- We talk about the announcement from the Windsor Casino to cut 65 full-time jobs, and replace them with 24 part-time jobs. Also we discuss the Air Canada announcement of it's shedding of 1010 maintenance workers. We question the logic of laying off maintenance personnel with ageing planes.
- We comment on the insanity of Stock Options and the damage they do to companies by hollowing out all the wealth instead of reinvesting in the company.
- We discuss what we think should be tabled as Federal Budget
- We talk about the workers fighting back! First we talk about the workers at WestCast who rejected a concessionary contract. Then we talk about the announcement from Ken Georgetti, head of the Canadian Labour Congress about the united front being formed to fight the government if the budget included cuts to pensions for public Workers. "If the federal government attempts to cut these pensions, it will be the entire labour movement that fights back as hard as it can, not just public sector unions," said Ken Georgett.
- Lastly we discuss the Canadian Centre For Policy Alternatives suggestion for a sound budget to actually help Canadian Workers out of these turbulent times. They have excellent suggestions.
And here are the stories and links to them that we referenced in our broadcast :
Windsor casino cutting 45 full-time jobs
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/windsor/story/2010/03/01/windsor-casino-job-cuts.html
Air Canada to slash 1,010 maintenance positions
http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Canada+slash+maintenance+positions/2635228/story.html
Stock options, the buyback boondoggle and the crisis of capitalism
http://www.progressive-economics.ca/2010/03/03/stock-options-the-buyback-boondoggle-and-the-crisis-of-capitalism/
Workers Reject Concession Demands At Westcast
http://www.caw.ca/en/8634.htm
Unions strike hard line
http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2474431
Federal budget task: Fix Canada’s job crisis
http://www.policyalternatives.ca/newsroom/news-releases/federal-budget-task-fix-canadas-job-crisis
WOHIS Health and safety Minute:
Monday March 8th is International Women’s Day.
Nellie McClung was one of the most important leaders of Canada’s wave of feminism. Nellie was one of The Famous Five, along with Irene Parlby, Henrietta Muir Edwards, Emily Murphy, and Louise McKinney; who, in 1927, put forward a petition to clarify the word "Person". These five women appealed the decision of the highest Canadian court and on October 18, 1929, the Privy Council found that the term "Person" includes female persons, thereby making women eligible for appointment to the Canadian Senate. Prior to that, the term ‘person’ was not meant to include women – only men!
Nellie fought for factory safety legislation, having seen the appalling working
conditions women faced in the sweatshops.
We've come a long way but we still have a long way to go!
Today, women's rights are being threatened and the rules have changed. The Pay Equity Act legislating gender pay in the public sector is now law, passed as part of the 2009 budget. There are views that this Act will erase all meaning from the concept of pay equity. There is fear it will re-introduce gender discrimination to the workplace. This legislation will prevent women in the federal public sector from receiving equal pay for work of equal value.
This health and safety minute brought to you by WOHIS – the Windsor Occupational Health Information Service – the place to go for all your health and safety information.
Visit our library at 3129 Marentette Avenue – behind Devonshire Mall
or phone 519-254-5157.
Remember you have the right to a safe and healthy workplace!
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