I saw this on the morning news and was quite surprised..
McDonald's franchisees mostly in Western Canada are paying foreign workers more than Canadians..
The article is long, so I will read it after work..
Have a nice day everyone.
:)
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/mcdonald-s-foreign-worker-practices-face-growing-investigation-1.2607365
The federal investigation into McDonald's use of temporary foreign workers has widened to several other locations, as more local workers speak out about feeling sidelined and shortchanged.
"I feel it's definitely discrimination against Canadians," said Chris Eldridge, from Lethbridge, Alta.
Eldridge just quit his managerial job for six McDonald's locations in Alberta, because he said he could no longer stomach denying local employees much-needed shifts to accommodate temporary foreign workers.
"Honestly, some days I wonder, is this still Canada? Everyone is supposed to have equal rights
Eldridge was a manager who did the worker scheduling for McDonald's franchisee Dan Brown. He's also upset about differences in pay. Many foreign workers started at $10.80 an hour, he said, while local employees doing the same job made less.
Federal rules stipulate that foreign workers coming in to Lethbridge as food service attendants must make at least the "prevailing wage" of $10.41. However, immigration lawyers told Go Public local employees doing the same job are not supposed to be paid less or lose hours as a result.
"I was instructed to ensure, based on the contracts the foreign workers had signed, that they would be guaranteed full-time hours, no questions asked," said Eldridge, who said that meant he had to shortchange Canadian employees.
Federal investigators dispatched
As a result of our inquiries, Employment Minister Jason Kenney's office said the "urgent investigation" launched last week after Go Public's story about a Victoria McDonald's franchise has been expanded.
"Minister Kenney has expressed strong concerns about the potential abuse of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program to the head of human resources at McDonalds' head office," said a spokesperson from the minister's office.
The minister's office said franchises in Lethbridge and Parksville B.C. have been barred from applying to bring in any more temporary foreign workers, pending the outcome of the investigation.
"As soon as we became aware of these allegations, officials were directed to begin an urgent and immediate investigation. These cases are being investigated as urgently as the previous case in Victoria, including inspectors being dispatched," said Kenney's office.
The minister's office said those additional franchisees have not been put on the department's blacklist, however, only because they don't have any current applications in the works.
"I was told [foreign workers] have better flexibility, they're willing to do whatever they're asked," said Eldridge. "Because they were these amazing workers, they were given these [better] shifts."
Brown owns six Alberta fast food outlets in Lethbridge, one in Pincher Creek and one in Taber. He confirmed he has 90 temporary foreign workers on staff.
He denies telling Eldridge to cut local employee hours. However, Eldridge said his instructions came from other managers, who said they were speaking on Brown's behalf. He said some local employees didn't get enough work to pay their rent.
"I was constantly having that guilt on my chest, because I could be the reason someone might lose the place that they're living in."
Brown confirmed part-time local staffers make $9.95 per hour – less than the foreign workers — but he said full-timers are paid equally. He said full-time hours are now split evenly between local and foreign staff.
"I provide people with an opportunity to live and work in Canada and contribute to the Canadian economy," Brown said. "Temporary foreign workers in my restaurants are very grateful for the opportunity."
Foreigners live in 'compound'
Eldridge said the foreign workers were recruited from Belize, the Philippines and Jamaica by Actyl Group, an international recruiter used by McDonald's Canada. It charges employers up to $2,000 per worker it recruits.
Actyl's job website is designed to attract foreign workers. It lists numerous ads for full-time jobs at McDonald's. They all suggest Canadians can apply, but only for part-time work.
"The selected candidate is expected to work 40 hours per week with the possibility of overtime. Part-time applications from Canadians or people in Canada with their PR are also accepted," the ads read.
Many of the open jobs currently on the Actyl site are not advertised on popular Canadian jobs sites like Kijiji. Linda West of Actyl said that is because those McDonald's locations already have government approvals to hire foreign workers.
"We never give up on trying to recruit Canadians," West said. "We have had adverts up for over a year without Canadians applying."
Eldridge said Brown houses the foreign workers in an apartment building with six to eight employees per unit, and deducts approximately $400 a month from each worker's pay for rent.
"It's a big apartment complex, but everyone calls it 'the compound.' It's so enclosed and overpacked in a lot of ways," said Eldridge.
Go Public asked Brown if he is also the foreign workers' landlord, but he didn't answer.
Emily Bryce, who still works at one of his outlets, said she believes the foreigners are exploited because many are professionals by trade and leave their children behind for a chance to live in Canada.
"My Canada isn't one where you force people to choose between their job and their family. They should be taking full families in and giving them citizenship," said Bryce.
