Economic Climate for Bargaining

Economic Climate for Bargaining - March 2012

Mar 15, 2012 02:28 PM Austerity budgets introduced by federal and provincial governments this spring could lead to more than 300,000 job losses. It's not just public sector workers who will be hurt, but all Canadians as a result of real cuts to public services, slowing of the economy and lower wage increases.

Economic Climate for Bargaining - December 2011

Dec 22, 2011 10:23 AM With Canadian governments making cuts to public services and laying off workers to finance corporate tax cuts, inequality is going to get worse unless our politicians are forced to change direction.

Economic Climate for Bargaining - September 2011

Sep 22, 2011 03:23 PM Canada’s economy stalled in recent months, with a decline in GDP and no job growth over the summer. If there’s another decline in the 3rd quarter we’ll be in a double-dip recession. Rising fuel and food prices and sales tax hikes have pushed inflation and sapped real wage growth. With slow wage growth, household debt ratios are now at record levels, making our economic situation more precarious. In their upcoming budgets, federal and provincial governments need to not only increase public investment in the economy and create jobs, but also support measures to increase real wages.

Economic Climate for Bargaining - June 2011

Jun 30, 2011 02:16 PM Canada is in for a bumpy road to economic recovery if governments continue with the same economic policies. Public sector austerity measures, layoffs and wage suppression will slow economic growth. Meanwhile corporations are accumulating $50 billion a year in surplus cash that they aren’t investing into the economy. The June 2011 issue of CUPE’s Economic Climate for Bargaining also busts the myth that public sector worker benefit from a pay premium: there’s just a smaller pay gap for underpaid workers such as women.

Economic Climate for Bargaining - March 2011

Mar 30, 2011 10:18 AM Public sector workers are increasingly under assault, taking the blame for deficits created by the financial crisis and recession. The recent attack on bargaining rights started in the U.S. but is spreading into Canada as well. The March 2011 issue of CUPE’s Economic Climate for Bargaining summarizes this and describes how people are mobilizing to defend their rights and public services.

Economic Climate for Bargaining - December 2010

Dec 20, 2010 08:42 AM It’s not only pre-Christmas season; it’s also pre-budget season. Already finance ministers are sharpening their knives to cut public spending and services. The December 2010 issue of CUPE’s Economic Climate for Bargaining outlines why austerity measures will make the economy worse, not better. Public spending plays an essential role in generating stronger and more stable economic growth. To tackle deficits, governments should focus instead on increasing revenues through economic growth and fairer taxes: just a few of these could net the federal government over $20 billion a year. The report also summarizes recent developments for the economy, jobs market, inflation, and wage settlements.

Economic Climate for Bargaining - September 2010

Sep 28, 2010 04:02 PM

Canada’s economy started the year with a bang of strong growth, but it is already beginning to fizzle. It is now clear that the alarmism about public sector debts and deficits was overblown and the push for austerity misguided.

In addition to summaries of economic, inflation and wage trends, the September 2010 issue of CUPE’s Economic Climate for Bargaining includes a section illustrating how deficit, debt and demographic fears have been exaggerated; “Opportunities Lost”, an assessment of Canada’s employment changes through recession and recovery; and a synopsis of public sector compensation measures across Canada.

Economic Climate for Bargaining - June 2010

Jun 17, 2010 12:36 PM

The Canadian economy is growing faster than expected coming out of the recession, which also translates into improved public finances. But the recovery remains uneven with the public sector and households pulling the economy forward. If these are scaled back, further economic growth would be threatened.

The June 2010 issue of CUPE’s Economic Climate for Bargaining also includes sections on: “The New Grecian formula: still toxic” outlining how Europe’s public debt concerns are being overblown; calculations of how Ontario’s HST tax reform will affect households of different income groups, and summaries of recent wage, inflation and economic trends.

Economic Climate for Bargaining - March 2010

Mar 30, 2010 04:16 PM

Wasn’t that a Party? Now who’s going to pay for it? Those who benefited the most from the economic boom are now trying force the public to pay for the economic bust by cutting public spending. And public sector workers are on the front line facing wage freezes, job losses and cuts to services. This approach is not only unfair, but it will lead to yet another boom bust cycle in the future. It makes much more sense to close damaging tax loopholes and not proceed with corporate tax cuts.

The March 2010 issue of CUPE’s Economic Climate for Bargaining also includes sections on: the shrinking role of the public sector in the Canadian economy, how current deficits are not a problem, the essential role of job creation for economic growth and summaries of inflation, wage and economic trends.

Economic Climate for Bargaining - December 2009

Dec 21, 2009 11:42 AM The December 2009 issue of the Economic Climate for Bargaining argues that we need major structural changes to our economy to move forward, while showing that Canada is in by far the best fiscal situation of all G7 countries and deficits and debts shouldn’t be used as an excuse to cut public services. It also includes a summary of recent forecasts of major economic indicators for Canada and the provinces and an analysis of recent employment, inflation and wage trends.