It seems that the Harper government isn’t done attacking our members. Last Sunday, some contentious changes to our nation’s employment insurance took effect.
The Canadian Press reports that the unemployed will “face stricter, more complex rules for keeping their benefits.” These changes will be especially detrimental to many of our members whose work is seasonal.
According to Service Canada, frequent claimants (those who have had three or more claims or who have received over 60 weeks in benefits over the past five years) may be forced to accept up to a 30% wage cut.
“I’m very worried about our members at Parks Canada. Last year, the Harper government cut the hours and seasons for many of our members. Now, with these changes to EI, they’re kicking them while they’re down,” said National President Doug Marshall.
Marshall isn’t alone in his concern. The Globe and Mail recently reported that Atlantic Premiers also believe that these changes are an attack on season workers:
“The people who they most seem to be targeting are actually people who are in seasonal jobs. Like, that is not an abuse. That is part of rural culture of Canada,” [Nova Scotia’s NDP Premier Darrell] Dexter said. “If they see that as a problem then they essentially see the culture of rural Canada as a problem.”
Regional Assistant Vice-President Mike LeBlanc protested the changes to EI last Friday along with President of Local 60284 Rhéal Vautour. LeBlanc said the very frigid weather didn’t deter more than 400 people from protesting Conservative MP Robert Goguen’s office.
“EI has always been there for me, but it won’t be there anymore because I’ll be deemed a repeat user,” said LeBlanc who works as a seasonal worker in New Brunswick.
“I want to work. I don’t want to be on EI, but there’s no work,” added LeBlanc. “And now we’re going to get hit hard by changes to the very social safety net that’s supposed to keep us afloat.”
LeBlanc said he’s concerned about what this means for Atlantic Canada. New Brunswick’s unemployment rate recently surged to 11.6% in October. In Miramichi, the unemployment rate hovered near 20% last April.
LeBlanc also fears the change to EI may force many New Brunswickers to look elsewhere for work.
“We want to live in New Brunswick. We love our province.”
