Canadian economists and our federal government say that an unemployment rate of six per cent is acceptable. Who finds this acceptable? Large corporations who seek to maximize profits while keeping costs (wages) to a bare minimum.
There are approximately 4.4 million people in BC. According to Statistics Canada, 40 per cent are considered not part of the work force. Therefore 2.6 million people are considered employable. At six per cent unemployment, that means that 160,000 people in the work force are unemployed.
That pool of unemployed but employable people is one of the best ways corporations have of keeping wages low, by having people desperate enough to take any job, even at minimum wage. Workers know that they are easily replaced should they ask for any concessions from their employer, or report them if they are breaking labour laws.
You notice that not one of our political parties in BC objects to there being six per cent unemployed. No political party even mentions the term “full employment.” To them, six per cent unemployment IS full employment.
Thousands of BC residents must remain unemployed while large corporations maximize their profits by paying minimum wage and scaring their workers should the word “union” be raised among employees.
Bob Abrahams
Nelson