The whole [foreign worker] program is unjust and it has too many loopholes in it for franchisee owners to exploit them."
Locals feel marginalized nationwide
Go Public received complaints from McDonald's workers in other B.C. and Alberta locations, too, as well as Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Newfoundland.
"The whole time I have worked at the local McDonald's there has been nothing but favouritism towards the Filipinos," said a worker in New Brunswick. "Any Canadian that works here feels that if they were to complain it would be viewed racist, but it is a serious problem."
"I've seen countless [local] people turned down [for] the chance to even submit resumes, or have the chance of their resumes to be looked at, before they enter the trash," said an employee from a B.C. location.
An insider from Edmonton wrote, "Being a former general manager for McDonald's, I can tell you on the franchisee side of the business this is the preferred hiring method...There are numerous other franchisees in the system that will exclude hiring Canadians first."
Seventy five percent of McDonald's outlets in Canada are owned by franchisees.
A former assistant manager from a McDonald's in Parksville, B.C., who was there for 24 years, said she was effectively pushed out the door in favour of workers from the Philippines.
"All those of us who have left, you know, for sure have all felt pushed out," said 52-year-old Christina Morrow. "It was reverse discrimination."
Her former boss, Jamie Johannesen, owns four area franchises. Morrow said he brought in 20 foreign workers when he bought the Parksville location three years ago.
Filipinos 'better workers'
"He said they were better workers...so I would have to cut [local employee] hours to give these people 40 hours."
Morrow said her work was criticized for the first time in two decades and her pay was cut from $18 to $11 an hour.
"It felt like a knife in my heart, she said. I'd been there 24 years...a lifetime to devote your flesh and blood to a position like that but obviously I wasn't wanted anymore."
She quit a year ago, because she says she couldn't handle the pay cut.
I would say the foreign workers were definitely favoured in almost every aspect," said 19-year-old Brayden Chamberlain, who worked at the same McDonald's for three years.
He quit last spring, because he said his hours had been cut so much it wasn't worth working there anymore. He said some of the Filipinos had management roles, which made local workers feel marginalized.
"They treat you a lot differently. You're the minority of the company and you almost end up
feeling exiled, which is why I ended up quitting," he said. "If you are not Filipino, you have no place there."
The owner, Johannesen, did not respond to requests for comment.
Go Public asked McDonald's Canada for comment on this story, but the company said it needed more time to investigate.
Corporate McDonald's responding
"We have begun the process of undertaking a comprehensive review, working closely with external advisers, of all our restaurants – franchised and corporate-owned – across Canada that employ temporary foreign workers," said McDonald's Canada spokesperson Richard Ellis.
As you will appreciate, it will take a significant amount of time to do this right."
The company said earlier it has 3,400 temporary foreign workers in its 1,400 locations and it abides by all the rules of the federal program.
NDP employment critic Jinny Sims is calling for an emergency debate in Parliament and said the government should now suspend all temporary foreign worker permits for fast-food outlets.
"I believe this is an emergency," said Sims. "This is creating unnecessary tension and the minister cannot wash his hands of this...his government is allowing this program to be abused."
Hmm, my thoughts on this are mixed. On the one hand, I can understand franchisees preference for foreign workers. These kind of jobs have high turnover and attract the kind of Canadians with very little work experience. The foreign workers tend to be older, are required to be reliable if they want to keep their visas and cannot just quit to find another job. That's a load off any franchisee's mind.
On the other hand, I don't like the blatant discrimination shown to Canadians in terms of hours and wages. Then there's the gaming of the temporary foreign worker visa program by these franchise owners. They are making life difficult for employers who genuinely can't find suitable workers in Canada.
The Temporary Worker Visa Program is a temporary solution to a permanent problem. Willing Canadians not even granted interviews while foreign workers are hired to fill an artificial need? There is so much abuse of the program and it keeps wages artificially low by increasing the pool of labour at Canadians expense. Besides the foreign labour brokers, the only other beneficiary of the program is Air Canada which keeps jets full flying workers to and from Canada.
Yes, there have been abuses of the program, but you can't just kill it entirely. A lot of fast food joints/hotels in Alberta and Saskatchewan cannot compete with the offers in a buoyant job market. Workers from elsewhere in Canada are not coming here to make beds at the Motel 6 either. The only alternatives are foreign labour or a helluva lot more babies....Renee, are your siblings as fertile as you? ;)
After reading the article, I see that McDonald's stores nationwide are using guest workers..
If as some managers claim owners are deliberately not hiring citizens isn't that employment discrimination?
If some owners are paying people from foreign countries a higher wages than citizens, isn't that discrimination based on country of origin?
