Union Bug Blog
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Oct 26, 2007 -
Outsourcing Not The Answer
About two years ago, the Government of Manitoba began looking at ways of centralizing some of its payroll, invoicing and employment record-keeping services. The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA) was facing a multi-million dollar cost to upgrade computers and software and to centralize these functions into one main office. Presently, accounting services are done by each hospital and personal-care home.
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Oct 22, 2007 -
Net Neutrality an Issue of Equality
Recently, the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) called on the Canadian government to take action to expand broadband internet access and to ensure something called “network neutrality.”
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Oct 17, 2007 -
Maclean’s Overlooks Unions on Top 100 Employers List
Once again, the Manitoba Liquor Control Commission (MLCC) has been selected by Maclean’s magazine as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers for 2008. This is in addition to being selected as one of Manitoba’s Top 15 employers for the same year.
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Oct 12, 2007 -
Use Common Sense in Cyberspace
With the growing popularity in social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace over the last few years, it was only a matter of time before employers became concerned about employee usage of company time for recreational use. Some have decided to block employee access to such sites, while others think this is too draconian a step and argue instead for clearly-defined office policy on computer and internet usage.
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Oct 05, 2007 -
Harper's Tax Cut Folly
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has recently indicated that his government’s new agenda will include substantial tax cuts for Canadians, and that the federal Conservatives will signal their intention to reduce taxes when Parliament reconvenes on October 16.
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Oct 01, 2007 -
Get Tough on Causes of Crime
Much has been made in the media over the last several months concerning the apparent rise in not only automobile theft but also of other incidents of violent crime. Many have argued – rightly so – that legislation such as the Youth Criminal Justice Act needs to be amended to included stiffer penalties for these types of crimes.
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Sep 25, 2007 -
Boomers Won't Break Medicare
It is a commonly held belief that an aging Canadian population and a concurrent surge in the number of Baby Boomers entering old age will render the medicare system unsustainable.
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Sep 19, 2007 -
Pension Switch Puts Workers' Futures at Risk
MTS Allstream has recently proposed changes to the pension plans of hundreds of employees that are part of the Telecommunications Employees Association of Manitoba (TEAM), IPPTE Local 161. Union officials are suggesting that the proposed changes to the pension plan will be detrimental to workers, and it looks as if this issue is about to become a major point of contention in current contract negotiations.
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Sep 13, 2007 -
A Small Price To Pay
At the beginning of September, Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) introduced a mandatory program that requires owners of vehicles deemed to be at a high risk of being stolen to have immobilizers installed. Owners of vehicles in this category that do not have immobilizers by the beginning of this month will be denied auto insurance.
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Sep 10, 2007 -
Much Work Remains in Wake of Supreme Court Ruling