Danny Cavanagh tackles the myth that tax cuts for big corporations somehow benefit society. “Enough of the one-liners and quotations, and people buying into the agenda that taxes are too high. The fact is, the big business elite isn’t taxed enough. It’s time they ante up, stop tax avoidance in tax havens, and start to pay their fair share, both personally and for their big businesses. Just like the rest of us.”
Those working in the cannabis sector who are non-union will not likely have things like a fair wages, sick and medical benefits, a pension or to even be covered by provincial labour standards if they are classed as agriculture workers, writes NS federation of Labour president Danny Cavanagh. It’s time to protect and enshrine into law better protections for the workers’ employment and labour conditions.
Governments are increasingly using Social Impact Bonds as a method to finance what are broadly called social services. With social impact bonds governments repay investors only if the programs improve social outcomes, for example, lower unemployment or prison recidivism. The approach has been tried in Justice and corrections, skills training, public health, child welfare, services for seniors, early childhood development, education, homelessness, supports for people with physical disabilities, and mental health to name a few. But really it’s just another flavour of privatization, writes Danny Cavanagh.
Danny Cavanagh on the government plans to build the QEII replacement through a P3 approach. “The real lesson history teaches is that private-public partnership deals are bad for taxpayers.”
The NS NDP is right, it’s time to change the Labour Standards Code so that everybody gets at least six paid sick days per year. And yes, let’s get rid of doctors sick notes, a senseless practice that Doctors Nova Scotia as well would like to see the end of, writes Danny Cavanagh, president of the Nova Scotia Federation of Labour.
On Labour Day Danny Cavanagh, president of the NS Federation of Labour, reflects on last year’s gains and next year’s challenges.
NS Federation of Labour president Danny Cavanagh, on the terrible injustice done to loyal Sears workers when the company folded. They’re not the first to lose pensions and benefits, writes Danny, but maybe we can make sure they’re the last. “Workers fulfil their obligations at their jobs and expect the company they worked for to do the same. That doesn’t seem like a lot to ask. It is really about fairness for workers.”
Danny Cavanagh: “One must consider the cost of keeping an individual incarcerated and the savings we see because of the work these six workers do every day. This program seems to be a win, win for everyone, everyone except the six workers who now have little choice but to stand up for what they believe in. These six workers just want a living wage and to be treated with respect and fairness. These six workers want the expanded restorative justice program to work.”
Danny Cavanagh: “When I read this headline this morning, I felt that maybe there has been some movement towards justice for needless workplace deaths.”
Danny Cavanagh: “Snow and ice control and maintenance will be contracted out to a private company. This raises questions and concerns about the long-term cost of a new P3 highway for taxpayers. It’s essentially déjà vu, and it’s more than likely that we will be providing a hefty profit to corporate elite bank coffers and in the end will get inferior service.”