Japans Democrats Sweep into power on Temp Agency Ban

http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssOfficeEquipment/idUST7557220090831
The Democrats have proposed banning "in principle" the dispatch of temporary workers to manufacturing jobs, ending a system that has helped the auto and electronics industries keep costs low but has also added to instability in the workforce.
"I don't quite agree with the DPJ's idea of banning temporary workers. Temporary employment has had benefits for both companies and workers," Masamitsu Sakurai, chairman of Keizai Doyukai (Japan Association of Corporate Executives) told a news conference.
"It has sustained the country's economic growth and diversified ways of working," added Sakurai, who is also chairman of office equipment maker Ricoh Co .
After a decade of corporate cost-cutting and labour market deregulation, about one-third of all employees in Japan are non-regular workers without job security, a category that includes part-timers, contract workers and temporary staff.

Temporary Workers Employment Community Forum

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
LEARN YOUR RIGHTS
TEMPORARY WORKERS COMMUNITY FORUM
Thursday June 4th
7PM to 9PM
FAMILY RESOURCE CENTRE
14 Henry Street
Brantford, Ontario
Parking Available at YES CHURCH
519 759 4775
tempworkinbrant@gmail.com
Presentations by
Deena, Workers Action Centre, Toronto
Eduardo, Immigrant Settlement Worker, Brantford
Ian, Community Legal Clinic, Brantford
Marc, The Roundtable on Poverty, Brantford
Brian, STEELWORKERS ACTION CENTRE

UPDATED*** Stephanie, Canadian Labour Congress

FREE
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
LEARN YOUR RIGHTS
TEMPORARY WORKERS COMMUNITY FORUM
Thursday June 4th
7PM to 9PM
FAMILY RESOURCE CENTRE
14 Henry Street
Brantford, Ontario
Parking Available at YES CHURCH
519 759 4775
tempworkinbrant@gmail.com

Presentations by
Deena, Workers Action Centre of oronto
Eduardo, Immigrant Settlement Worker, Brantford
Ian, Community Legal Clinic, Brantford
Marc, The Roundtable on Poverty, Brantford
Brian, STEELWORKERS ACTION CENTRE

Temp Agencies Bill 139

Bill 139, Employment Standards Amendment Act (Temporary Help Agencies), 2009

The Standing Committee on the Legislative Assembly will meet to consider Bill 139, An Act to amend the Employment Standards Act, 2000 in relation to temporary help agencies and certain other matters.

The Committee intends to hold public hearings in Toronto on March 25, 2009.

Interested people who wish to be considered to make an oral presentation on Bill 139 should contact the Committee Clerk by 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 18, 2009.

Those who do not wish to make an oral presentation but wish to comment on the Bill may send written submissions to the Committee Clerk at the address below by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 25, 2009.

An electronic version of the Bill is available on the Legislative Assembly website at: www.ontla.on.ca.
Bas Balkissoon, MPP Tonia Grannum
Chair/Président Clerk/Greffière
Room 1405, Whitney Block/Bureau 1405, édifice Whitney
Queen’s Park, Toronto ON M7A 1A2
Telephone/Téléphone: (416) 325-3519
Facsimile/Télécopieur: (416) 325-3505
TTY/ATS: (416) 325-3538
Collect calls will be accepted./Nous acceptons les appels à frais virés.
Ces renseignements sont disponibles en français sur demande.

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

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-

The EMPIRE STRIKES BACK!!!

Heartwarming Article in the Expositor.

I think a nerve was struck, for them to reply to a small demonstration in lil ole Brantford.

They try to put a positive spin on what they do. While they were unhappy with the Brantford Expositor article on Tuesday, they don't offer up anything different then what I said. They just say it differently so it sounds palatable to the general public reading the article.

Here is the link.

http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=823811&auth=Vincent+Ball

Ontario is only one of two provinces (New Brunswick is the other) that has an elect to work clause.

Labour Ready Rally/Brantford Expositor

For those of you out of towners or don't receive a copy of the Brantford Expositor here is a link to their story.

The Photographer who took the photo that is in the Newsprint edition captured the event perfectly, which does not appear in the online version.


http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=822458&auth=Vincent%20Ball

NEVER TOO LATE !!!

Hello Dave

Thanks for coming out to the rally regardless of the bad weather. While you missed most of the festivities here is a quick rundown of what happened.

Well we did it again.