Why aren't the owners who break employment laws being fined?
Quote from: "Shen Li"
On the other hand, I don't like the blatant discrimination shown to Canadians in terms of hours and wages. Then there's the gaming of the temporary foreign worker visa program by these franchise owners. They are making life difficult for employers who genuinely can't find suitable workers in Canada.
what the princess ^^ says......being a frequent visitor to macdonalds....(i meet all my oldster buddies there for coffee) i can attest to the complete uselessness of any white teenage employee i have ever seen there...the flips on the other hand are excellent workers, friendly, pleasant and courteous....who/whom (for RW) would you hire..????
Quote from: "Obvious Li"
I'm curious too if RW was a franchisee, which pool of labour she would hire? Canadians or foreign workers?
What happened to the good old days when companies just wanted to bring down wages for foreign temp workers
Quote from: "Romero"
something happened that they never experienced before...they hired these foreigners and they work like hell, are all the things i stated above and because of them the company makes more money so they can pay them more....imagine that.....it's been so long since someone in this country put in an honest days work most employers today have never seen it...they are blown away when those brown folks show them how it is done.....they make canadian workers an embarrassment................... another reason why i loved living in Asia......
Quote from: "Romero"
I guess they decided it makes more cents to lower wages for adolescent Canadians and give higher wages and more hours to Filipinos.
Just curious, is every single Mickey D's/Timmy's/hotel in Vancouver majority foreign visa holders? It is in Edmonton.
Quote from: "Shen Li"
I don't really know! I can't usually tell if they're foreign, Canadian or new Canadian.
I do know that a lot of real foreign temp workers work in the farms around the Lower Mainland. Where I live downtown, a lot of foreign workers from Asia, Europe, Central and South America are working in the service industries. Many of them are students or looking for a new life.
New Canadians are awesome. We've all been there.
I just worry about how new Canadians and Canadians are exploited. That doesn't do any good for anyone.
Quote from: "Romero"
Quote from: "Shen Li"
I don't really know! I can't usually tell if they're foreign, Canadian or new Canadian.
I do know that a lot of real foreign temp workers work in the farms around the Lower Mainland. Where I live downtown, a lot of foreign workers from Asia, Europe, Central and South America are working in the service industries. Many of them are students or looking for a new life.
New Canadians are awesome. We've all been there.
I just worry about how new Canadians and Canadians are exploited. That doesn't do any good for anyone.
Most of the coffee shops and mall food court stalls that I have seen in Calgary appear to be foreign workers primarily from the Philippines..
I don't know what their status is, but the ones I am referring to have accents from the Philippines.
Quote from: "Romero"
Quote from: "Shen Li"
I don't really know! I can't usually tell if they're foreign, Canadian or new Canadian.
I do know that a lot of real foreign temp workers work in the farms around the Lower Mainland. Where I live downtown, a lot of foreign workers from Asia, Europe, Central and South America are working in the service industries. Many of them are students or looking for a new life.
New Canadians are awesome. We've all been there.
I just worry about how new Canadians and Canadians are exploited. That doesn't do any good for anyone.
all groups of newcomers to canada were exploited to some degree...no big deal...by the 2nd. or 3rd. generation they own every fucking corner store in town.....that's the way God meant it to be......gotta pay your dues just like every other generation did...... :ugeek:
Quote from: "Obvious Li"
Quote from: "Romero"
Quote from: "Shen Li"
I don't really know! I can't usually tell if they're foreign, Canadian or new Canadian.
I do know that a lot of real foreign temp workers work in the farms around the Lower Mainland. Where I live downtown, a lot of foreign workers from Asia, Europe, Central and South America are working in the service industries. Many of them are students or looking for a new life.
New Canadians are awesome. We've all been there.
I just worry about how new Canadians and Canadians are exploited. That doesn't do any good for anyone.
all groups of newcomers to canada were exploited to some degree...no big deal...by the 2nd. or 3rd. generation they own every fucking corner store in town.....that's the way God meant it to be......gotta pay your dues just like every other generation did...... :ugeek:
My brother and I have had easier lives in Canada than our parents did..
Both of my parents have worked hard at tough jobs.
i read in a newspaper the other day that here, in Paradise, the 2nd. largest ethnic group behind Ukrainians (who have been here for a hundred years) is now Filipinos....i work with six of them.....i think it's great......they all came with temporary work permits......all have stayed permanently.....they send a fucking container full of shit back to the Philippines every month....you need a dam forklift to get the boxes into their van.....everything from electronics to clothes, food, school supplies, anything you can imagine off it goes....they have a deal with some container shipping company out of Winnipeg to ship a large size box of any weight to the Philippines for a flat fee of $50 so it's katy bar the door on how heavy they can pack it.,
Quote from: "Obvious Li"
Hmmm, this another concern I have about Temp Visa Program. People using it as a backdoor to immigration. I am not saying they all wouldn't qualify for permanent residency, but I am thinking many would not be accepted if they applied as PR in the first place. Having said that, I think the Philippines is Alberta's number 1 source of international migrants right now. Good folks and adapt very easily to life in the West.
