
"Staying longer in school pays off" in the Globe and Mail ( May 20) at <http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20050520/STUDENTS20/TPNational/?query=caroline+alphonso>
----------
121 St. George Street, Toronto Canada <http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/cir>
_____________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
Stuart Basefsky *
Director, IWS News Bureau *
Institute for Workplace Studies *
Cornell/ILR School *
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor *
New York, NY 10016 *
*
Telephone: (607) 255-2703 *
Fax: (607) 255-9641 *
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu *
****************************************
_______________________________
Institute for Workplace Studies
School of Industrial & Labor Relations
Cornell University
16 East 34th Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10016
________________________________________________________________________
(The folllowing is courtesy of the Centre for Industrial Relations, University of Toronto)
Weekly Work Report for the Week of May 23, 2005
These highlights of the week's HR/IR news are prepared by the Librarians at the Centre for Industrial Relations for our subscribers, alumni, faculty and students, and are intended for their individual use only. Please visit the CIR website for terms of use and information about organizational subscriptions. This message is composed in MS Outlook Express and contains hyperlinks that require an HTML-enabled email program.
The WWR is protected by Canadian copyright law and should not be reproduced or forwarded without permission. For inquiries or comments, please contact the Editor, elizabeth.perry@utoronto.ca.
----------
MINIMUM WAGE IN NOVA SCOTIA TO RISE TO $6.80 PER HOUR: The government of Nova Scotia announced on May 25 that the minimum wage will increase by 30 cents to $6.80 per hour, effective October 1, 2005 and to $7.15 per hour on April 1, 2006. Since 2003, a Minimum Wage Review Committee conducts an annual review of the province's minimum wage and makes recommendations to the Minister of the Environment and Labour. Today's announcement implements the recommendations made by the Committee on April 8th.
A report by the Nova Scotia office of the Canadian Centre for Policy Analysis, also released on May 25, states that the minimum wage in Nova Scotia has not increased in almost 30 years if inflation is taken into account, and is contributing to the development of a low-wage economy in the province. The CCPA report calls for a minimum wage of $8.20 per hour and a long-term strategy that would include temporary tax breaks for small businesses and funding to help employers provide training and skills upgrading for workers.
LINKS:
Press release at the government of Nova Scotia website at <http://www.gov.ns.ca/news/details.asp?id=20050525002>
Time for a real raise: the Nova Scotia minimum wage (21 pages, PDF) at the Canadian Centre for Public Policy Nova Scotia website at <http://www.policyalternatives.ca/documents/Nova_Scotia_Pubs/2005/time_for_a_real_raise.pdf>
----------
MINORITIES IN THE CANADIAN LABOUR MARKET: A recent report by Professors Cheryl Teelucksingh and Grace-Edward Galabuzi for the Centre for Social Justice and the Canadian Race Relations Foundation examines the changing economic circumstances of racial groups and immigrants between 1996 and 2001. The study, titled Working Precariously: The Impact of Race and Immigrants Status on Employment Opportunities and Outcomes in Canada, contains extensive documentation on the labour market situation of minorities in Canada.
LINKS:
Summary and a link to Working Precariously: The Impact of Race and Immigrants Status on Employment Opportunities and Outcomes in Canada, (39-pages, PDF) at the Centre for Social Justice website at <http://www.socialjustice.org/>
Professional bodies racist: Crown corporation at the CBC website at <http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/05/17/racial-professions050517.html>
----------
GEORGE ADAMS APPOINTED TO MEDIATE IN STELCO REFINANCING: On May 19, Judge James Farley named the Honourable George Adams to mediate a restructuring plan for Stelco - a role he had previously performed in the restructuring of Algoma Steel. Mediation will focus on the terms of the pension payment plan: the restructuring proposal put forth by the company does not call for the full $1.3 billion deficit in the plan to be paid off until 2015. A coalition of employee groups, including active and retired salaried employees and 5 of the 6 unions at Stelco oppose this ten year schedule, but have all agreed to participate in the mediation process. United Steelworkers Local 1005, which represents workers at the Hamilton Stelco plant, has so far refused to participate. The Court has directed all participants in the mediation process to refrain from making public statements until the restructuring is finalized.
LINKS:
"Stelco employee groups grab for control" in the Globe and Mail (May 17) at <http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050517.wstella0517/BNStory/Business/>
30th Court Monitor's Report concerning the appointment of Judge Adams, May 18, 2005 (21 pages, PDF) at <http://www.mccarthy.ca/en/ccaa/docs/952.pdf>
Company and Court documents are compiled at the McCarthy Tetrault website at <http://www.mccarthy.ca/en/ccaa/ccaa_detailed.asp?company_id=1>
United Steelworkers statements re Stelco are compiled at <http://www.uswa.ca/program/content/2337.php>
Stelco Salaried Employees website at <http://www.sassea.ca/>
----------
ISSUES IN WHITE-COLLAR OFFSHORING: The Brookings Trade Forum, convened in May by independent U.S. think tank The Brookings Institute, presented analysis by academics, policy analysts, government representatives and business leaders on the issues related to offshoring of white-collar jobs. The Forum papers focus on the U.S. economy and include issues of productivity and competitiveness, India's rise, and detailed studies of offshoring in financial services, radiology, call centers, software, and semiconductors industries. According to the Trade Forum home page, "Brookings scholars believe the time has come for wage insurance to get displaced workers back to work faster and to provide incentives for employers to promote critical on-the-job training."
LINKS:
Brookings Trade Forum homepage, with links to documents in PDF format at <http://www.brookings.edu/es/commentary/journals/tradeforum/agenda2005.htm>
----------
POLICIES FOR CAREGIVERS: Policy Profiles for Caregivers: Ten Countries was recently released by the Maritime Data Centre for Aging Research and Policy Analysis at Mount Saint Vincent University. The Profiles summarize the national policies for direct and indirect financial compensation (i.e. allowances and tax relief) for family caregivers in ten countries: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Israel, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom and the United States. The research is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and is part of a larger research and teaching focus into gerontology and aging policies at Mount Saint Vincent University.
