Perry Work Report: work&labour news&research, February 13, 2015

February 13, 2015

The next issue of the Perry Work Report will be published on February 27, 2015, after the University of Toronto Reading Week.

Announcement:

A Panel Discussion: Feminist Political Economy and the Study of Labour Market Insecurity

Professors Leah Vosko, Pat Armstrong, Martha MacDonald, Sylvia Fuller, and Dr. Deatra Walsh will participate in a panel discussion on Wednesday, February 25, 2015 from 3:00-5:00 p.m. in 100A Jackman Humanities Building at University of Toronto. The event is being sponsored and coordinated by Kerry Rittich and the Women & Gender Studies Institute. All are welcome, and light refreshments will be served.

Follow us on the CIRHR Library Tumblr and on the CIRHR Library Twitter.

What Did the Labour Movement Accomplish Last Week? Lots.

"How better to capture the goings-on in the Canadian labour movement than with a handy links round-up. In no particular order, here’s a quick rundown of some of the labour movement news across Canada:

  • The Supreme Court of Canada voted down Saskatchewan’s essential service law, arguing that such laws were an infringement upon worker’s Charter right to free association.
  • The Teamsters and CN Rail reached a tentative contract agreement averting a potential strike by 3,000 workers.
  • Members of the Ontario Nurses’ Association (ONA) have been on strike since January 30 over wages and workloads.
  • Members of CUPE 3903, which represents the contract faculty, teaching assistants, graduate assistants, and research assistants at York University, has voted almost 80 per cent in favour of a strike mandate.
  • On the University of Toronto Campus, CUPE 3902 members are also in a strike position.
  • Municipal workers in Happy Valley Goose Bay are in their fourth week of a lock-out.
  • In two weeks, the 13 pressroom employees at Nova Scotia newspaper, the Chronicle Herald, will be in a strike or lock-out position.
  • OPSEU, which represents 35,000 Ontario Public Service workers says that the provincial government is forcing OPSEU members out on strike.”

rabble.ca, February 6, 2015: “What has the labour movement done this week? Lots.,” by Ella Bedard

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Strike at the University of Toronto?

"Teaching assistants and contract professors at the University of Toronto are poised to strike Feb. 27, which would affect two-thirds of all face-to-face teaching at Canada’s largest university."

"The 7,000 teaching assistants, sessional instructors, lab technicians, writing coaches and others in the Canadian Union of Public Employees 3902 are seeking a raise, but say the university has refused any increase, citing the province’s wage freeze for public sector workers."

"If there is a strike, professors outside the union warn that a new U of T policy giving administrators control over how they tweak their courses to keep classes running -- from marking to course load -- would violate their academic freedom."

“’It’s like an Emergency Measures Act that applies in the event of a pandemic, natural disaster or labour disruption, that would allow the provost to make fundamental changes to our courses just to make sure the trains run on time,’ said geography professor Scott Prudham, president of the University of Toronto Faculty Association (UTFA), which represents full-time and tenured professors, who don’t have the right to strike.”

The Toronto Star, February 11, 2015: “U of T non-tenured staff poised for strike Feb. 27,” by Louise Brown  

University of Toronto Education Workers, February 2015: “Strike/Picket Training” -- Any and all Unit 1 and Unit 3 TAs and Instructors at the University of Toronto are invited to attend Strike/Picket Line training.

University of Toronto, Governing Council, January 26, 2012: “Policy on Academic Continuity” (4 pages, PDF)

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Ottawa Library Faces $2.3M Pay Equity Tab

"The Ottawa Public Library needs to shell out millions of dollars and find significant cost savings in its 2015 budget to cover retroactive payments owed to some staff following a pay equity ruling."

The Ontario Pay Equity Hearings Tribunal ruled last week that the OPL must “pay female job classes identified in a pay equity plan the same corresponding percentage wage increases an arbitration board awarded unionized inside and outside workers in past years.”

"The ruling means the library needs to make a one-time retroactive payment of $2.3 million to certain staff to satisfy the tribunal’s ruling...."

"A pay equity study in 2005 found that some female city librarians were paid an average of eight per cent less than men who worked in comparable jobs."

