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The latest report on wage increases, or “unit labour costs” (ULCs) in OECD countries just might have a silver lining for poorer countries struggling under a corporate stranglehold on their economies and workforces.

The report, released Oct. 25, details the rise of ULCs in most major Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries. In Canada, for example, ULC’s rose 0.9 per cent in the second quarter of 2007.

So what does it mean? Well, it could suggest a growth in labour agitation in industrialized countries, and that could bode well for other countries outside the OECD. While we are striving to reduce the corporate grip, it could also have positive outcomes for the 3 billion people who now live on less than $2 a day.

At least, that is the possible trend suggested by the new ULC numbers. And couple the trend with all the other efforts to turn workers into serfs and you have what might be a recipe for worldwide resistance.