Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Sad News
Just heard from Kenny Youngward that Frank Reid died. Have no details for the moment.
Fred
Thanks Win..... our condolences to the family
Fred
Thanks Win..... our condolences to the family
Are migrants paid less than Canadians?
Comment on the blog:
Is it true that guest workers can be paid 15% less than domestic workers? on Canada Intends to Punish Seasonal Workers
Answer: Yes! ..... Why? Because they can usually get away with it.
Wage 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.
Is it true that guest workers can be paid 15% less than domestic workers? on Canada Intends to Punish Seasonal Workers
Answer: Yes! ..... Why? Because they can usually get away with it.
Wage 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.
The Seed
A successful business man was growing old and knew it was time to choose a successor to take over the business.
Instead of choosing one of his Directors or his children, he decided to do something different. He called all the young executives in his company together.
He said, "It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO. I have decided to choose one of you." The young executives were shocked, but the boss continued. "I am going to give each one of you a SEED today - one very special SEED. I want you to plant the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from the seed I have given you. I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next CEO."
Save the Earth. it's the only planet with chocolate!
Thanks Randy
Instead of choosing one of his Directors or his children, he decided to do something different. He called all the young executives in his company together.
He said, "It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO. I have decided to choose one of you." The young executives were shocked, but the boss continued. "I am going to give each one of you a SEED today - one very special SEED. I want you to plant the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from the seed I have given you. I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next CEO."
One man, named Jim, was there that day and he, like the others, received a seed. He went home and excitedly, told his wife the story. She helped him get a pot, soil and compost and he planted the seed.
Everyday, he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other executives began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow.
Jim kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew. Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by, still nothing.
By now, others were talking about their plants, but Jim didn't have a plant and he felt like a failure.
Six months went by -- still nothing in Jim's pot. He just knew he had killed his seed.
Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. Jim didn't say anything to his colleagues, however, he just kept watering and fertilizing the soil. He so wanted the seed to grow.
A year finally went by and all the young executives of the company brought their plants to the CEO for inspection.
Jim told his wife that he wasn't going to take an empty pot. But she asked him to be honest about what happened. Jim felt sick to his stomach, it was going to be the most embarrassing moment of his life, but he knew his wife was right. He took his empty pot to the board room.
When Jim arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other executives. They were beautiful - in all shapes and sizes. Jim put his empty pot on the floor and many of his colleagues laughed, a few felt sorry for him!
When the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young executives.
Jim just tried to hide in the back. "My, what great plants, trees and flowers you have grown," said the CEO. "Today one of you will be appointed the next CEO!"
All of a sudden, the CEO spotted Jim at the back of the room with his empty pot. He ordered the Financial Director to bring him to the front. Jim was terrified. He thought, "The CEO knows I'm a failure! Maybe he will have me fired!"
When Jim got to the front, the CEO asked him what had happened to his seed. Jim told him the story.
The CEO asked everyone to sit down except Jim. He looked at Jim, and then announced to the young executives, "This is your next Chief Executive Officer! His name is Jim!"
Jim kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew. Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by, still nothing.
By now, others were talking about their plants, but Jim didn't have a plant and he felt like a failure.
Six months went by -- still nothing in Jim's pot. He just knew he had killed his seed.
Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. Jim didn't say anything to his colleagues, however, he just kept watering and fertilizing the soil. He so wanted the seed to grow.
A year finally went by and all the young executives of the company brought their plants to the CEO for inspection.
Jim told his wife that he wasn't going to take an empty pot. But she asked him to be honest about what happened. Jim felt sick to his stomach, it was going to be the most embarrassing moment of his life, but he knew his wife was right. He took his empty pot to the board room.
When Jim arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other executives. They were beautiful - in all shapes and sizes. Jim put his empty pot on the floor and many of his colleagues laughed, a few felt sorry for him!
When the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young executives.
Jim just tried to hide in the back. "My, what great plants, trees and flowers you have grown," said the CEO. "Today one of you will be appointed the next CEO!"
All of a sudden, the CEO spotted Jim at the back of the room with his empty pot. He ordered the Financial Director to bring him to the front. Jim was terrified. He thought, "The CEO knows I'm a failure! Maybe he will have me fired!"
When Jim got to the front, the CEO asked him what had happened to his seed. Jim told him the story.
The CEO asked everyone to sit down except Jim. He looked at Jim, and then announced to the young executives, "This is your next Chief Executive Officer! His name is Jim!"
Jim couldn't believe it. He couldn't even grow his seed.
"How could he be the new CEO?" the others asked.
Then the CEO said, "One year ago today, I gave everyone in this room a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds; they were dead - it was not possible for them to grow.
All of you, except Jim, have brought me trees and plants and flowers. When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Jim was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new Chief Executive Officer!"
* If you plant honesty, you will reap trust
* If you plant goodness, you will reap friends
* If you plant humility, you will reap greatness
* If you plant perseverance, you will reap contentment
* If you plant consideration, you will reap perspective
* If you plant hard work, you will reap success
* If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation
So, be careful what you plant now; it will determine what you will reap later.
Think about this for a minute.
If I happened to show up on your door step crying, would you care?
If I called you and asked you to pick me up because something happened, would you come?
If I had one day left to live my life, would you be part of that last day?
If I needed a shoulder to cry on, would you give me yours?
"How could he be the new CEO?" the others asked.
Then the CEO said, "One year ago today, I gave everyone in this room a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds; they were dead - it was not possible for them to grow.
All of you, except Jim, have brought me trees and plants and flowers. When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Jim was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new Chief Executive Officer!"
* If you plant honesty, you will reap trust
* If you plant goodness, you will reap friends
* If you plant humility, you will reap greatness
* If you plant perseverance, you will reap contentment
* If you plant consideration, you will reap perspective
* If you plant hard work, you will reap success
* If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation
So, be careful what you plant now; it will determine what you will reap later.
Think about this for a minute.
If I happened to show up on your door step crying, would you care?
If I called you and asked you to pick me up because something happened, would you come?
If I had one day left to live my life, would you be part of that last day?
If I needed a shoulder to cry on, would you give me yours?
Thanks Randy
Grampa
An 8-year-old girl went to her grandfather,
who was working in the yard and asked him,
"Grampa, what is couple sex?"
The grandfather was surprised that she would ask
such a question, but decided that if she's old enough
to know to ask the question, then she's old enough
to get a straight answer.?? Steeling himself to leave
nothing out, he proceeded to tell her all about
human reproduction and the joys and
responsibilities of intercourse.
When he finished explaining, the little girl was
looking at him with her mouth hanging open,
eyes wide in amazement.
Seeing the look on her face, the grandfather
asked her, "Why did you ask this question, honey?"
The little girl replied, "Grandma says that
dinner will be ready in just a couple secs
Thanks Norman
Pound Cake
This just cracked me up. “POUND CAKE”
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Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Canada Intends to Punish Seasonal Workers
Yes Dorothy, "There are Idiots In The House Of Commons"
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.
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.
Only in Toronto
This story is too funny ..... it happened this past Sunday
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/daily-buzz/toronto-man-iphone-stolen-crashing-nun-200017916.html
Man crashes into nun has iPhone stolen
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/daily-buzz/toronto-man-iphone-stolen-crashing-nun-200017916.html
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