SAMPLE ISSUE
For the Week of September 15, 2008
Special Edition – Issue
No. 222
Each week we will forward to you a
special edition of the Perry
Work Report prepared for Lancaster House by the University of
Toronto Centre for Industrial Relations and Human Resources. This issue of the Perry Work Report,
featuring highlights of the week's IR news, is included free of charge with
your subscription to Lancaster's Collective
Bargaining Service.
While this publication is protected by Canadian copyright laws and may not be reproduced without permission, this sample may be forwarded to friends and colleagues provided it is done so in its entirety and without alteration.
Labour Relations in the Ontario Public Service
The Ministry of Government Services recently concluded a consultation among Ontario Public Sector bargaining agents in which a "leading option" emerged that would have seen 75% of the members of the Association of Management, Administrative and Professional Crown Employees of Ontario (AMAPCEO) become part of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU). AMAPCEO remains intact after considerable internal friction, including a rally of 1,000 AMAPCEO members and now have an agreement with the employer. OPSEU has filed an unfair labour practice charge, demanding that the Ontario Labour Relations Board declare the agreement invalid and pay $5 million in damages to the union.
Agreement Signed with Employer Resolving Bargaining Unit Crisis, September 11, 2008
Ontario government violated labour laws; OPSEU seeks $5 million in damages, September 15, 2008
College Support Workers Memorandum of Settlement
Support workers are scheduled to vote on a tentative deal on October 2, 2008. Complete details of the deal are outlined in the Memorandum of Settlement. If ratified, the three-year deal will provide support staff at the 24 colleges with a wage increase of nearly four percent in the first year, and three percent in each of the next two. The agreement also includes groundbreaking language on bullying and harassment.
Memorandum of Settlement, August 31, 2008 (24 pages, PDF)
Declaring Public Services "Essential" Leads to Higher Wage Costs
Designating public services as essential may be aimed at protecting public safety by guaranteeing service availability, but it can be costly to the public purse, according to a report released by the C. D. Howe Institute. Evidence from across Canada shows that declaring a public service to be essential drives up negotiated wage increases by 13 percent, drives up hourly wages by up to 0.8 percent and does not necessarily reduce strikes or other job actions. The report titled No Free Ride: The Cost of Essential Services Designation is based upon the author’s examination of 6,721 public sector contract settlements involving at least 500 employees over the last 30 years.
Report, September 11, 2008, (6 pages, PDF)
Unpaid Overtime
Toronto Life magazine takes a look at employee class action suits in the article, Breaking the Bank: Dara Fresco, who earns in a year what CIBC's president makes in a day, launched a class-action suit against the bank for unpaid overtime. Is this the start of a 21st-century labour rebellion? By Susan Bourette.
Article, Toronto Life, July 2008
Ivey Business Journal
The July/August issue focuses on the very popular topic of leadership but also includes articles on negotiating in difficult environments and HR strategies for downsizing and layoffs.
IBJ Online, July/August 2008 issue
Employee Benefits – New Study Reveals What's Hot and Not in Workforce Perks
As companies scramble to attract and retain skilled workers in a market characterized by an aging workforce and increasing labour shortages, they are becoming very creative in designing new employee perks in order to compete. What are the most popular benefits? A new study, released September 5th, conducted by the Canadian Payroll Association ranks all 39 categories of taxable employee benefits in terms of the percentage of organizations offering them.
News release with rankings of benefits (scroll down)
2007 General Social Survey Report, The retirement plans and expectations of older workers
After many years of public discussion about Canada's aging population, the leading edge of the baby boom generation is now on the cusp of retirement. Focusing on Canadians aged 45 to 59, this article, published in the September issue of Statistics Canada's Canadian Social Trends, examines the age at which individuals intend to retire, the certainty of their plans, and their expectations regarding their retirement income. Evidence from the 2007 General Social Survey is used to show how retirement plans and expectations are related to demographic, employment and financial characteristics.