Ottawa Citizen, February 11, 2015: “Ottawa library faces $2.3M pay equity tab,” by Robert Sibley

The Ottawa-Carleton Public Employees Union, February 5, 2015: “Ottawa Public Library Pay Equity Decision a Win for CUPE 503 Members” (1 page, PDF)

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Why Have So Many Canadians Stopped Looking for Work?

"The percentage of working-age Canadians who aren’t working -- who aren’t even looking for a job -- is at a historic high.... The labour participation rate for Canadian men in their working prime -- ages 25 through 54 -- is the lowest it’s been since Statistics Canada started collecting that data."

"Canadians want to work. They’re settling for temp, seasonal or part-time jobs, without the stability of a pension or benefits, to stay in the workforce. But for many, the numbers just don’t add up. They go back to school; they settle for seasonal, contract work; some just throw in the towel."

“And while both federal and provincial governments have touted ‘job creation’ partnerships with businesses, economists have argued it makes more sense to focus on the individuals who need jobs and marketable skills. ‘People want to be in the workforce. I don’t think anyone wants to stay at home and feel useless,’ said David Macdonald, senior economist with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. ‘The question is, how do we provide circumstances where there’s employment for them?’”

Global News, February 10, 2015: “Canadians want work. Why have so many stopped looking?,” by Anna Mehler Paperny

"According to the [Labour Force Survey], Canada added 35,000 jobs in January. A statistically significant number of jobs, hurray!"

"But wait. Those were all part-time jobs. We lost 10,000 full time jobs, and added 47,000 part-time jobs. Oh, and they were all through self-employment."

rabble.ca, February 9, 2015: “Job numbers indicate labour market weakness, bleak prospects ahead,” by Angella MacEwen

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Ottawa Seeks Job Market Clarity

"Statistics Canada has launched a major new job vacancy survey as economists and government officials continue to work out the best way to measure labour shortages in an era of online job boards."

"The $8-million survey, which was announced several months ago and is just now under way, marks a return to more traditional methods after the Conservative government ran into criticism for relying heavily on a much less expensive private software program. The Globe and Mail revealed that the government’s claims were the result of a problem with the data, which included jobs from the classified site Kijiji where the same job can be reposted many times, producing a false impression of a rising demand for labour.”

"A Statistics Canada spokesperson said the new survey will show the number of job vacancies and which regions are experiencing the most labour shortages, the offered average wage per occupation with vacancies, the distribution of job vacancies by level of education and experience and the proportion of vacancies that are difficult to fill, by occupation."

The Globe and Mail, February 8, 2015: “Ottawa seeks job market clarity,” by Bill Curry

Statistics Canada -- “Job Vacancy and Wage Survey" [website]

Self-Employed Lead January Job Growth

"Canada’s labour market is holding up in the face of grim news, though most of last month’s job growth was among the self-employed, whose ranks logged the biggest jump in three years."

"And while January’s job gains topped forecasts, economists caution that employment tends to be a lagging indicator. Many recent job-cut announcements ... have yet to show up in the numbers."

The Globe and Mail, February 6, 2015: “Self-employed lead January job growth in Canada,” by Tavia Grant

Statistics Canada’s The Daily, February 6, 2015: “Labour Force Survey, January 2015”

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The Often Over-Looked Cost of Unemployment

According to a new study out of the University of Zurich, 1 in 5 suicides is associated with unemployment. Researchers examined data from 63 countries. The countries were divided into four regions: North and South America, northern and western Europe, southern and eastern Europe, and Non-Americas and non-Europe. 

“‘Despite country-specific particularities, we found a similarly strong association between unemployment and suicide rates in all four regions,’ summarises sociologist [Carlos] Nordt.” Additionally, “’[a]fter the crisis year in 2008, the number of suicides increased short-term by 5,000 cases,’ says Nordt. Other studies had already estimated this figure. What was not known, however, was that around 46,000 suicides overall were associated with unemployment that year.”

"It is also important to recognize that the problems caused by unemployment do not just have an impact on those directly affected: The results regarding suicide and unemployment show that people over the age of 65 -- i.e. people who are often no longer active on the job market -- are also affected."

