Temporary Foreign Workers put 270 Canadians out of work

[tay]

Workers displaced by TFWs are not getting their jobs back, despite claims from company






The 65 workers who were replaced by Temporary Foreign Workers (TFWs) last week have still lost their jobs, despite claims to the contrary.


In response to public outrage over Canadian workers being displaced by low-wage imports, Pacer-Promec Joint Ventures announced in a press release that they would “re-hire Canadians to impacted positions that had been filled with temporary foreign workers.” The workers in question have not been contacted about being rehired, nor has the union that represents them been contacted.




“The company misled reporters on Friday with a press release that vaguely indicated that displaced workers would be rehired,” Alberta Federation of Labour president Gil McGowan said. “To date, these workers have not received any job offer from Pacer, nor has the union that represents them. Most of them would like to return to the job site, but they haven’t yet been offered that opportunity. We’ll work hand-in-hand to ensure these workers are rehired and companies that displace Canadians are held to account.”




“It’s a perfect example of how this program is being used to drive down wages,” McGowan said. “And this situation is not unique. This is happening at work sites all over the country because this is how the Temporary Foreign Worker program is designed to operate.”


Outrage over the Temporary Foreign Worker program has forced the federal government to make public overtures of curtailing its abuses. At the same time, however, Minister Jason Kenney opened up what is called the Occupation Specific Pilot Project for Temporary Foreign Workers, which allows some employers to make an end-run around all checks and balances on the program.


“Pacer-Promec seems unrepentant. Their press release only expresses regret for the controversy, not for undermining Canadian workers,” McGowan said. “They even end the release by vowing to continue using Temporary Foreign Workers wherever they feel they need them, which in their world could just mean whenever Canadians aren’t willing to take a 50 per cent pay cut.”




Workers displaced by TFWs are not getting their jobs back, despite claims from company | Press Release | Alberta Federation of Labour

 

[Walter]

Oh, well.

 

[taxslave]

Oilsands workers re-hired after getting sacked for cheap Croatian labour | Canada | News | Toronto Sun

The problem with labour union press releases is they are often devoid of facts.

 

[petros]

They weren't rehired.

Do you work for Ledcor?

 

[JLM]

Oilsands workers re-hired after getting sacked for cheap Croatian labour | Canada | News | Toronto Sun

The problem with labour union press releases is they are often devoid of facts.

Yep, sometimes too much emotion and drama!

 

[petros]

organized labour has a voice, the individual doesn't.

 

[JLM]

organized labour has a voice, the individual doesn't.

The problem is who they attract, the parasites, drones and sh*t disturbers who really have no intention of ever doing an honest day's work.

 

[petros]

The problem is who they attract, the parasites, drones and sh*t disturbers who really have no intention of ever doing an honest day's work.

Those people get fired. Employers can fire anybody they want. Union or non.

 

[JLM]

Those people get fired. Employers can fire anybody they want. Union or non.

Want to bet?

 

[taxslave]

They weren't rehired.

Do you work for Ledcor?

Ledcor is non union.

Those people get fired. Employers can fire anybody they want. Union or non.

Not on a union job they don't. They can issue layoffs to people they want to get rid of but firing is tricky. Also it can be difficult to get replacements from the hall when you start firing too many people for no reason.

 

[JLM]

Ledcor is non union.



Not on a union job they don't. They can issue layoffs to people they want to get rid of but firing is tricky. Also it can be difficult to get replacements from the hall when you start firing too many people for no reason.

I think in all my years as a supervisor in the public sector, I got rid of one guy but only after a long process, unfortunately he was foisted on me from another department that wanted rid of him. There was at least 5 or 6 more that should have been gone but there was no way. Granted some of them were "well connected".

 

[petros]

Want to bet?

Yes I do.

Ledcor is non union.



Not on a union job they don't. They can issue layoffs to people they want to get rid of but firing is tricky. Also it can be difficult to get replacements from the hall when you start firing too many people for no reason.

So you do work for Ledcor?

They can fire whoever the f.ck they want.

 

[JLM]

Yes I do.

You'd probably be right half the time, but not in the public sector, too many of the "jobs" don't require quantity or quality!

 

[petros]

It's the same in the public sector.

 

[JLM]

It's the same in the public sector.

I was talking about the public sector having too many bureaucratic positions, where neither quality nor quantity is a factor.

 

[petros]

I was talking about the public sector having too many bureaucratic positions, where neither quality nor quantity is a factor.

Not having either get you canned too.

 

[tay]

Prepping TFWs for the Northern Gateway Pipeline






The Canadian Welding Bureau (CWB) partners with a Cebuano company to open up the first training academy for welders here.


The Canadian consulate office in Cebu, headed by Robert Lee announced that CWB has signed a partnership agreement with Primary Structure Educational Foundation Inc., to open up a certification welding crash-course that is set to be opened sometime in April or May this year.


