I was interested to read the letter that Brian shared below. I have not had to use temp agencies but my sons have. I have always been shocked at the crap they had to put up with as they tried to earn some cash. Fortunately at that time they were not supporting a family. Not so with a young aquaintance of mine, where I currently work. He does have a wife and two small children. He is from Jamaica and lived in Montreal for a number of years. He was hoping for a good future in a quiet community. He worked with me as a packer on my machines and was very good right from the get go. In our fast continuous process environment he was a blessing to me and I made a point to request him when I could. I met him uptown today. The company called his agency and said they didn't want him because he couldn't keep up. This is patently false. The temps are used as a factor to balance the bottom line without having to plan carefully. No regard is paid to their dignity or the fact that they deserve an opportunity to earn a living based on their own merit. My friend was a good worker with an outgoing personality and he was blackballed for no reason.
Any politician that supports the temp agency as it exists in Brantford is no different than the politicos of past eras who argued that the abolution of slavery would destroy the economy of the U.S. and England. They and the opponents of a livable minimum wage have a great deal in common with the economists who advised President Truman that if every American had a nice home,two cars, and enough to eat, then they would become lazy and the country would fall apart. Therefore the answer was to tax the citizens wages and keep them in need so industry could grow and profit.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
ECP STRIKE AND TEMP AGENCIES Letter to Editor
I received a copy of a letter sent to the Brantford Expositor. As far as I am aware it was never published. So, here is the letter that I think is good enough to go on the blog.
So here is the Letter to the Editor.
I can see how some people think that others are making too much money and should be willing to accept clawbacks. Usually it is people who work harder than most for a lot less that are the ones complaining about these "overpriced" labourers. Fact is we are jealous. Do we want to make minimum wage and be whipped like dogs? I have seen worker after worker put in the hard hours in hopes of moving up. Accept less than safe working conditions so they weren't labled as a non-team player. Accept year after year at the temp agency because they were on the cusp of getting hired on full time at their placement.Can I see why these workers are feeling slighted by others who make more money? Of course I can. Can I sympathise with their jealousy of those with job security? Absolutely.
I have been the guy at the bottom trying to work his way up. I have worked for the temp agency and got sent home and told to never return because the placement was upset that I complained of unsafe working conditions (chemical exposure without protective gear). I have seen corporate greed run rampant in Brantford. What excuse is there for an employee to work 3 years 40 hours per week every week at a placement for a temp agency and not get hired on full time? If he was not good enough I think 3 years is enough time to figure it out.
I am a Millwright. I no longer live in Brantford for one reason. It simply doesn't pay to live there anymore. When people in my field who have worked hard to obtain their "tickets" and worked as an apprentice at lower wages only to see jobs dry up and the only NEW ones are through a temp agency I see a huge problem. Some Millwrights with decades of experience in Brantford make less than FIRST YEAR APPRENTICES in other areas of Ontario. They make so little because employers are ONLY hiring through agencies now.
Is it wrong to fight to keep the same wage you made yesterday? I don't think so. I know my mortgage won't drop by 25%. My hydro won't drop either. My gasoline is .80+ but the cost of crude is the same as it was when I could buy gas for 50 cents. Think long and hard before you tell ANYONE they should accept a lower wage. Would you vollenteer to take a 25% cut to show any of these people that it isn't a big deal? Maybe you want to throw away your chance to move up to one of these better paying jobs. Think about it. If licenced TRADES are working for $12 an hour at a temp agency what does that mean for all of the cheap labour? I can hire a WELL QUALIFIED employee for cheap so why hire anyone else at any price? A University grad might make head fry chef after 10 years. That is the reality if workers don't strike and fight to KEEP (let alone prosper and grow their income) what they have now.
Having a clean place to live and food on the table shouldn't be the only thing a paycheck can buy. But what else is left at min wage with temp agency job security?
Steve Bailey
So here is the Letter to the Editor.
I can see how some people think that others are making too much money and should be willing to accept clawbacks. Usually it is people who work harder than most for a lot less that are the ones complaining about these "overpriced" labourers. Fact is we are jealous. Do we want to make minimum wage and be whipped like dogs? I have seen worker after worker put in the hard hours in hopes of moving up. Accept less than safe working conditions so they weren't labled as a non-team player. Accept year after year at the temp agency because they were on the cusp of getting hired on full time at their placement.Can I see why these workers are feeling slighted by others who make more money? Of course I can. Can I sympathise with their jealousy of those with job security? Absolutely.
I have been the guy at the bottom trying to work his way up. I have worked for the temp agency and got sent home and told to never return because the placement was upset that I complained of unsafe working conditions (chemical exposure without protective gear). I have seen corporate greed run rampant in Brantford. What excuse is there for an employee to work 3 years 40 hours per week every week at a placement for a temp agency and not get hired on full time? If he was not good enough I think 3 years is enough time to figure it out.
I am a Millwright. I no longer live in Brantford for one reason. It simply doesn't pay to live there anymore. When people in my field who have worked hard to obtain their "tickets" and worked as an apprentice at lower wages only to see jobs dry up and the only NEW ones are through a temp agency I see a huge problem. Some Millwrights with decades of experience in Brantford make less than FIRST YEAR APPRENTICES in other areas of Ontario. They make so little because employers are ONLY hiring through agencies now.
