Union Bug Blog
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Apr 06, 2009 -
Who paid for “Duff’s Ditch?”
Every time a flood rears its ugly head in Southern Manitoba, Winnipeggers are reminded, and thankful for the “Ditch that Duff built”. After all, the Red River Floodway – in use since 1969 to divert flood waters around the city’s eastern side – has protected thousands of homes and saved an estimated $10 billion in flood damages.
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Mar 30, 2009 -
$60 Million EI Top-up Not Enough
The Harper government announced last week that it will put an extra $60 million into the federal Employment Insurance (EI) system but the move did little to appease a rising chorus of criticism about the way the program is operating.
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Mar 20, 2009 -
Taking Aim at AIG
Recently-elected US President Barack Obama has more political drama to deal with now that it has been revealed that $165 million in bonuses have been paid to executives of AIG, the insurance company bailed out by the US Government to the tune of $170 billion last year. And these bonuses are in addition to the $55 million that were paid out this past December.
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Mar 13, 2009 -
Is a Voluntary Reduced Workweek the Answer?
Employers across the country, including several in Manitoba, have tried to find ways to deal with the economic crisis without resorting to layoffs. The belt tightening has meant cuts to ad budgets and caps on raises/bonuses. Others have dealt with the downturn by eliminating shifts and/or introducing a reduced workweek.
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Mar 05, 2009 -
International Women's Day
The United Nations adopted a resolution in 1977 calling upon its member states to proclaim a day for women’s rights and international peace known as International Women’s Day (IWD). This day symbolizes how far women around the world have come in their struggle for equality and recognizes the many challenges that remain. The United Nations theme for this year is "Women and Men: United to End Violence against Women."
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Feb 24, 2009 -
The Conscientious Consumer
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Feb 19, 2009 -
Young Workers Poorer Than Their Parents
A series currently running in Maclean’s magazine is looking at “The New Middle Class Reality” and painting a rather bleak picture of the economic and job prospects of middle-class Canadians facing the recession.
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Feb 12, 2009 -
Manitobans Lacking on Environmental Front
Statistics Canada has just released the results of its 2007 Households and the Environment Study, and what it shows about Manitobans with regard to environmental matters is not encouraging.
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Feb 04, 2009 -
IT Outsourcing Not The Answer
One of the key political dynamics of our time is the pressure on governments to provide more public services with fewer resources. With an aging population, deteriorating urban infrastructure, expanding immigration and globalization of commerce, governments of every level are faced with greater demand for public services. At the same time, taxation seems to be a limited resource and a politically unpalatable means of meeting these needs.
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Jan 28, 2009 -
Stimulus Too Timid; Tax Cuts Ineffective
The Harper government has let Canadians down again with a stimulus package that is short on the bold investments needed to boost the economy, create jobs and protect vulnerable families, says the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE).