Young workers still owed thousands - Wage Theft in Saskatchewan

There's an article in the October 1, 2009 Leader-Post entitled: Businessman pleads guilty to fraud, wherein a part-owner of a Regina based janitorial supply company was convicted of bilking the business and his partners out of $130,000. If you read the story, you'll come to conclusion that this businessman was charged and prosecuted by the "Crown" (government) for basically stealing from his partners and committing a fraud.

Quite a contrast to how some 135 odd young workers are being supported and treated by this same government. I'm talking, of course about stories that have appeared on this blog, and elsewhere disclosing a situation where a Regina based restaurant, Poverino's - ripped off a group of young workers and left them holding the bag for over $62,000 in unpaid wages.

See here for various blog articles: http://www.larryhubich.blogspot.com/search?q=wage+theft

The most recent development in the Poverino's case is a letter which was sent out to the young workers on July 16th, 2009 telling them that the Ministry of Labour has reached the limit of their ability to assist the young workers to collect the money they are owed. You can read that letter here.

I have a question - How aggressively do you think the government of Saskatchewan would be pursuing this (through the Ministry of Labour and/or Ministry of Justice) if one of these 135 young workers was the son or daughter of the Premier? Or the Minister of Labour?

Michael Moore's Message to Barack Obama and Blue Dog Democrats

NUPGE gives CFIB the big smack-down

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) has come out swinging against the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) with the release of an independent research paper entitled: An examination of the Public Sector Wage Premium in Canada - A critique of the 2008 study by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) called Wage Watch: A comparison of public and private sector wages.

The NUPGE commissioned study challenges a flawed and biased analysis of public vs private sector wages released by the CFIB in the fall of 2008.

According to NUPGE

".... the CFIB has an established track record of hostility to the public sector. It may be that the CFIB is afraid the wages paid by many of their members will look too inadequate compared to wages in other sectors. It may be the lack of benefits, especially pensions, for workers in their sector will make it difficult for small business employers to attract employees. It’s certainly odd the CFIB hasn’t made the connection that public sector workers spend their salaries in the stores, and purchase the services, of CFIB members.

Over time this incorrect CFIB study began to be quoted as fact in the media and elsewhere. We kept hearing that this dubious large differential really did exist. The mere fact this study was obviously incorrect was apparently not enough to invalidate it. CFIB spokespeople themselves peddled the purported conclusions of this study at every opportunity."

You can read the NUPGE web article on this topic by clicking here. And you can download the complete NUPGE commissioned analysis by clicking here.

Working Class Hero - John Lennon

Protect Insurance Companies PSA

Protect Insurance Companies PSA from Will Ferrell

New Book: The Audacity of Greed

"The Audacity of Greed: Free Markets, Corporate Thieves and The Looting of America"


Check out more here: A Public Record Exclusive – An Excerpt From ‘The Audacity of Greed’

Liars, Hypocrites, Flip-Floppers, or all of the above?

Liars, Hypocrites, Flip-Floppers, or all of the above?

Check out citizen blogger Joe Kuchta's newest entry over on the "Owls and Roosters Blog" entitled: Premier Brad Wall to sign TILMA/WEPA by year’s end; Opposition Saskatchewan Party called for public and stakeholder consultations in March 2007, for answers to this and other questions.

Trailer - You, Me, and the S.P.P: Trading Democracy for Corporate Rule

You, Me, and the S.P.P: Trading Democracy for Corporate Rule

"What do secrecy, police provocateurs, an assault on democracy and infringements on citizens’ rights have in common? The Security Prosperity Partnership.

‘You, Me, and the S.P.P: Trading Democracy for Corporate Rule’ is a feature length documentary which exposes the latest manifestation of a corporatist agenda that is undermining the democratic authority of the citizens of North America.

Two processes, the Security Prosperity Partnership (SPP) and the Trade Investment Labour Mobility Agreement (TILMA are rapidly eroding and eliminating standards, civil liberties, regulatory systems and institutions put in place over generations through the democratic process. Proponents of the SPP and TILMA say that they are needed to keep trade flowing, opponents say these agreements not only undermine the democratic authority of citizens they threaten the sovereignty of the three nations through the integration of military, security structures and regulatory regimes."

Visit the web-site at www.youmespp.com

President Barack Obama rocks the AFL/CIO Convention

Rage-Ex

Health care reform madness

Shock Jocks, Hate Speech and Talk Radio

Read more at: www.shockjocks.org

also see: www.alternet.org

Corporate interests come first, citizens and democracy come last

B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell, left, Alberta's Ed Stelmach, centre, and Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall conclude a news conference Friday in Calgary. (Jeff McIntosh/Canadian Press)

On Friday Canada's three western most premiers confirmed that corporate interests trump citizen rights.

Democracy means nothing when your wheels are being greased by the wallets of Big Corporations.

CBC: Western premiers move closer to economic accord
Leader-Post: Western provinces break down barriers

President Obama Speaks to Congress About Health Reform

Universal Health Care Message To Americans, Dos Equis, Two X's

Rally for Safety

Rally for Safety

The Saskatchewan Federation of Labour will bring together 190 workers from across Saskatchewan to attend their annual Occupational Health and Safety conference, in Saskatoon.

The conference kicks off on Sunday, September 13 with a keynote speaker, Cathy Walker former OHS Director – CAW, speaking on the exposure to asbestos and the health problems that will lead to death.

Participants will attend workshops covering issues such as: OH&S Act & Regulations; Effective OH&S Working Committees; Harassment Investigations; Workers Compensation; Duty to Accommodate; Asbestos Workshop for Activists; Blame the Worker; Shift work and Toxins in the Workplace.

On Monday, September 14 at 11:30 a.m. there will be a Rally for Safety held at the Provincial Cabinet office at 315-22nd St. East. This rally is being held to call attention to workplace safety and the need to protect workers. Our safety record in Saskatchewan is one of the worst in Canada and Canada’s record among industrialized countries is also dismal. Much needs to be done.

The conference runs from September 13 to September 15 at the Delta Bessborough in Saskatoon and will wrap up with apresentation from SFL President Larry Hubich.

The SFL represents over 95,000 unionized workers from 37 affiliated unions in Saskatchewan.

For more information, contact the SFL Office at 525-0197

Medical Isotopes - Are we being given all the facts?

Community Educational Event

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Speaker: Dr. Dale Dewar
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Unitarian Centre
Corner of College and Angus (Upstairs)

Regina, Sk.
September 23, 7:30 pm

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Everyone Welcome Free Admission. A collection will be taken.

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sponsored by: Clean Green Regina

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Click image for printable poster (PDF)

President Obama 2009 Labor Day Speech at AFL/CIO

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

See more at the: AFL/CIO Blog

South of the Border - Official Trailer