Work and Labour Studies Program, Department of Social Sciences Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies, York University THE FUTURE OF WORK AS/SOSC 1510 9.0 – 2013-14 Lectures: Wednesday 4:30- 6:30 Location: Vari Hall A Course Instructor: David Langille langille@yorku.ca 647 280 7747 Office: Ross North 743 Office Hours: Thursday 3:00-4:00 pm Calendar Description: This course studies the emerging patterns of work in Canadian society. It provides a comprehensive understanding of the post-war work world, the causes of its breakdown, changing values and identities, and competing scenarios for work, leisure and unemployment. Course credit exclusion: AK/SOSC 1740 6.00. Required Course Texts: …show more content…
And what's really sick, is that such inequality exists right here in our own city, our own province, our own country. So if you really want to save the world -- and save your own skin in the process -- you will get on board with this movement for the common good. It is not something I invented -- it is as old as civilization -- it's about taking care of people -- making sure that everyone has enough to live. It's about fairness and decency -- what we now call equality and human rights. It's about giving people more control over their lives -- what we now call democracy. It's also about taking care of the earth -- what we new call sustainability. There is a good list of things to work on -- equality, democracy, sustainability. We have a lot of work to do. CONTENT GOALS Describe the nature of work and working life. Explore our economic history so as to understand the evolution the Canadian “labour market” – the development of capitalism, the rise of Fordism, and the neo-liberal assault on working people which rolled back the gains of the post-war era. Examine how specific sectors are being affected, and the issues or problems that affect particular demographic groups such as women, youth, seniors, immigrants, those with disabilities, etc. Appreciate the full range of economic, social and political possibilities and how working people might achieve greater economic security, justice, dignity and respect.
One of the most pressing issues faced by Canada today is unemployment. In fact, reports confirm that the jobless rate continues to increase every year. As of February this year, the unemployment rate was at 7.0%. The presence of unemployment rate is evident in various provinces. In Quebec, the number of people working declined by 26,000 in February. Alternately, the number of employed in British Columbia fell by 10,000; while Saskatchewan nearly 6,000 individuals are unable to find jobs. The Conference Board of Canada projected that the country’s labour woes could reach to more than one million workers by 2020. In addition to this, experts predict that the unemployment rate in this country will surpass that of the United States. Along with the dismal figures and projections, the problem of unemployment consequently creates numerous negative consequences on the nation’s economy, its government, and of course its people. Some of the known effects of unemployment include reduced spending power, an increase in financial cost, recession, and even crimes and violence. Individually, long-term unemployment may result to depression, loss of self-respect, and strained relationships with family and friends – ultimately causing damage to the person’s overall well-being. The adverse effects of unemployment only show that this issue imposes a significant cost both on a national and individual level. As such, it is of primary importance to create an immediate plan of action to alleviate
Everyone has a dream or something they want to follow in life. Some want material gain while others want to help as many people as they can. I’m not saying wanting material gain is a bad thing, but what I am saying is that for me, money is not the number one concern when my dream is to help others. My hunger to help others only grows by the day. Because of what’s going on in the world we live in today, I believe that it is important that those who are less fortunate than others have the assistance they need to get to an even playing field, health-wise, with others.
A democracy is a system of government controlled by the people, not by one certain group or individual. In the Declaration of Independence it states that “all men are created equal,” an idea which leads to the concept that all citizens should have the same rights, responsibilities, and influence in the governing of their country. In writing the Declaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson was trying to break his ties with the harsh and non-democratic rule of the British and begin a new, equal society and government for America.
In Canada’s government responded in control of labor in quest of collective bargaining and huge wages which counted the rising popularity in legitimate demands of organized labor in order to access guaranteed collective bargaining. Collective bargaining brought conflicts in Canada as unions incited for strikes just after war. Governments committed itself in adopting monetary and fiscal policies to maintain consumer demand. This prolonged growth duration
B. “ It is the measurement used to hold districts, schools, and states accountable for student performances under the Title I of the No Child Left Behind Act”.
