Retiree Matters

Liberals' pension reforms fall woefully short for Canadian workers

rabble staff — Fri, 17 Feb 2017 14:45:24 +0000

Friday, February 17, 2017

While changes to the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) recently adopted by the current federal Liberal government offer some improvement, they do not go far enough.

The legislation includes an increase to the annual payout from 25 per cent to 33 per cent of pre-retirement earnings. In addition, the maximum amount of income covered by the CPP increases from $54,900 to about $82,700 -- once it is fully phased in. However, because the changes do not fully come into effect until 2025, most workers will not have saved enough or contributed a sufficient amount to the CPP and therefore many will be retiring in poverty.

For a government that claims its legislation is fact-based, it has clearly misread the facts.

The facts are:

While changes to the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) recently adopted by the current federal Liberal government offer some improvement, they do not go far enough.

We must unite to end gender-based violence

rabble staff — Mon, 07 Mar 2016 13:43:45 +0000

Monday, March 7, 2016

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November 25 is the date chosen by the United Nations to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

Last year, one in five women was a victim of physical or sexual violence, and almost one in two women experienced psychological violence. Why are we still grappling with this scourge in 2016?

The incredible, irrepressible and witty Nellie McClung

rabble staff — Tue, 16 Feb 2016 13:56:08 +0000

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

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January 28, 2016 was the 100th anniversary of women's right to vote in Manitoba. That date was a day to celebrate the sheer determination of women's suffrage to gain for Canadian women -- for the first time -- equality with men to cast votes and hold provincial office.

January 28, 2016 was the 100th anniversary of women's right to vote in Manitoba. That date was a day to celebrate the sheer determination of women's suffrage to make gains for Canadian women.

Under the Liberal government, will there be a new year for the old?

rabble staff — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 17:09:33 +0000

Monday, January 11, 2016

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The popular image for the changeover in the calendar combines an old man with an hourglass and scythe giving way to a bouncing baby. As the calendar changes in 2016, how will the lot of seniors change?

The popular image for the changeover in the calendar combines an old man with an hourglass giving way to a bouncing baby. As the calendar changes in 2016, how will the lot of seniors change?

Memories of 64 years as political junkies

rabble staff — Mon, 14 Dec 2015 00:40:02 +0000

Monday, December 14, 2015

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I'm a "political junkie." The Wikipedia definition of a political junkie is, "One who is obsessed by all things political and votes in every election." So, yes, that's me, but I'd like to add that I believe political junkies also need to get involved in politics as party members, volunteers, as well as candidates.

A political junkie is defined as "one who is obsessed by all things political and votes in every election." Sonja Alton reflects on a life defined by political engagement.

Being Mortal: Examining our ideas about living and dying

rabble staff — Fri, 06 Nov 2015 20:06:45 +0000

Monday, November 9, 2015

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Everyone knows about Halloween but few remember that its origin was as the eve of All Saints' Day on November 1. This day honours not so much the big-name saints like Saint Peter but our ancestors who are now in heaven. Or as Dylan Thomas poetically put it, "those no longer willing with us." In small Italian towns, on November 1, like the one my wife is from, people go to the cemetery to clean the graves and place fresh flowers on them.

Death used to be a regular feature of everyday life, but today in Canada, it's largely reserved for old age or unexpected events. How can ensure that well-being extends to the last chapters of life?

Women face gender inequality at every stage of working life

rabble staff — Tue, 13 Oct 2015 12:27:31 +0000

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

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My mother, Barbara, was a lovely, energetic, innovative and resourceful woman: she was a published author of science fiction, selling her first article to John Bull when she was only 17; she was an accomplished dressmaker, taught herself French polishing, and built her own business around each of these skills. Our home was her workshop. During the Second World War, she served as a plotter in England's Auxiliary Territorial Service.

Gender inequality doesn't just extend to wages and workplace discrimination: it also impacts on a woman's pension and benefits at work and as she transitions from the workplace to retirement.

Rand Formula: Bitter strike, inspired resolution

rabble staff — Mon, 07 Sep 2015 13:47:43 +0000

Monday, September 7, 2015

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At the end of June, Conservative senators took what Senate Speaker Leo Housakos told the CBC were "draconian steps" to hustle through Bill C-377 just before Parliament's summer break.

The Union Transparency bill forces unions to provide the public with detailed spending accounts. This places an unnecessary administrative burden on labour organizations, a burden other organizations do not bear, and constitutes an invasion of privacy for unions and their employees. Seven provinces have declared their opposition.

