Perry Work Report for the week of February 24, 2011

February 24, 2011

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Wisconsin Wars are Spreading -- to Canada?

“Like many governors, he wants to cut the benefits of state workers. But he also decided a budget crisis was a good time to advance an ideological goal dear to his fellow Republicans: eliminating most collective bargaining rights for public employees.” [New York Times, February 17, 2011]

Currently Wisconsin, Ohio, and Indiana are facing laws to “trim union power and benefits”.  The WSJ article maps out other states that may consider “right to work” style legislation. [Wall Street Journal, February 22, 2011]

And what does this mean to Canada?  “We saw a foreshadow of this battle in the ill-fated federal Economic Statement back in 2008. While the ending of subsidies for political parties got the attention, one of the unexpected proposals in the statement was ending the ability of federal civil servants to strike until 2011.” [Globe and Mail, February 23, 2011]

Globe and Mail, February 23, 2011: The end of unions? By Andrew Steele

Wall Street Journal, February 22, 2011: Political Fight Over Unions Escalates

New York Times, February 17, 2011: Editorial Gov. Walker’s Pretext

Globe and Mail, February 21, 2011: “Tens of thousands march in Wisconsin in support of union rights,” by Scott Bauer

Labor Notes, February 23, 2011: Full-Bore Assault in the Midwest

Dissent Magazine, February 18, 2011: “The Wisconsin Uprising,” by Mark Engler

Economic Policy Institute (EPI), February 15, 2011: Wisconsin public versus private employee costs: Why compare apples to oranges? By Jeff Keefe

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Is the TTC as an Essential Service?

The Toronto Transit Commission Labour Disputes Resolution Act, 2011, which had its first reading on February 22, 2011, designates the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) as an essential service.

“The legislation, if passed, would provide for binding arbitration by a neutral third party when collective agreements cannot be reached through bargaining. The Act, if passed, also calls for a review of the legislation after a five-year period.” [from the Ontario Ministry of Labour]

Globe and Mail, February 24, 2011: “Banning transit strikes is a bad idea,” by Marcus Gee

Doorey’s Workplace Law Blog, February 23, 2011: The TTC Strike Ban Legislation

Ontario Ministry of Labour, February 22, 2011: Ontario Responds To Toronto’s Request to Ban TTC Strikes (1 page, PDF)

Bill 150, 2011: An Act to provide for the resolution of labour disputes involving the Toronto Transit Commission or (11 pages, PDF)

CTV News, February 22, 2011: “Government slaps down backbencher's TTC no-strike bill”

CBC News, February 22, 2011: “Ont. to introduce TTC essential service legislation”

Globe and Mail, February 17, 2011: “City unwavering on TTC strike ban”

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The Top 10 Human Rights Cases

In this session, Lancaster's panel of experts will provide an in-depth analysis of the top ten cases on human rights in relation to employment, and will arm you with the tools you need to use them to your best advantage. A list of the ten landmark decisions to be discussed is available on the website.

This is an audio conference available (in your own office or boardroom ) on Thursday, March 3, 2011, 12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.  With a Playback Session: Friday, March 4, 2011 to Thursday, March 10, 2011, 9:00 a.m. – midnight EST

Lancaster House Audio Conference: The Top 10 Human Rights Cases

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Media Corp. Selects Canada's Best Diversity Employers in 2011

“Companies are judged by their diversity and inclusiveness programs for five major employee groups: women; members of visible minorities; people with disabilities; aboriginal peoples; and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered/transsexual people.“ [Globe and Mail, February 20, 2011]

Employers pay $495 dollars to enter this survey competition. 

Globe and Mail, February 20, 2011: “Top 45: Canada's best diversity employers in 2011”

Globe and Mail, February 20, 2011: “Diversity Bombardier: Giving women wings,” by Gail Johnson

Globe and Mail, February 20, 2011: “Canadians rarely say bad things, but what are we thinking?”by Diane Jermyn

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Employee Depression – accommodating a disability

“The reason I’m very open about it is because I want to set a tone within the firm that living with depression doesn’t make you a lesser person,” says Mr. Bach. “It’s absolutely imperative for leaders to come out and talk about their own invisible disabilities to set the example. I want to send the message that it’s okay, right from day one when we’re recruiting, that you can bring your whole self to work, whatever that looks like.”[from the Globe and Mail]

Globe and Mail, February 20, 2011: Mental health the final frontier in diversity, by Diane Jermyn Update

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Mental Health Summit

“Presenters cited the importance of healthy lifestyle, early intervention, collaborative and integrated disability management and a well supported return-to-work strategy. This underscored a pressing need to create a workplace culture where mental health issues are recognized, with knowledge and compassion and without stigma. Summaries of all presentations are in the link below.

Benefits Canada, February 2011: The Third annual Mental Health Summit in Vancouver, December 8, 2010 (5 pages, PDF)

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Vancouver rated the most Livable City in the World

The best and the worst living conditions:

Vancouver “scored 98 percent on a combination of stability, health care, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure -- a score unchanged from last year.” [Reuters, February 21, 2011]

Toronto placed fourth and Australia won five of the top ten rankings.

Dhaka, Bangladesh and Harare, Zimbabwe placed at the bottom of the rankings, 139th and 140th respectively.

Economist Intelligence Unit, February 2011: A Summary of the Liveability Ranking and Overview

Reuters, February 21, 2011: “Vancouver still world's most liveable city: survey”

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A Globally Competitive Clean Technology Industry: Establishing 20 by 2020

“The working title of this Report is Establishing 20 by 2020 (i.e., setting an explicit course to establish 20 Canadian clean technology companies that have achieved $100 million in annual revenue by 2020).”