Is it wrong to fight to keep the same wage you made yesterday? I don't think so. I know my mortgage won't drop by 25%. My hydro won't drop either. My gasoline is .80+ but the cost of crude is the same as it was when I could buy gas for 50 cents. Think long and hard before you tell ANYONE they should accept a lower wage. Would you vollenteer to take a 25% cut to show any of these people that it isn't a big deal? Maybe you want to throw away your chance to move up to one of these better paying jobs. Think about it. If licenced TRADES are working for $12 an hour at a temp agency what does that mean for all of the cheap labour? I can hire a WELL QUALIFIED employee for cheap so why hire anyone else at any price? A University grad might make head fry chef after 10 years. That is the reality if workers don't strike and fight to KEEP (let alone prosper and grow their income) what they have now.
Having a clean place to live and food on the table shouldn't be the only thing a paycheck can buy. But what else is left at min wage with temp agency job security?
Steve Bailey
Thursday, February 19, 2009
We need more temp Agencies. Progressive Conservative MPP
And now a word from JOHN O TOOL. Progressive Conservative MP from Durham.
---------------------------------------
Mr. John O'Toole: I listened attentively to the minister's remarks and the parliamentary assistant's remarks on Bill 139, and I'm confident that this bill will go to committee.
What I really think is important here is not to lose sight that everyone in this Legislature, I would think-certainly on this side-would like everyone to have a job and the security of a job and the security of income. So I don't want to be portrayed as someone who is against the provision of job security. What I am saying, though, is that the status of the economy of Ontario today is such that there are no jobs. Two hundred and seventy-five thousand individuals and their families are without work. The economy is heading south at astronomical speed, and we're talking here about a bill protecting employment. We should have more employment agencies, not fewer. McGuinty is not trying to find jobs for people; he's closing them down. He's got more inspectors and things that are actually red tape in the economy. So Bill 139-
---------------------------------------
Mr. John O'Toole: I listened attentively to the minister's remarks and the parliamentary assistant's remarks on Bill 139, and I'm confident that this bill will go to committee.
What I really think is important here is not to lose sight that everyone in this Legislature, I would think-certainly on this side-would like everyone to have a job and the security of a job and the security of income. So I don't want to be portrayed as someone who is against the provision of job security. What I am saying, though, is that the status of the economy of Ontario today is such that there are no jobs. Two hundred and seventy-five thousand individuals and their families are without work. The economy is heading south at astronomical speed, and we're talking here about a bill protecting employment. We should have more employment agencies, not fewer. McGuinty is not trying to find jobs for people; he's closing them down. He's got more inspectors and things that are actually red tape in the economy. So Bill 139-
Friday, February 13, 2009
Minimum Wage
http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1433624
Economic woes won't stop minimum wage hike
By VINCENT BALL, EXPOSITOR STAFF
HELP LOCAL ECONOMY
Brian Van Tilborg, co-ordinator of the Genfast Workers' Adjustment Centre and a former NDP candidate in Brant, said the increase is timely.
"It's one of the better programs we have to help the local economy," Van Tilborg said. "It puts more money into the hands of those who need it and these are the people who spend their money locally.
"They buy their groceries, clothing and everything else locally. They're not heading out of town and out of the country on trips."
He believes minimum wage increases are more likely to create jobs than to kill them.
"Stock market crashes and poor industrial policies are what kills jobs. Not minimum wage increases," Van Tilborg said. "The fact is, we've had minimum wages for years and it has never caused job losses like a lot of people like to think."
Economic woes won't stop minimum wage hike
By VINCENT BALL, EXPOSITOR STAFF
HELP LOCAL ECONOMY
Brian Van Tilborg, co-ordinator of the Genfast Workers' Adjustment Centre and a former NDP candidate in Brant, said the increase is timely.
"It's one of the better programs we have to help the local economy," Van Tilborg said. "It puts more money into the hands of those who need it and these are the people who spend their money locally.
"They buy their groceries, clothing and everything else locally. They're not heading out of town and out of the country on trips."
He believes minimum wage increases are more likely to create jobs than to kill them.
"Stock market crashes and poor industrial policies are what kills jobs. Not minimum wage increases," Van Tilborg said. "The fact is, we've had minimum wages for years and it has never caused job losses like a lot of people like to think."
Thursday, February 12, 2009
ECP workers taking hit for all workers
http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1431284
The workers here are taking a hit for workers throughout the province"
: NDP candidateGilles Bisson visits ECP picket line
by Vincent Ball, EXPOSITOR STAFF
The workers here are taking a hit for workers throughout the province"
: NDP candidateGilles Bisson visits ECP picket line
by Vincent Ball, EXPOSITOR STAFF
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
ECP Strike attracts NDP leadership contenders
Gilles Bisson is coming to the ECP picket line today at 2:45pm.
http://www.brantford.com/index.cfm?page=home§ion=digest&Id=1568
Gilles is the 3rd NDP Ontario Leadership Candidate to come to Brantford in support of the striking workers at the picket line.
Previous Leadership Candidates to come and support the workers are Andrea Horwath, and Michael Prue.
All have expressed action in passing anti scab legislation and support the resolution of city council.
http://www.brantford.com/index.cfm?page=home§ion=digest&Id=1568
Gilles is the 3rd NDP Ontario Leadership Candidate to come to Brantford in support of the striking workers at the picket line.
Previous Leadership Candidates to come and support the workers are Andrea Horwath, and Michael Prue.
All have expressed action in passing anti scab legislation and support the resolution of city council.
Steelworker Action Centre
The Steelworker Action Centre is tentatively confirmed to remain open for another 1 year contract.
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