Lets be honest now, we all know that there are some who abuse the Unemployment Insurance system, That's a given. But for a country to consider punishing its own citizens for doing seasonal work, especially work that few want to do, and that companies have difficulty in finding those willing employees, is outrageous.
The industries that will be affected by Minister Finley's proposals are agriculture, forestry, roofing, fisheries and tourism to name a few.
Like the oil or mining industry as well as manufacturing the key to success is having skilled workers. The seasonal industry is no different. These people are not lazy, most have no other option because of their environment or their status in life. To label them as leaches on the system is disgusting.
Few of you who look down on these people are capable or willing to do their work. During their peak season they pay into UI just like you do. What does Minister Finley expect the fishery or forestry worker to do in the off season? Find temporary work for 3 to 4 months. Where and what? Or what about the roofer? Take a clerical job, after all there are not many vocations out there that call for his/her skills.
Oh yes! And how many companies out there do you know are willing to hire someone they know will be leaving them as soon as the weather improves? Or hire the engineer at 70% of his former salary knowing that when the economy improves he/she is gone?
If those workers in the seasonal industry feel they are under threat of being cut off of the EI system they will have to find new ways to work around a dictatorial system, or the industry will have to bring in temporary workers from outside the country that Minister Kenney can declare persona non gratis and send packing.
This is a shingle crew from Mexico working in Canada because it is getting harder to find a crew here. They work seasonal then head home for the winter.
Regardless of where they are from they have to adhere to Canadian standards, abide by my specifications and if they don't I will make them tear the roof off and do it over. So they must be skilled, they must work safely and they must be quality conscious.
This is a flat roofing crew mopping in a 4 ply membrane with hot asphalt (note that it is nearing the end of the season). How would Minister Finley like to do this back breaking work for 10 to 12 hours a day during peak season? Only to be told she was being laid off and was not elligible for UI because she had abused the system.
This is a trained applicator applying a modified membrane to a concrete deck. Not only is he subject to criticism from me but the manufacturer also inspects his work and can reject it or refuse to provide a warranty until the work meets their requirements.
How would you like to have to pay to train new people every so often because the good applicators didn't want to work seasonal anymore as a result of being punished for collecting once too often?
Most of the flat roofing trade is unionized and must be current in Work Safety, CRCA standards, and Manufacturer standards, not just for one type of membrane but for 4 types, all requiring training.
The shingle trade while less complicated still has its requirements and standards that each applicator must be current in.
Is it true that guest workers can be paid 15% less than domestic workers?
ReplyDeleteAnswer: Yes! ..... Why? Because they can usually get away with it.
ReplyDeleteWage rates are usually negotiated in the temporary migrants home country and although Canada and its Provinces may have minimum wage standards it is very difficult to monitor when it comes to temporary workers.
The process of filing a complaint is very difficult and companies hiring migrants know this.
Below are two sites that provide information on the subject.
http://toronto.nooneisillegal.org/node/380
The British Columbia and Yukon Territory Building and Construction Trades Council is supporting 60 temporary foreign workers employed for the Canada Line (RAV) construction who were paid less than $5 per hour and were required to work 54-66 hours per week with no overtime pay. Golden Ears Bridge Project contractor, Bilfinger Berger, is seeking to bring 345 foreign workers, but their application is being opposed by Ironworkers and the B.C. Federation of Labour on the basis that there are “Canadian workers for the job.” Finally the B.C. Government and Services Employees Union (BCGEU) is fighting the firing of 70 employees at Windsor Manor in Kelowna, where management is replacing them with foreign workers.
http://www.iwh.on.ca/system/files/documents/iw-forum-2009/thompson_migrant_workers_in_canada_2009.pdf
While migrant workers have the same rights to seek union representation as Canadian workers, the barriers to exercising these rights are almost insurmountable. Migrant workers arrive for pre-determined periods of time, so their interest in seeking collective representation over the presumed opposition of employers is unlikely to be strong. The benefits of unionism in Canada are often the greatest over longer periods of time, when negotiated wage rates, protections against layoffs and the right to challenge dismissals become more valuable.
Thank you for fleshing that out a bit.
ReplyDeleteIn a world dominated by political spin we no longer even expect ministers to tell the whole truth much less nothing but the truth.