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Economy at work

Economic Briefs

A new CCPA report, “At What Cost? Ontario hospital privatization and the threat to public health care”, has found that increasing privatization in Ontario’s health care system will likely increase surgery wait times and the cost to the public. The report used Freedom of Information requests, financial and statistical analysis, and international research to evaluate the costs and benefits of the Ontario provincial government’s plan to increase the use of private, for-profit surgical facilities.

Economy at work

Wages and Inflation

The average first year wage settlement increased for both public and private sector unions in the third quarter of 2023. Unions have been able to bargain an average 6.3% wage increase in the public sector, and a 7.2% wage increase in the private sector.

Economy at work

Affordability and Government Spending

In the current macro-economic environment, the Bank of Canada and others are encouraging the federal government to limit spending increases, suggesting that any increase in spending would be inflationary. But some types of spending help lower prices and ease overall inflation. A great example of this is $10/day childcare, especially if it’s delivered by the public or not-for-profit sector.

CUPE members rally at Ontario legislature as part of national child care day of action

CUPE child care workers were busy this week, offering deputations at Toronto City Hall on Tuesday and holding a rally outside of Queen’s Park on Thursday to mark the fifth annual day of action for child care.

An old photo of Grace Harman from an article from 1976 on the inflation crisis

Inflation: We've been here before

Whether it was 1975 or 2022, the federal government has always tried to push the cost of inflation onto workers, and CUPE was there to fight back. CUPE still argues that workers don’t cause inflation, so they shouldn’t be forced to bear the brunt of the cost. We’ve seen inflation before! Let’s go back to 1976.

Retirement security is key to solving housing crisis

The affordable housing crisis in Canada means that home ownership is out of reach for many workers. It is also becoming more difficult to find safe, clean, and comfortable rental housing. One surprising obstacle to housing affordability? Canada’s inadequate public pensions. Too many people must rely on the value of their home going up – worsening affordability for future generations – in order to retire.

Les cols bleus et cols blancs de la Municipalité de Saint-Félix-de-Valois

Blue- and white-collar workers in Saint-Félix-de-Valois demanding CPI protection

Blue-and white-collar workers in the Municipality of Saint-Félix-de-Valois in the Lanaudière region recently organized a mobilization picnic in the parking lot of the town hall to demand a premium matching the rate of the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

Grace Hartman with a cost-of-living calendar

Inflation: We’ve been here before

Whether it was 1975 or 2022, the federal government tried to push the cost of inflation onto workers, and CUPE was there to fight back. Then, like now, CUPE argued that workers don’t cause inflation, so they shouldn’t be asked to bear the brunt of the cost.

Economy at work

Record-high corporate profits behind inflation

There’s growing public debate about corporate profits – how much is too much? During the pandemic, large corporations made record gains while households and smaller businesses struggled. And as inflation surges, corporate profit-seeking is contributing to the upsurge in prices.

Economy at work

Austerity and inflation – what you need to know

As the Bank of Canada increases interest rates to bring inflation back down, it’s encouraging governments to ensure that that their spending doesn’t make inflation worse. Sometimes governments will use this as an excuse to keep wages low for workers, or to avoid making much needed investments in public services.