LINKS:
Policy Profiles for Caregivers: Ten Countries at <http://www.msvu.ca/Mdcaging/policyprofiles.asp>. (Each country is available in a separate 4 page PDF file)
Maritime Data Centre for Aging Research and Policy Analysis at <http://www.msvu.ca/Mdcaging/>http://www.msvu.ca/Mdcaging/
----------
SURVEY OF THE CORPORATE HOUSING MARKET IN CANADA: The annual Canadian Corporate Housing Industry Report was released by real estate company Royal LePage on May 24. It examines 14 major centres in Canada and provides information about costs and supply of corporate housing for short-term employee assignments (from one month to one year). Predictably, Toronto is the largest market, followed by Calgary; Vancouver is the most expensive, at a cost of $2,950 per month for a 1-bedroom rental. Fort McMurray, Alberta with a population of only 56,000, has the third largest number of corporate housing units, the lowest vacancy rate, and the third most expensive rental rates.
LINKS:
Press release at Royal LePage website at <http://www.rlrs.com/press/documents/CorporateHousingReport_PR_May05_ENG.pdf>
The full report is available upon request from Royal Lepage Relocation Services at <http://www.rlrs.com/library/whitepapers.htm>.
----------
NEW PRESIDENT OF THE ALBERTA FEDERATION OF LABOUR MAKES FORT MCMURRAY OIL SANDS HIS FIRST PRIORITY : At its 44th Constitutional Convention in Edmonton from May 12 to 15th, the Alberta Federation of Labour elected Gil McGowan as president, and Kerry Barrett as Secretary Treasurer, heralding what the federation calls "a generational shift in leadership for Alberta's labour movement". McGowan and Barrett are both 37 years old.
According to the AFL press release, the new president's first priority will be the bargaining situation at the Fort McMurray Oil Sands, specifically the Horizon Oil Project, where the AFL accuses the provincial government of undermining traditional unions and helping employers to import temporary foreign workers. The convention adopted four policy papers, relating to pensions, the Fort McMurray Oil Sands, smoking in the workplace, and the future of the AFL.
LINKS:
AFL Convention highlights, including links to four policy papers, at <http://www.afl.org/about-afl/convention.cfm>
Policy Paper: Forging our Future (9 pages, PDF) at <http://www.afl.org/upload/forging our future policy paper.pdf>
Policy Paper: Horizon Oil Sands Project Policy (4 pages, PDF) at <http://www.afl.org/upload/horizon oil sands.pdf>
Battleground Fort McMurray at the AFL website at <http://www.afl.org/campaigns-issues/fortmcmurray/default.cfm>
----------
FEWER RETIREMENTS HELPS TO END ONTARIO TEACHER SHORTAGE: An article in the quarterly magazine of the Ontario College of Teachers, Professionally Speaking, reports that there is no longer a shortage of teachers in Ontario, although shortages remain in certain specialties such as French, physics, chemistry and mathematics. The shortage has been stemmed as a result of an increase in the number of teachers entering the profession, the falling retirement rate and fewer teachers leaving the profession early in their careers. Between 1998 and 2002, the retirement rate peaked at approximately 7,000 per year; by 2003, it fell to 5,500, and it is expected to return to a more normal rate of approximately 4,500 per year by the end of the decade.
LINKS:
News release at the College of Teachers website at <http://www.oct.ca/en/CollegePublications/news-archive/20050525_e.asp>
"The teacher shortage is over" in Professionally Speaking (June 2005) (7 pages, HTML) at <http://www.oct.ca/en/CollegePublications/PS/june_2005/shortage.asp>
----------
EACH YEAR IN SCHOOL BRINGS INCREASED INCOME: A Statistics Canada study released on May 19 uses historical data to demonstrate the positive relationship between compulsory school attendance and income. The study, by Professor Philip Oreopoulos, shows that compulsory school attendance is an effective way to increase an individual's income and decrease the likelihood of him or her being unemployed or in a manual occupation.
LINKS:
Canadian Compulsory School Laws and Their Impact on Educational Attainment and Future Earnings (Catalogue # 11F0019MIE2005251) (41pages, PDF) at the Statistics Canada website at <http://www.statcan.ca:8096/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=11F0019MIE2005251>
"Staying longer in school pays off" in the Globe and Mail ( May 20) at <http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20050520/STUDENTS20/TPNational/?query=caroline+alphonso>
----------
121 St. George Street, Toronto Canada <http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/cir>
_____________________________
This information is provided to subscribers, friends, faculty, students and alumni of the School of Industrial & Labor Relations (ILR). It is a service of the Institute for Workplace Studies (IWS) in New York City. Stuart Basefsky is responsible for the selection of the contents which is intended to keep researchers, companies, workers, and governments aware of the latest information related to ILR disciplines as it becomes available for the purposes of research, understanding and debate. The content does not reflect the opinions or positions of Cornell University, the School of Industrial & Labor Relations, or that of Mr. Basefsky and should not be construed as such. The service is unique in that it provides the original source documentation, via links, behind the news and research of the day. Use of the information provided is unrestricted. However, it is requested that users acknowledge that the information was found via the IWS Documented News Service.
Stuart Basefsky
Director, IWS News Bureau
Institute for Workplace Studies
Cornell/ILR School
16 E. 34th Street, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10016
Telephone: (607) 255-2703
Fax: (607) 255-9641
E-mail: smb6@cornell.edu
****************************************
# posted by SBasefsky : 7:49 AM
