Precarity in the union workplace harmful (Winnipeg Free Press)

[inanna]

06/16/2016 4:00 AM

...

Canadian unions have a long history of improving workplace conditions, and today, most unionized workers are found in the public sector. They have a played a huge role in ensuring fairness and representation in the public service and are crucial defenders against harmful workplace practices. Throughout our country’s history, unions have challenged worsening work conditions through collective bargaining, court challenges, legislative changes and public-awareness campaigns.

However, over the past 30 years, austerity-related policies and legislation that promote individual responsibility over collective well-being have created a new and more hostile labour environment in the public sector. Of the many issues, precarious work in the public sector is especially problematic.

Precarious work, with its low wages, lack of benefits, unpredictable scheduling and hours and insecurity is creeping into the public service. Recently, we released a study that shows how precarious public-sector work has harmful consequences for public-service workers and users, and that racialized, aboriginal, LGBTTQ* women and women with disabilities often lose out the most. For workers, general working conditions and rights decline, while negative impacts on health, family and community intensify. And, for users, the access, quality, accountability and safety of services often get worse.

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Responding to this shift requires new tactics. We need to find creative strategies to stop precarious work from becoming an accepted category of employment. So how do we stop the tide of precarious work? Our research shows two things.

cont'd...

Link: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/precarity-in-the-union-workplace-harmful-383219881.html

I was recently contacted by a potential employer of a unionized work place. The HR rep wanted to schedule me for an interview. I was incredibly excited and inquired how many hours per week were on offer. The rep said, "We can only guarantee 16 hrs./wk." She made it clear that having another job (to top up hours) would be "problematic."

My heart sank and I couldn't risk taking the position, even though the hourly rate is high.

I looked at the job board tonight - the job is still available and there's several postings for the same position. In fact, they seem nearly desperate to fill it.

Employers, get a clue! People cannot survive on sixteen hours a week!

[IntravenousDemilo]

1. I'm surprised that a major Canadian newspaper...

… would make up a word like "precarity" instead of using "precariousness", which does exist.