EurekAlert!, February 10, 2015: “1 in 5 suicides is associated with unemployment”

The Lancet Psychiatry, February 2015: “Modelling suicide and unemployment: a longitudinal analysis covering 63 countries, 2000-2011,” by Carlos Nordt, Ingeborg Warnke, Erich Seifritz, and Wolfram Kawohl (9 pages, PDF)

“‘Everyone thinks the biggest impact of unemployment is to the wallet, but it’s not. Finances certainly take an immediate hit, but it’s the individual’s mojo that suffers the most,’ says Marilyn Santiesteban, assistant director in career services at Texas A&M University.”

"Santiesteban gives these survival tips to the newly unemployed, or longterm, ready-to-snap job seekers:

  • Keep a routine: Adhering to a schedule gives a sense of purpose and accomplishment.
  • Get out there: ‘Daily isolation and boredom will derail the best plans,’ Santiesteban says. Job hunting can’t happen from the couch.
  • Take care of yourself: Not every waking moment can -- or should -- be consumed with a job search. Santiesteban advises three hours in the morning for work-related tasks like job-searching strategy, then ‘shut it down’ for a walk, exercise, or meditation.

Fast Company, February 3, 2015: “The Hidden Mental Costs Of Unemployment,” by Samantha Cole

The Atlantic, February 10, 2015: “A Better Way to Help the Long-Term Unemployed,” by Alana Semuels

Are you in crisis? Call the nearest distress centre. If it is an emergency, call 9-1-1 or go to your local emergency department. If you’re outside of Canada, visit IASP to find a helpline in your country.

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America's Shrinking Labor Union & the Fight for Revival

"24.2%: private sector union membership rate, 1973"

"6.6%: private sector union membership rate, 2014"

... "[D]windling union participation in the private sector stands in stark contrast with union membership among public sector workers, which rose sharply in the 1970s and has been relatively steady since 1980 at around 35 percent.”

"The causes of falling union participation are hard to pinpoint but may be attributed to several factors, including the pressures of global trade, technological change, the shift away from domestic manufacturing and a tougher stance against unions from government and corporate leaders. It is probably no accident that the drop in union membership has occurred as the incomes of many working Americans have stagnated."

The New York Times, February 7, 2015: “The Shrinking American Labor Union”

The Union Membership and Coverage Database, United States, January 2015: “Union Membership and Coverage Database from the CPS,” by Barry Hirsch and David Macpherson

Bureau of Labour Statistics, January 23, 2015: “Union Members -- 2014” (12 pages, PDF)

Can Richard Trumka Save the Labor Movement?

"Amid globalization, congressional gridlock, and growing inequality, Trumka is reviving labor’s hallowed commitment to solidarity but also stretching that commitment to new lengths. ‘I talk to them more often. They talk to me,’ he said of labor’s new allies. ‘The arrogance is breaking down, and we’re becoming collegial again. The movements are starting to actually meld together, where we understand that we’re much more powerful together than we are separately.’"

”Against the insularity of labor past -- all for the union -- Trumka is tying labor’s future to that of the wider class of working Americans. The question is, if his strategy doesn’t bring more members into unions, will progressives be pining for the day when labor was more self-interested?”

The Boston Review, February 2, 2015: “A Bigger Tent: Can Richard Trumka Save the Labor Movement?,” by Amy B. Dean

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Should You Join a Union? The Research Says Yes.

"Last week, Vox’s Matt Yglesias examined a study that had a depressing outlook for the labor movement. Companies that had recently unionized, economist Brigham Frandsen found, had lower average wages, employed fewer people and were more likely to go belly-up. Yikes!”

"But it’s not usually a good idea to look at studies in isolation."

