Jobs report not so rosy: Unifor / Education support workers strike in Saskatchewan
Jobs report not so rosy: Unifor
OTTAWA — Despite a positive jobs report from Statistics Canada, the employment landscape might not be as rosy as it appears, according to Unifor.
In April, the union released its findings following its Good Jobs Summit, which was held last fall to spark dialogue about the future of work in Canada’s economy.
In it, Unifor noted slow growth coupled with a sluggish economy demonstrate the need to stimulate job creation.
"Employment over the last year has only increased by less than one per cent — this is nothing to get excited about," said Jerry Dias, Unifor’s president. "If anything, we should be questioning why our economy is only churning out new jobs in spits and spats. There is no continual improvement — only hopes raised and hopes crushed with each new month."
Unifor’s report comes on the heels of Statistics Canada’s labour force survey, which was released on April 10 and indicated the unemployment rate held steady at 6.8 per cent in March.
The economy also unexpectedly added 28,700 jobs last month, driven by a surge in part-time positions and gains in the retail and wholesale trade sector. The oil and gas industry rebounded slightly, by adding 6,300 positions, and after losing 26,000 jobs earlier this year.
Taken out of context, the news may not be all good, Dias added.
According to Unifor’s top economist Jim Stanford, the Canadian economy added 138,000 positions (an increase of 0.78 per cent) in the last year — but because the working age population more than doubled, new jobs are not keeping up with population growth.
As well, full-time employment fell by 28,000 jobs and for workers between 15 and 24 years old, full-time employment has declined by 15,000 positions over the past year.
In the last year, 100,000 paid positions were created, amounting to an increase of 0.7 per cent, with more than two-thirds of that growth happening in the public sector. Private sector firms grew by 0.2 per cent overall in the past year, or 32,000 jobs.
Education support workers strike in Saskatchewan
SASKATOON — As many as 250 education support workers represented by SEIU (Service Employees International Union)-West in Saskatchewan are on strike.
The union represents a range of occupations including education assistants, library technicians, custodians, kitchen and cafeteria staff, bus drivers, maintenance employees and journeypersons in more than a dozen rural communities.
"We know that the students and their parents appreciate and benefit from the diverse roles of those who work in education support," said SEIU-West president Barbara Cape.
"However, it does not appear that the board acknowledges these significant day-to-day interactions and their worth in a creating positive learning environment. Why else would they insist upon an offer that is not in keeping with provincial cost of living?"
According to the union, the employer’s offer was an increase of two per cent.
The union further reported its attempts to return to the bargaining table were rejected after the recent conciliation process between the parties failed to achieve an agreement.
Members gathered to picket at the office of the South East Cornerstone School Division in Weyburn, Sask., on April 23.