“Written for policy makers, investors, procurers, and company managers, the Report first offers frameworks and analysis with which to understand a complex industry.  It then characterizes industry and sector growth rates as well as details of the commercialization investments required by highgrowth companies within the clean technology sector.” [from the report]

OECTA, 2010: The 2010 SDTC Cleantech Growth & Go-to-Market Report - Ontario Edition (192 pages, PDF)

Access national report and data here

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Trillions of dollars at Stake from Climate Change over Next 20 years

“The report Climate Change Scenarios – Implications for Strategic Asset Allocation analyses the potential financial impacts of climate change on investors’ portfolios, identified through a series of four climate change scenarios playing out to 2030. The report identifies a series of pragmatic steps for institutional investors to consider in their strategic asset allocation.” [Mercer]

Mercer LLC, Carbon Trust and International Finance Corporation, February 2011: Climate Change Report (132 pages, PDF)

Visit Mercer ‘s webpage Climate Change Scenarios – Implications for Strategic Asset Allocation

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Regulation Issues in Canada

This primer on regulation, by the CCPA's Trish Hennessy, tells the story of Canada's slippery slide into deregulation. It also provides resource information to learn more about regulation issues in Canada.

Canadian Centre for Public Policy, February 2011: Disaster in the Making: The Quiet Erosion of Canada’s Regulation System by Trish Hennessy (6 pages, PDF)

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Exploiting Saskatchewan’s Potash: Who Benefits?

“The debate over the future of the Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan Inc. has been limited to the issue of which private interests should control the potash industry in Saskatchewan. There has been little to no discussion of the most important issue: who should own and control the economic rent received from the extraction and use of Saskatchewan’s natural resources?”

Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, January 2011: Exploiting Saskatchewan’s Potash: Who Benefits? By John W. Warnock (37 pages, PDF)

Globe and Mail, February 16, 2011: “BHP says Potash bid was priced fairly,” by Brenda Bouw

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Inside the Labour Market Downturn and Apprenticeship Jobs are Tied to the Economy

“The number of individuals without a job remains significantly higher than at the beginning of the downturn. This article investigates how various categories of non-workers grew in the past two years. It also discusses alternative measures of unemployment that include some of these categories in the calculations. Several of the alternative measures also include part-time workers who would prefer to work full time.

Perspectives on Labour and Income, Statistics Canada, February 23, 2011: “Inside the Labour Market Downturn,” by Jason Gilmore and Sébastien LaRochelle-Côté (14 pages, PDF)

Globe and Mail, February 23, 2011: “Labour market regains zip, but scars linger,” by Tavia Grant

Apprenticeship Jobs are Tied to the Economy

Declines in employment between October 2008 and October 2009 were larger in occupations for which an apprenticeship program exists than in all other occupations combined. However, between October 2009 and October 2010, the recovery in employment was stronger in these apprenticeable occupations than in all other occupations.

Statistics Canada, February 24, 2011:  Apprenticeable occupations and the employment downturn in Canada (html)

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Retirement Income Inadequacy in the United States

According to a new report by EBRI between four and fourteen percent of Americans, who otherwise would have had adequate income to cover basic expenses in retirement, became “at risk” of running short because of the housing and financial crisis of 2008–2009, .

Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI), February 2011: A Post-Crisis Assessment of Retirement Income Adequacy for Baby Boomers and Gen Xers, by Jack VanDerhei  (28 pages, PDF)

The Los Angeles Times, February 24, 2011: “The pension haves vs. the have-nots”

Wall Street Journal, February 19, 2011: “Retiring Boomers Find 401(k) Plans Fall Short“

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Survey of Employee Attitudes to Health Information in the United States

The number of U.S. employees who turn to their employer and health plan for medical and health information has increased sharply over the past few years, according to a nationwide survey of employees conducted by the National Business Group on Health, a non-profit association of more than 300 large employers.

National Business Group on Health, February 1, 2011: More Workers Seeking Health Information from Employers, Health Plans, National Business Group on Health Survey Finds

National Business Group on Health, February 1, 2011: Employee Attitudes Toward Health Information and Comparative Effectiveness Research (16 pages, PDF)

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Book of the Week

The Diversity Code: Unlock the Secrets to Making Differences Work in the Real World, by Michelle T. Johnson. New York : American Management Association, 2011. ISBN 9780814416327 (pbk.)

The most diligent compliance with laws and regulations can't foster true work place diversity. The best organizations have become genuine cross-cultural communities that believe equally in reconciling differences and valuing them. To that end, The Diversity Code promotes understanding by answering many of the toughest questions that professionals and their employers are often afraid to ask, including: How do you define diversity - what it is and isn't? Am I "safe" simply following the law? Can't we just acknowledge that we are the same and different then get on with our work? How do I handle diversity problems on my staff or worse, with people who outrank me? What do I do if I'm accused of something? How do I institute change without ticking people off? Each chapter begins with a challenging question, which the author answers based on years of experience as a diversity expert and attorney, and concludes with a realworld scenario and a chance for readers to test themselves on their knowl edge.

Visit the Recent Books at the CIRHR Library blog.

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Editor: Vicki Skelton
Designer: Nick Strupat

Copyright © 2010 Centre for Industrial Relations and Human Resources, University of Toronto. All rights reserved.

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