"Here’s some other research to keep in mind:

  • In 2012, researchers from Princeton found that ... unions do work for workers, as long as the firm doesn’t go out of business because of it.
  • A 2011 study of teachers unions found that collective bargaining increased starting salaries by 3.9 percent, and added an additional 5.4 percent over the first five years of a teacher’s career.
  • A 2003 review of the seminal 1984 book ‘What Do Unions Do?’ found that, since its publication, ... in the industries where unions still have a presence, the wage premium remains substantial.... Unions also insulate workers against downturns in the business cycle, when firms are tempted to cut down on labor costs.
  • [U]nions serve as a bulwark against wage inequality.... A 2011 study attributed a fifth to a third of increased income inequality among men to the decline in union representation between 1973 and 2007.
  • A forthcoming paper ... shows that the [union] wage premium is largest for Hispanics in the United States -- particularly in low-wage sectors.”

"Unions have many effects other than wages, of course. But those are more difficult to measure, so wages are a good stand-in -- and by that metric, a union membership card still has significant benefits, if you can get past the increasingly high hurdle of organizing a workplace."

The Washington Post, February 10, 2015: “Should you join a union? The research says yes.,” by Lydia DePillis

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We Want Balance Yet We Can't Put Our Phones Down

"A new survey by [Angus Reid] shows Canadians love their mobile devices, even if that means they work longer hours." 

The survey “shows three in every 10 Canadians respond to some emails, calls or texts about work after hours” and that “71 per cent of Canadians say that despite being on the job more because of technology and mobile devices, they still see it as an overall positive for working professionals.”

The survey also found that 40 per cent felt technology such as the Internet, email and smartphones had them working more hours...."

“‘That little blinking light on the phone or that buzz or bell ... Every time that phone goes off, we’re checking it. We’re almost Pavlovian about it,’ said Shachi Kurl, senior vice-president of Angus Reid.”

"Meanwhile, work-life balance advocates say checking-in too much often leads to a burnout."

CBC News, February 9, 2015: “Angus Reid survey: 3-in-10 Canadians text or email outside work hours”

Angus Reid Institute, February 9, 2015: “Canadians at work: technology enables more flexibility, but longer hours too; checking in is the new normal”

Download the full report here (10 pages, PDF).

So, while you may not be able to leave work behind at the office due to your beloved smart phone, at least ditch the sour mood.

"Our grandfathers’ generation found a solution in a dry martini. Today, it falls to psychology to help us transition happily from work to home. Psychologists call it ‘boundary work’ -- devising routines and rituals that create mental space between the day’s frustrations and the evening’s rewards."

"The routine could be hitting the gym or something as simple as running errands or stopping for an espresso." Having a friendly chat with a stranger on the commute home can also lighten one’s mood, recent research has shown.

And if you’re still crabby after exchanging pleasantries with a stranger, don’t reach for the gin just yet. Release the death-grip you have on your phone, and try writing down your day’s accomplishments, reading a book, or doing some yoga.

The Wall Street Journal, February 10, 2015: “Rethink Your After-Work Routine to Make the Transition Home a Happy One,” by Sue Shellenbarger

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Imbalanced Views on the Work-Life Balance

According to the 2015 Workplace Flexibility Study, while an increasing number of companies are seeing the benefits of allowing employees to work flex-time, employees still want more.

"The results showed that while 67% of HR professionals believed their employees have a balanced work-life, almost half (45%) of employees and 35% of job seekers are still wanting more time each week for personal activities." 

"Why is there such a disparity? The answer is likely in your hand."

"Thanks to the proliferation of smartphones and accessible WiFi, work doesn’t need to be left at the office. ...[I]nformal expectations for employees to be receptive to emails and phone calls outside of the office has further eroded boundaries."

"This is at odds with employees who want a distinction between their work lives and their personal lives, [says Cheryl Palmer, the owner of coaching firm Call to Career], and by virtue of leaving the office, leave the cares and commitments behind. This is exacerbated by company cultures that support workaholism, not a balanced life, says Palmer. ‘If top management regularly logs 60-80 hour workweeks, the expectation is that lower-level employees will do the same.’"

Fast Company, February 5, 2015: “Why Managers And Employees Have Wildly Different Ideas About Work-Life Balance,” by Lydia Dishman

WorkplaceTrends.com, February 3, 2015: “The 2015 Workplace Flexibility Study”

Forbes, February 8, 2015: “Are Boomers Afraid to Ask to Work From Home?,” by Kerry Hannon

Female entrepreneurs are even more likely to prize the work-life balance.