Lee said this will give greater opportunity for employment for Cebuanos, and Filipinos in general to find good-paying jobs in Canada in the welding industry.


The academy will be located at the old Sacred Heart School (for Boys). The CWB is coordinating with its non-profit division, the Canadian Welding Association (CWA) to formulate the curriculum for the training center in Cebu.


This will provide a certification for Filipino welders to work in Canada, Lee said adding that this program was introduced amid the increasing demand for welders in northern America, specifically in Canada.


Like in other countries, welding jobs is no longer limited to men, but most employers now also prefer women welders, he said.


Prevailing per hour rate for welders in Canada is at US$50 (Canadian dollar) per hour.




more




Welding training academy to open in Cebu | Cebu Business, The Freeman Sections, The Freeman | philstar.com






So how is Jason Kenney's new LabourMin Missing in Action program going to work?

Ok, bear with me here.

In April this year, the Canadian Welding Bureau or CWB, the Canadian welding certification and registration org, put out an unusual presser/disclaimer :

CWB defines position on temporary foreign workers

"There have recently been publicized reports that the Canadian Welding Bureau (CWB) is recruiting Filipino welders to fill welding jobs here in Canada, and in particular, to fill vacancies in the BC shipbuilding industry. These statements are incorrect. For the record, the CWB is not in the business of recruiting welders, either from the Philippines or elsewhere, or involved in any job placement schemes, contracts or agreements to enter Canada."The presser goes on to explain that while the CWB has operations in the Philippines and 35 other countries, its mandate is to ensure the safety of Canadians and yada yada yada.

The CWB was responding to news stories in the Philippine press that the CWB was indeed doing exactly what its disclaimer denies :




:

More jobs for Pinoy welders in Canada and Canada wants more Pinoy skilled workers

"British Columbia is on the hunt for Filipino welders and pipe-fitters as it anticipates a shortage of such skilled workers to build 10 new non-combat ships for the Canadian Coast Guard.Anticipating a possible shortage of qualified tradesmen, the Canadian Welding Bureau has accredited test centers in the Philippines to screen well-trained welders, reports ABS-CBN news.


“The welders that we are training in Canada right now are not sufficient to fill that vacuum that’s why the Canadian government is looking of hiring temporary workers from outside, and right now, the Philippines is a very favorable place to hire the welders,” said Bob Montes, certification services representative of the Canadian Welding Bureau. Montes added that welders will also be in big demand when construction for the pipeline from Alberta to British Columbia begins."


And Bingo! - TFW welders for the Northern Gateway pipeline -- you know, to fill all those jobs Steve keeps promising us the pipeline will provide for Canadians - hence the new 10-working-day accelerated approval process for skilled workers..




"A total of 120 students made it to the cut-off for the first batch of the Canadian Welding Bureau welding class ... with no less than the Canadian Consul to the Philippines Consul Robert Lee gracing the opening ceremony. "I want to make it my legacy sending world class Filipino welders to Canada before my retirement few years from now. We are proud to be part of this program being the first CWB welding school outside of Canada and the first in the whole world. With this CWB partnership with SKILLS, our people here in the Philippines will experience a world class training inside a welding facility designed using Canadian welding standards.”The CWB training runs for eight (8) months holding classes five (5) hours daily from Monday to Friday. It is handled by Prof. Stuart Ring, a former teacher and a retired Canadian Pipe Fitter, duly certified by the Canadian Welding Bureau."


So is there any actual "ongoing shortage" of welders?Let's go to Service Canada, bearing in mind the Alberta Federation of Labour says the feds rely on self-reporting industry surveys for their labour shortage stats ...

Service Canada - Welders and Related Machine Operators - March 2013"The labour pool may vary considerably depending on the requirements for the position. That explains why this occupation has high unemployment but also a labour shortage.

In the positions that require a lower level of skill, such as unskilled positions as welders or related machine operators, the labour pool consists of experienced metallurgical workers who have received in-house training. This group includes welder/fitter helpers (see 9612, labourers in metal fabrication) and the many experienced unemployed welders and welder helpers. Incidentally, this is the labour pool with the highest unemployment."




Ok then.


Creekside: Prepping TFWs for the Northern Gateway Pipeline

 

[petros]

What a load of crap.

 

[Tecumsehsbones]

Bring in the TFWs! Drive down Canadian wages! Bloody peasants are too cocky as is.

 

[taxslave]

That would make them qualified tradespeople which is what the TFW program is for. And yes IF the now three years late shipbuilding program should happen to perhaps maybe some day get underway while the gas lines and NG are being built there will not be enough qualified people in Canada to do all these projects at once. Of course if young Canadians could find the door leading out of the parental basement in Toronto they too could become certified welders and make $100 000 + a year.

Forgot to add.. There are a number of Filipino workers where I am and they all have something young Canadians and a good number of older union employees lack. That is a good work ethic.