BANFF PORK SEMINAR CHANGING LANDSCAPE OF … Present… · GLOBAL Agr largest employer in the world...
Transcript of BANFF PORK SEMINAR CHANGING LANDSCAPE OF … Present… · GLOBAL Agr largest employer in the world...
BANFF PORK SEMINAR
CHANGING LANDSCAPE OF AGRICULTURAL LABOUR
JANUARY 2017
International Perspective Canadian History Agents of Change Next Steps & Resources
HOW DID WE GET HERE!
GLOBAL
Agr largest employer in the world > 1 B Mature industry— surpluses, inability to
pay, high capital, high risk, low return, family orientation—life style/subsidized
Political football—tax, tariffs, trade policy Industrial nation’s farm workers are being
born in developing countries
CANADIAN HISTORY
Shortages of reliable workers for decades Seasonal, rural, physically demanding, wage
WWII—urban women, POW, DP & others 60’s Feds subsidized transportation Foreign nationals—2016—50th year of
Jamaican SAWP; 42nd for Mexico SAWP NOT like USA —migrant and illegals
SO MANY THINGS SO LITTLE TIME
AGENTS OF CHANGE MIGRATION & DEMOGRAPHICS
Migration (movement) of people Syrian war, Greece, “Brexit” concerns Brazil Russia India & China—new econs Refugee / Immigrants—potential OR threat Average age of farmers Birth rate not sustaining workforce
HAVE WE LOST CONTROL
AGENTS OF CHANGE TRADE—BEGINNING
Post WWII USA/Canada economic engine Industrial nations use of tax and tariffs Free Trade— “goods and services” 80’s approach to the redistribution of wealth Raise standard of living OR race to the bottom Broad range of goods all year round @ price Money does not recognize borders
AGENTS OF CHANGE TRADE—CURRENT
General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade Everybody wants to protect something Trade agreements/blocks
EU and TPP complex and sophisticated Brexit and Trump—pumping the brakes Canada sign ILO conventions? Not yet! Freer trade NOT free trade
VULNERABILITY OF TRADE
CAN WE COMPETE?
AGENTS OF CHANGE FEE-FOR-SERVICE
Entrepreneur versus employee relationship? Worker protection legislated costs
Labour Relations—collective bargaining Employment Standards—minimum wage etc Health and Safety—internal responsibility system Workers Compensation—no fault insurance fees
Fee-for-service short term project contract Fewer costs with greater flexibility
AGENTS OF CHANGE UNIONS/ACTIVIST
Private sector popularity dropping Courts, Media, Soc., Community groups Leftest regimes—support and supported by A mile wide and an inch deep—in Prim Ag few Collective Agreements in any jurisdiction
very common beyond the farm gate Farmers lack experience in CB and CA
OTHER REFERENCE MATERIAL
AGENTS OF CHANGE MEDIA
Investigative reporting offering varying perspectives is rare
Tragedy sells Unions and labour activists are masters Administrators & employers—NO TRUST Social media???mob mentality Facts/experts second to “feelings”
EMPLOYERS & MEDIA
AGENTS OF CHANGE TFWP(S)
Temporary Foreign Worker Programs SAWP, Ag Stream, Low Skill, High Skill LMIA, Integrity Audits, Low Skill vs SAWP Dec. 13 Cumulative Duration eliminated Low Skill/Ag Stream—processing time, NOC
restrictions, no residency, housing differences International Mobility Program No LMIA, part of trade agreements
TFWP—HOT TOPICS
SAWP—gender equality & deductions HUMA—21 Rec. a parliamentary review Opposing views —employer vs labour activist Faster processing Trusted employer program Cap at 20%–remove cumulative duration rule Employer specific work permit—Canada 1st Pathway to residency
UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS
AGENTS OF CHANGE LABOUR POLICY
Pro worker ?means? anti-employer Ideological vs grass roots ?evidence based? Vulnerable workers & precarious jobs Pro union—Why?—need other approaches Feds Free Trade; Prov protectionist
BALANCE = SUSTAINABLE
ALBERTA BILL 6
AgCoalition Consultation Tables Employment Standards—completed, agreement Labour Relations—completed, disagreement OH&S Codes 1—pending OH&S Codes 2—pending Best Practices—pending Education & Training —pending
ONTARIO REVIEW
MOL all worker protection legislation open Changing Workplace Review—LRA & ESA WSPS Ag Strategy (farm safety prevention) Rate Framework review—workers comp. Employment Protection Foreign Nationals
90’s Rae NDP government Agr. Labour Relations Act—repealed by Harris
Final offer arbitration— no strike clause
OAEPA SUMMARY
LRA— Wagner Model —farm exemption CCRF—rights of association, section 2(d) AEPA—reflects CCRF 2(d) (ILO model) Farm workers can join unions Trade Unions can represent worker interest Can not use LRA/Wagner model
Duty to bargain, exclusive representation, strike/lockout, grievance procedures
AGENTS OF CHANGE OTHER
Elite versus Masses—Brexit and Trump Employment Insurance policies Immigration Policies—67 points Urban Centric—transit; internet; infrastruct Technology—GOOGLE, Apps, robotics Extension—huge void with increasing need CAHRC products and potential
RISK OF TMI
NEXT STEPS
Anticipate change—proactive NOT reactive Focus on small direct sales OR go big HR Training Legislation—overwhelming & escalating Soft skills—comm., conflict res., DPA Managing a multi-cultural workforce Employee engagement, work proficiency Alternate compensation approaches
NEXT STEPS
Potential of TFWP Farm Politics—issues need to be heard Partner with like minded groups OCC—Keep Ontarians Working Campaign
Use the many resources of CAHRC Ag HR Toolkit
Hire needed skills—policy, legal, PR
RESOURCES
Canadian Agri Human Resources Council www.cahrc-ccrha.ca
Dr. Sara Mann, U of Guelph http://www.aghrmanagement.com
Farm Employment Labour Services http://www.fels.net/1/
University of California http://nature.berkeley.edu/ucce50/ag-labor/
THE END—QUESTIONS