Affordable access to food, pharmaceuticals, and scientific advancement is essential for the well-being of Canadians and society in general. Intellectual property (IP) protection is one area or policy that has the ability to jeopardize this access. Unfortunately, the policies that govern IP—the regulations that set out how this property will be protected and for how long—are being set with corporate interests as the priority.
Human rights
In this time of economic turmoil, living-wage policies are one way to stimulate our local economy. A living-wage policy is employed by at least 122 US cities and being considered by more than 70 other US cities. Many large corporations in Europe have adopted a living-wage policy. A living-wage is not the minimum wage which is the statutory minimum for wages. A living-wage allows families to live at a basic and decent level.
Imagine a job that requires you to leave your family for up to eight months at a time. Picture yourself speaking a different language than your boss. Consider living where you work and never being able to leave or receive visitors without your boss’ permission. Imagine knowing that should you raise any concerns you could lose your job and be sent home.
Last fall there was growing concern about a proposal to convert the City of Winnipeg Water and Waste Department into a stand-alone municipal utility and to seek a strategic partner to build and operate a sewage treatment plant. Some groups feared that this was the first step toward privatization of our water. I had seen none of the documents and did not know what to think. The proposal was accepted for further study before coming back to City Council.
The Manitoba Federation of Labour (MFL) is holding its annual convention in Brandon October 2 - 4, 2009. There are many important issues to be dealt with however the one issue that should be on the agenda and should be the focus of discussion is the spectre of eroding memberships in trade union organizations, evident in all jurisdictions in Canada.
Imagine having to leave your family for up to eight months at a time to work in another country. You speak a different language than your boss. You live where you work and can never leave or receive visitors without your boss’s permission. If you dare raise any concerns, you could lose your job and be sent home.
In the lead-up to the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December 2009, Stephen Lewis laments in this issue of Our Schools/Our Selves that it may be too late to prevent a climate catastrophe.