C-377 is just the latest anti-union position the right wing has taken.

The Rand Formula introduced a new form of union security. Here's a look at the ongoing struggles to keep it.

Debt: The new four-letter word for seniors

rabble staff — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 19:04:43 +0000

Monday, August 10, 2015

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Seniors' growing level of debt is a real concern in Canada. Is it a sign of things to come as today's working-age Canadians put themselves more deeply into debt?

Fighting for retirement equality: What women need to know

rabble staff — Sun, 28 Jun 2015 19:19:10 +0000

Monday, July 13, 2015

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The second day of the Union Coalition for Free Negotiation's States-General took place in Montreal on April 27, 2015. We heard from distinguished guest speakers who introduced us to the reality of women's pensions vs. those of men. Several statistics emerged, showing realities that the majority of women may not know.

Demographics

In April, the Union Coalition for Free Negotiation held a discussion about the inequalities of retirement security for women. Louisette Hinton reports back on what women need to know.

Labour organizing 101: On the road to Michelin workers

rabble staff — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 12:38:26 +0000

Monday, June 8, 2015

Author's note: Michelin is one of the global giants in the manufacturing of tires; they have been staunchly anti-union since they began in France. In the 1970s, they decided to locate plants in Nova Scotia with the understanding that the provincial government would introduce a law, which became known as the Michelin Bill, to make it almost impossible to organize employers with multi-site plants. A number of unions, including Rubberworkers, Steelworkers and Autoworkers, all tried, but were foiled by what Larry Haiven, a professor in the Department of Management at Saint Mary's University, called "an act of corruption." This column documents the first attempt to organize by the Canadian Auto Workers in the 1980s.

In the 1980s, the Canadian Auto Workers made their first attempt to organize Michelin workers in Nova Scotia. Larry Wark looks back at long days and nights travelling rural roads.

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Seniors Vote mobilizes for change at the ballot box

rabble staff — Mon, 11 May 2015 13:11:28 +0000

Monday, May 11, 2015

Canada has a growing and aging population. In 2014 there were more than 6 million Canadians aged 65 or older, representing 15.6 per cent of the population. By 2030, seniors will number more than 9 million and make up about 25 per cent of the population. At a time when Canada needs a national strategy and leadership on health and aging, we find the government moving away from funding our cherished universal health-care system, which was based solely on need and not how much money one had. At one time the envy of the world, Canada's health-care system is slowly being eroded and privatized.

There's an opportunity in October for older Canadians to tell politicians what they want and expect from future governments. Seniors are voting and they're going to make it count.

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The life of a union man: Tales from Down East

rabble staff — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 17:31:26 +0000

Monday, April 13, 2015

Though I was born in Toronto, I have spent much of my life in the Maritimes and have retired to Prince Edward Island. Now when Canadians elsewhere think of Prince Edward Island, they most likely think of Anne of Green Gables, potatoes, or the meeting of the Fathers of Confederation. But behind those bucolic images resided working women and men. I have always been a union man and have worked with a variety of labour organizations from my IBEW local on Prince Edward Island to the Canadian Labour Congress.

Contract negotiations

Behind the bucolic images of the East Coast reside working women and men. Everett Baker reflects back on some of his experiences with labour organizations in Eastern Canada.

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Labour organizing 101: Hunting for union memberships

rabble staff — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 12:40:02 +0000

Monday, March 9, 2015

As a full-time staff representative for the Canadian Auto Workers union (now Unifor), my work involved negotiating, presenting arbitrations, appearing before various labour tribunals, working with local union leadership, and instructing a variety of education programs. But organizing is the one task that provided the most bizarre and sometimes funny situations in my 30 years as a staff representative.

In the late '80s, I was trying to organize the workers at the Rio Algom tin mine 25 miles outside of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. It was a cold fall and we had early snow. The gate to the mine was about a mile from the main road and I decided that it would be much easier to pass out organizing leaflets at the mine gate rather than hoping workers would see me and stop.

As a staff representative for the Canadian Auto Workers union, Larry Wark's work involved many different responsibilities. But organizing provided the most memorable experiences.

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Celebrating the victories and struggles of Black workers in Canada

rabble staff — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 22:36:34 +0000

This February, the Congress of Union Retirees of Canada (CURC), alongside the Canadian labour movement, marks Black History Month.

Marking the victories and struggles of Black workers in Canada