Article, September 9, 2008 (25 pages, PDF)
Summary, The Daily, September 9, 2008
2007 General Social Survey Report,
The retirement puzzle: Sorting the pieces
Do Canadians have the information they need to plan for retirement? Drawing on data from the 2007 General Social Survey, this article examines the 'informational resources' of Canadians aged 45 to 59. While most individuals receive financial advice, understand the basic structure of their pension, and say they understand Canada's public retirement income programs, significant proportions do not. The characteristics associated with differences in this regard are examined.
Article, September 9, 2008 (14 pages, PDF)
Pathways for Youth to the Labour Market: A Synthesis Report
This report, released by the Canadian Policy Research Networks, summarizes the findings of eight CPRN studies carried out over the past two years on the school-to-work transition and identifies the policy implications of this research. The report notes the traditional straight-line path from school to work has given way to a non-linear path that sees young people "zigzag" between schooling and work as they seek to find their way. Students are taking longer to complete their education and become established in the workforce. A key finding is that career development programs and services can reduce dropout rates, increase aspirations and achievement, help people find jobs that match their talents and interests and help employers meet skill needs.
Report, September 2, 2008 (43 pages, PDF)
Manpower Employment Outlook Survey Reveals Employers Expect a Positive Hiring Climate for the Fourth Quarter of 2008
Canadian employers expect a positive hiring climate for the October to December period of 2008 according to the latest results of the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey. The survey of more than 1,700 Canadian employers reveals that 20 percent expect to increase their payrolls in the next three months while seven percent of employers anticipate cutbacks, for a Net Employment Outlook of 13 percent. Of those polled, 70 percent expect no change and three percent are unsure of their staffing intentions for the upcoming quarter.
Survey, September 9, 2008 (24 pages, PDF)
Measuring Labour Markets in Canada and the United States: 2008 Report
The Fraser Institute has released the fourth installment in their ongoing research to assess the performance of labour markets and explain why results differ among jurisdictions. The study provides a series of specific evaluations as well as a comprehensive measure of labour market performance. Indicators of labour performance such as job creation, unemployment, and productivity are used to assess Canadian provincial and U.S. state labour market performance. This study also examines those characteristics and regulations of the labour market that have been shown to affect its performance.
Report, August 28, 2008 (70 pages, PDF)
News Releases: Quebec's labour market the second worst in Canada and ranks 50th out of 60 in North America, August 28, 2008
News Releases: Alberta boasts best performing labour market in North America; Western provinces dominate within Canada, August 28, 2008
The National Apprenticeship Survey
The National Apprenticeship Survey 2007 looks at factors affecting the completion, certification and transition of apprentices to the labour market. The 2007 survey was a collaborative effort on the part of Human Resources and Social Development Canada, apprenticeship authorities in each of the provinces and territories, and Statistics Canada. The work was carried out under the guidance of the Canadian Council of Directors of Apprenticeship. It is hoped that the findings will contribute to the ongoing dialogue by governments, industry and unions to ensure that the apprenticeship systems in Canada continue to respond to the demands of the 21st Century.
Summary, The Daily, September 16, 2008
National Apprenticeship Survey: Canada Overview Report 2007, September 16, 2008 (88 pages, PDF)
National Apprenticeship Survey: Quebec Overview Report 2007, September 16, 2008 (88 pages, PDF)
National Apprenticeship Survey: Ontario Overview Report 2007, September 16, 2008 (89 pages, PDF)
National Apprenticeship Survey: Manitoba Overview Report 2007, September 16, 2008 (89 pages, PDF)
National Apprenticeship Survey: Alberta Overview Report 2007, September 16, 2008 (89 pages, PDF)
Trends Shaping Education 2008
This new biennial publication presents the latest available information on 26 major current trends in education, grouped in 9 broad themes – ageing, global challenges, the new economic landscape, work and jobs, the learning society, ICT, citizenship and the state, social connections and values, and sustainable affluence.
Trends Shaping Education - 2008 Edition OECD Publishing – read only version (91 pages, PDF), September 2, 2008
Trends Shaping Education - 2008 Edition OECD Publishing – available for purchase
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The Perry Work Report
is named in honour of Elizabeth Perry, founder and editor since 2002, who
retired in December 2006.
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