A successful rally, with supporters from various community groups managed to come out from winters blizzard and send a Seasons Greetings Messages to the Temporary Staffing Agencies.Also in attendance where a half a dozen former Genfast/Easton Coating employees, some who came in on the off shift of their new jobs, to show support in holding temp agencies accountable for their lack of holiday spirit.

Temporary Employment/Staffing Agencies do not pay stat holiday pay and some of those that do create rules that are below the minimum written in the Employment Standards Act.It was good to see men and women with their holiday festival red hats coming out to support the spirit of giving this Christmas/New Years Holiday.

Meanwhile, Labour Ready, the place we choose to bring our holiday cheer, were overcome by Scrooge like tendencies, heckling and cat calling us as we spoke. Their smiles turned to sneers and jeers when, we said that we hope they aren't engaging in acts that violate the employment standards. While reading various violations, that some temp agencies have been taken to task over, it appears we may have hit a nerve.

All in all a fun time was had by all.

Thanks to those who could come out under such difficult weather circumstances, and thanks to those who support us in the spirit of our actions and goodwill.

Oh Yes, and Dave, With that Red Hat on, I almost mistook you for someone else.... :)

Ho Ho Ho

Brian

Temporary Employment Rally

Those interested in helping out and participating in a short rally should meet in the parking lot across from the action centre at between 10am and 10:15 Monday morning. A brief outline of where we are going in Brantford will be released. We plan to have a short rally at 11am in conjunction with 4 or 5 other cities in Ontario.

Joint Action Temp Agencies

Hello Brothers and Sisters

I am pleased that people are reading this site. I wouldn't know it until people starting contacting me regarding the previous temp posting. I also found it interesting that people read one or the other of the two ongoing blogs. I do try to post in both Genfast Blogs.

An action is being planned for next Monday. I have a time in mind and the intent is to work with some cities across Ontario.

I am keeping this rather vague for now, for two reasons. One being that I haven't finalized the details.

Anyone wishing to support this action should contact me directly. I would like to have a number of supporters present who have roughly an hour to spend.

This is the 1st step. We need to focus attention on to the growing number of temp agencies not only in Brantford (where I am told it is really bad) but in other cities. I have found like minded groups across southern Ontario. It is these groups that have formed an action plan.

I have offered to participate, providing there is enough local support for such and activity.

I will be participating in a conference call on Wednesday with the other groups who will be organization an action in their cities.

None of our groups have ever planned anything like this, but provided we get local participation, we believe this job action will be successful.

More details, give me a shout. I should know more after Wednesday.

Regardless, I will have a press release ready on Monday.

Temporary Employment Agencies

Something is brewing.

IF you are interested, stay in touch.

Brian.

Ontario Manufacturing Being Pillaged

Here is the Labour Day Article from the Brantford Expositor.

http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/webapp/sitepages/content.asp?contentid=678641&catname=Local%20News&classif=News

If the link doesn't work, just use the search feature and type in

Labour Day

Temporary Agencies, HELP or HINDRANCE

Saturdays Extra Feature in the Brantford Expositor Covers Temporary Agencies.

http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/webapp/sitepages/search/results.asp?contentid=677234&catname=Lifestyle&type=search&search1=temp%20agency

I am quoted in the article along with others including the Temporary Agencies.

Temporary Agencies Rally Conclusion

I attended the Forgotten Ones rally in Victoria Park. Brendan Davis made a long passionate presentation to a significant number of supporters. Not bad for a first attempt. The Expositor was present, however, I didn't recall seeing CKPC. I did see some people from Genfast, but more from Dura and it was nice to meet another group of people.

For me I just want to say, I got a nip of what may be in store in September and October from my rivals and their supporters.


We are going to have to mobilize and be strong!!!

Temporary Services

If you are not in favour of temporary agencies, I suggest you attend the rally at Victoria Park.

The Forgotten Ones will be in Victoria Park to talk about some of the issues many of us are facing today. Things such as, Temporary Agencies, Lack of Education and its effects on Ontario Works Municipal, Provincial, and the Federal Governments Ontario Disability Support Program.
Please join us on taking a stand against poverty on:August 16, 2007 AT 1:00 P.M. Victoria Park, Brantford

Campaign School

To win the Provincial Election in September, we are going to need a strong campaign team.

I invite you to attend our Campaign School.

Saturday August 11th
1Pm to 6Pm
Echo Place Family Restaurant
781 Colborne St

(By Tellys Variety, the old Butches)

Thank You.

For more information
Dial 519 751 9111
www.brantndp.ca