Canadians strike more than any other country: study
For Canadians, this recession (and post-recession) has brought on a bizarre labour conundrum.
We need to work – badly, we need to work – though it seems we’re still not ready to break our wills when we perceive management is taking advantage of the workforce.
So, what’s a Canadian worker to do? Well, at a time when jobs surely don’t hurt, we strike. We strike more than the whole freaking world.
Yes, according to recent figures from the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development, Canadians lost more work days to strike last year than any other country on earth.
By the OECD’s numbers, the average Canadian employee wasn’t working 2.2 days in 2009 because of job walk-offs, much higher than the second place finisher, South Africa, at 1.5 days lost, and France, whose workers missed 1.4 days on average last year.
Spain and Britain, whose 10,000 subway employees were recently mired in a ugly strike in response to management’s decision to cut 800 jobs, rounded out the top 5.
Now, these figures – depending on which way you look at them – are either harrowing or encouraging.
Chances are, you didn’t strike last year (I know I didn’t) so this high figure is likely to blame on a few high-profile, large-scale disputes – like the year-long Vale strike of 3,100 steelworkers in Sudbury.
So if that’s the case, then, perhaps these figures speak to the Canadian labour force as a bigger picture.
There are two camps here, as I see it:
1) Canadians, some of the most noble in the world, see now as no better time to stand up to management. After all, executive salaries have never been higher, and in order for them to continue to skyrocket, Jack and Jill Worker are being forced out of jobs. This isn’t right, and we can’t stand for it, even in this economic climate.
OR
2) Man, are we babies? Unions are tearing this country’s job prospects apart. Working conditions in Canada are already better than anywhere else in the world, but our constant bickering is only going to lead to more businesses outsourcing to India, China or wherever, where labour is cheap and comes without headaches. We should be lucky just to have jobs at a time like this.
Two gross, broad stereotypes, sure, but it seems most arguments regarding labour disputes fall into one of those two categories.
Which way do you see it?
By Jason Buckland, MSN Money
Posted by: mischief | Sep 14, 2021 9:44:29 AM
The article proves figures dont lie but liars figure! Its not Canadians who strike more, its Canadian civil servants who strike more-a huge distinction between the ordinary brow-beaten worker and that selfish and privileged elite that gets a government paycheque!!!!!
Posted by: CC65 | Sep 14, 2021 12:00:48 PM
In a strike situation now. Company posted profit of 1.4 BILLION dollars in a quarter. Senior managers get over $1 million a year with bonuses, highest paid non management workers get less than 10% of that. Workers in my site are paid 10-20% less than the same positions at other sites in addition to lesser benefits and less break time. Management refuses to negotiate. A mediator was called in. Management refuses to negotiate, mediator says waste of time if managers just sit there with arms folded saying "No." So, we're going on 2 months on strike. First scenario is the most accurate in this situation.
Posted by: Phil | Sep 14, 2021 1:32:20 PM
@mischief
So, my choice is being an 'ordinary brow beaten worker' or a 'selfish and privileged elite'?
I know I would choose the latter, yet somehow I get the feeling you idealize the former.
So it's a bad thing to stand up for your rights, and a good thing to stay quiet and be brow beaten.
You know what you call someone who puts up with every bit of bad behaviour thrown at them?
Loser.
While unions may sometimes call for strike action when it seems there is no reason, if there were no unions, we would all be working in dangerous conditions, for very low wages, and with no benefits.
Posted by: from the guy that was union then went straight | Sep 14, 2021 1:51:40 PM
just a bunch of cry babies those that wrok union just cannt stand on their own two feet and would necer succeed in this world under their own merits
i love nonunion because the true winners come to the top and are never held back
union workers are the most f u c k ing lazy bunch of cry babies i have ever worked with
if unions had it their way noone would work and just checks would be issued
ask anyone thst has wanted to succeed if haveing a union job was the way to go
i was able to climb the ladder faster then my counteparts because i could apply myself and not be held back because some s h i t head complained because he didnt get the job he thoughts should have been for his losing a s s
go to hell union man and get a real life and future you have to work for
Posted by: lademi1216 | Sep 14, 2021 7:53:23 PM
To union man gone straight: Your spelling teacher must have been unionized.
Posted by: BG O'Hara | Sep 15, 2021 11:16:01 AM
There was a time when organizing employees was needed, particularly in manufacturing. The pendalum has swung too far! Now workers in Canada all over think they simply deserve it. They think, "Oh why should that manager / CEO / someone higher than me make more than me?" - forgetting the fact that their superiors went to school, got an MBA, worked hard to move up in the ranks. Merit? What's that? And the most unfortunate thing is we Joe-taxpayer are now forced to pay for their ignorant greed. It's not the CEO they're atttacking it's their own neighbors, not realizing that the gov't is not some money tree, it's you & me. The other thing they don't realize is when the work is not there, it's simply not there. eg. steel trade down, car sales down. Let's not forget these unions seeking bailouts from, yup you & me Joe-taxpayer. Enough already!! I for one am sick & tired of working half the year for nothing simply to pad some bloated unions pockets!
Posted by: mentioned | Sep 15, 2021 7:31:20 PM
bunch of crybabies!! didn't any of you people notice the unions got crushed by the credit crisis/global economic crisis?
i mean, really! does no one pay attention to the news? lost jobs? lost pensions? lost wages? these are the earmarks of the unions' decline.
stop acting like unions are a threat. they are not, which makes the stereotypes on both sides of the union issue completely irrelevant.
Posted by: union guy | Sep 16, 2021 2:20:29 PM
one day, and it will be a sad day if things keep going the way they are, our childrens children will say " remember those organizations they once had, the ones that were formed by workers for workers, unions i think they were called, we should bring them back" check and balances my friends checks and balances.
Posted by: don | Sep 20, 2021 4:46:38 PM
and i am sick and tired of paying bloated taxes to pay for a CEO's obscene wages . Big O'Hara...whats your point. All of these parties are in some part to blame for the downfall of
these companies. The only real difference seems to be the CEO is very well paid to ensure this doesnt happen. The woorker is at least honest about what they are providing for the money they make. If CEO's dont have responsiilbity then all CEO wages should be cut by 50%
Posted by: Just My thoughts | Mar 29, 2021 1:12:25 PM
Will everyone here makes good points but I'm just another beat down Canadian worker but what I've noticed is shame on us. We are lazy lazy people and very privileged to be Canadian's so what the Goverment does is bring in tons and tons of Immigrants to do the jobs screwing us in the long run. Because we figure we work sooo hard we deserve the benifits I watch my fellow workers jump on EI the minute summer begins and they say where's my raise. My spouse has been on salary at the same job for 32 years and not a union man do to the company selling and just rehiring him as a upper managment. But the crappy part is the union boys that have only started or been there for a couple years can say hey im taking your holiday cause with no notice saying I'm union and your not making him have to scramble to find a fill in and its usually him because there's not enough workers, we havent had any long weekends that co inside in years and thats just one of the problems, do to this but as he says at least I have a job which frustrates me. Even the boss has had to cancel time because of being short handed to is that fair and he's the boss. And then the employees b#^$$ because they have to work and they misdays so they can get double time later to catch up on work thats need to be caught up on. The unions should really start reannalizing what is fair to all works in Canada and The Goverment stop the flood of Immagrants so Canadian's can learn to work an honest days wages. Just my thoughts