Dictionary.com defines the process of redlining as, “A discriminatory practice by which banks, insurance companies, etc., refuse or limit loans, mortgages, insurance, etc., within specific geographic areas, especially inner-city neighborhoods.” This practice became far more prevalent in the 1930’s, subsequently becoming a staple of the housing market up and until the passing of the Fair Housing Act which was passed in 1968, theoretically preventing landowners from participating in the practice. However, while the actual term wasn’t coined until the early twentieth century, the ideologies that held up redlining had been seen since the 1860’s. With the founding of Oregon as a state, the later practices of redlining in suburban communities
In the end, the changing role of Canada’s women during the War was the beginning of a chain reaction of events that have forever changed the Canadian workplace and also that of men’s archaic views on the capabilities of women in general. Many look back to the period during the war in which women were encouraged to get out of the kitchen and go to work, and wonder how a five year period could be so instrumental in forever changing the norms of society? Two authors, who
Democracy is the idea government of present day. Many nations are converting to a democratic image to improve and better their society and make the people have a “fair” government. Today, it may seem easy to do things such as voting and our own freedom, but the expansion of democracy back then was a struggle. During 1776- 1920, many attempts were made to expand/ create democracy to increase citizen participation in the government. Acts for rights for suffrage, equal rights for the “lower class”, women, and African Americans, and balanced government where no one directly controls the government like the monopolists did, helped form the way democratic governments are run today. Events such as the Civil War, protests that created amendments and
During the period of the Second World War from 1939 to 1945, Canadian women were allowed a rapid introduction into spheres of labor previously dominated solely by
Employee skills and the ability of employers to attract and retain skilled workers will be a primary concern to Canada’s economy in the immediate future. A train overflowing with crisis is approaching, and we need to stop listening for it to come because it’s already bearing down on us. Labour and skill shortages in Canada can be attributed to: aging population, increased life expectancy, migration of highly skilled labour, and the disparity between the skills possessed by youth and the skills demanded by employers.
Stepping out onto Canadian soil is the dream of any new immigrant coming to create a new life for a fresh start. The strong images of digging, logging, and construction are just some of the rough edged images that many do not consider when imagining the Canadian Dream. The Canadian Dream in the minds of workers in Michael Ondaatje’s, In the Skin of a Lion, is labouring to create life for themselves and working towards a steady future. Abbott describes the masterplot as “stories that we tell over and over in myriad forms and that connect vitally with our deepest values, wishes, and fears.” (Abbott 46). Ondaatje’s emphasis on labour reminds readers of the difficult work that individuals endured in the early foundational days of Toronto. The Canadian masterplot of labour in early Toronto can be initially thought of as a sparkling dream, when in reality it was harsh work that often went unrecognized. The less educated, along with immigrants were considered lower class and were placed in positions of difficult work and limited pay. Historically, it may be a preconceived notion that Canada was built with ease and peace, but in truth, weathered men and women were the backbone that built the nation. The individuals who built the infrastructure of Toronto endured the most difficult work yet were hidden in the darkness. They experienced the most dangerous labor yet they were recognized the least because of the negative connotations of the job. In this essay I will be outlining the
Using the concepts of “industrial” and “postindustrial” societies: How has work changed in Canada over time? (pg20,24)
There are many factors impacting work and learning specifically in Canada. How workers are involved or participate can affect outcomes for the employee and employer. Social and economic are two factors that influence education, learning, training and work. In this essay, I will provide examples of why social and economic context must be considered when understanding work and learning. I will also examine assumptions frequently made by Human Resources Management (HRM) and their perspective on the purpose and outcomes of learning and the critiques that challenge these perspectives.
Canada’s economy was once solely reliant on the exportation of raw materials, such as furs and timber, to Great Britain and Western Europe. Aside from this exportation of raw materials, Canada was largely agricultural in nature. By the time of Confederation, fifty-percent of labour remained agriculturally based (Krahn, Lowe, Hughes, 2008). Changes occurred around 1900; the industrial era replaced the once mainly agricultural and small-scale local production of times past by way of new technologies in the form of electricity, steam powered engines, railways, water wheels, etc. These tools allowed for the re-organization of work from piecework and compensation, based on individual output, to one of large manufacturing plants, high-production, specialized workers, and hourly pay. This industrial era has now morphed into one of new technologies and new careers; careers based in services. The dominance of a service-based economy is prevalent as around 75% of all employment in Canada was in services circa 2005(HRSDC,
Besides a relatively non-competitive business environment, Canada?s labour force also lacks the competitive mindset. Structural employment remains high, which is partly due to the existence of social assistance and unemployment insurance systems. Work incentives are low under the protection of the employment insurance program, which indirectly contributes in a higher than the desirable unemployment rate. Furthermore, unions and other similar groups do not promote many incentives for workers to stay competitive in the workplace by continuously learning and improving productivity. Countries that have been most successful in cutting unemployment are those that have improved