"More than three times as many Canadian women than men cite work-family balance as their prime motivation to become entrepreneurs. In a recent study published by TD Bank, findings reveal family obligations limited the time and effort women were able to contribute to building their business."

"The study highlights lower self-esteem and greater risk aversion as self-imposed barriers that prevent women from pursuing self-employment.”

CBC News, February 4, 2015: Female entrepreneurs more likely to prize work-life balance, report suggests,” by Halla Imam

TD Economics Special Report, January 16, 2015: “Canadian Women Leading the Charge into Entrepreneurship” (6 pages, PDF)

Babson College, February 3, 2015: “Entrepreneurship Rebounds Globally in 2014,” by Barbara Spies Blair (download the PDF version of this report here, 116 pages)

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Is the Boomer Entrepreneur Boom Fading?

"Entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of the economy and the boom in boomer startups has been a major pumping force. But the State of Entrepreneurship 2015 report released today by the Kauffman Foundation, which specializes in studying and promoting entrepreneurship, suggests that the boomer binge just may be winding down."

TIME’s Money, February 11, 2015: “Is the Boomer Entrepreneur Boom Fading?” by Chris Farrell

Kauffman Foundation, February 11, 2015: “2015 State of Entrepreneurship Address”

"Despite tech savvy and higher levels of education than prior generations, mounting student debt levels are beginning to drag down younger Americans’ start-up ambitions, according to a new report."

CNBC, February 11, 2015: “Millennial entrepreneurs and student debt: It’s complicated,” by Kate Rogers 

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Robots Poised to Transform Global Manufacturing

"Get ready. The robots are coming."

"Advanced industrial robotics are at an ‘inflection point,’ with lower costs and higher capabilities set to reshape the global manufacturing industry, according to new research from Boston Consulting Group. It predicts that, in the next decade, almost a quarter of automated tasks will be performed by robots -- up from 10 per cent today."

"The pace of adoption will be particularly quick in Canada, due to relatively high labour costs, flexible laws and because much of the manufacturing base is in transportation: the sector most likely to deploy robotics. A rapid pickup in usage will improve cost competitiveness relative to the United States, the report says."

"Of course, the rise of the machine will reduce the need for human labour, causing longer-term implications for employment. In Canada, the manufacturing sector employs nearly 1.5 million people, according to Statistics Canada’s payrolls survey, making it the third-largest sector by number of workers in the country."

The Globe and Mail, February 10, 2015: “Rise of the machines: Robots poised to transform global manufacturing,” by Tavia Grant

The Boston Consulting Group, February 10, 2015: “Takeoff in Robotics Will Power the Next Productivity Surge in Manufacturing”

To view selected highlights from the research, please click here.

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The World's 50 Most Innovative Companies

Fast Company brings you the gutsiest, smartest, most interesting and forward-thinking businesses on the planet right now.

The magazine ranks the top 50 overall, as well as the top 10 by sector.

The top 5 companies overall for 2015 are:

  1. Warby Parker: For building the first great made-on-the-internet brand.
  2. Apple: For creating magic with minutiae.
  3. Alibaba: For helping consumers save, spend, and be entertained.
  4. Google: For making the hit laptop nobody saw coming.
  5. Instagram: For its beautiful relationship with the fashion industry.

Fast Company, February 9, 2015: “The World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies”

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Book of the Week

The Death and Life of American Labor: Toward a New Worker's Movement, by Stanley Aronowitz. Brooklyn, NY: Verso, 2014. 192 p. ISBN 9781781681381

From the publisher: "Union membership in the United States has fallen below 11 percent, the lowest rate since before the New Deal. Longtime scholar of the American union movement Stanley Aronowitz argues that the labor movement as we have known it for most of the last 100 years is effectively dead. And he asserts that this death has been a long time coming--the organizing principles chosen by the labor movement at midcentury have come back to haunt the movement today. In an expansive survey of new initiatives, strikes, organizations and allies Aronowitz analyzes the possibilities of labor's renewal, and sets out a program for a new, broad, radical workers' movement."

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