My daughter will be trying to get her first job in a few years..
I will be so very disappointed for her if she cannot get one because fast food restaurants and stores will only hire foreigners on temporary work permits.
:(
Quote
"The issue is how seriously are they taking that enforcement and how much are they actually doing it and what happens when they actually do do it," said Naomi Alboim, chair of Queen's University's School of Policy Studies.
Alboim said the temporary foreign workers' low-skilled pilot project, introduced by the Liberal government in 2002, has since "grown quite astronomically and that's the group that is pretty vulnerable." Those who fall under that category include workers in the hospitality and food sectors.
Alboim says the program is problematic. There is no transition to permanent residency status for low-skilled workers, unlike workers in the Live-In Caregiver Program. As well, low-skilled temporary foreign workers are tied to a single employer, single location, with little mobility and very little enforcement, she said.
"And the question is, is it really true that there aren't people already here in Canada — whether permanent residents or Canadian citizens or students or young people — not available to do those jobs?"
The applications are approved without asking employers pointed questions about their wages, working conditions, how far afield have they looked for workers and what could they do to make their jobs more attractive, Alboim said.
//http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/04/16/temporary-foreign-workers-approved-too-easily_n_5151233.html
^Myth, temporary foreign workers are better educated/skilled than their Canadian counterparts at Timmies they work alongside. This is one of the main reasons employers prefer them.
Come on. Canadians are too uneducated and unskilled to work at Tim Hortons or McDonald's? How on Earth do they manage to do every other job out there?
Companies prefer temporary foreign workers because lower wages, no benefits, and no worries about those pesky worker's rights.
Quote from: "Romero"
Companies prefer temporary foreign workers because lower wages, no benefits, and no worries about those pesky worker's rights.
you gotta get out more homy....now your starting to sound silly again.....businesses hire foreign workers because they can work...usually it costs them more for foreigners....but it is worth it.....try running a business and you will soon change your tune..... :ugeek:
How many times have you been replaced by foreign workers?
Quote from: "Romero"
Companies prefer temporary foreign workers because lower wages, no benefits, and no worries about those pesky worker's rights.
No, a retarded ape on drugs(Oddstain for example) could do those jobs. I'm just saying if you go into any Mickey D's here in the Czuk, the Filipino's will be college/university educated while the Canadians will likely still have a curfew. Employers are willing to pay them a little more because they feel they are worth it. It's discriminatory as hell of course, but I can see it from the franchisees POV.
I notice the orientals are all upset about this foreign worker programs Filipino workers taking advantage of Canada yet they don't have any problem with the china scam foreign mining workers which actually is a serious issue. There is no shortage of Canadians willing to work in the mines for the big buck, May I remind you all the Filipinos like Canada, want to be Canadian and like Canadians as opposed to oriental Canadiscams who see us as a country and people to scam while they enjoy the benefits of living with a people with a sense of secency and are the enemy of them taking over the country. I like seeing Filipinos everywhere. I always get a great response from them when I speak tagalog as opposed to the extremely alarmed response I get from Chinese guys when I speak Chinese. Knowing these languages really puts the odifference in my face and makes it very obvious
Employment Minister Jason Kenney is an "oriental"?
Quote from: "Romero"
i was never a worker....i was always an owner/boss.......i hired workers that would make my businesses successful.....and that would most certainly not include any white canadian public school/university product.....waste of skin and my time.
Quote from: "Obvious Li"
Quote from: "Romero"
i was never a worker....i was always an owner/boss.......i hired workers that would make my businesses successful.....and that would most certainly not include any white canadian public school/university product.....waste of skin and my time.
My daughter, while a product of private school education will be applying for her first part time job in a few years Obvious Li..
It would break my heart if she was denied the same opportunities that I enjoyed at that age to work at a traditional entry level part time job because she was born in Canada.
Quote from: "Fashionista"
Quote from: "Obvious Li"
Quote from: "Romero"
i was never a worker....i was always an owner/boss.......i hired workers that would make my businesses successful.....and that would most certainly not include any white canadian public school/university product.....waste of skin and my time.
My daughter, while a product of private school education will be applying for her first part time job in a few years Obvious Li..
It would break my heart if she was denied the same opportunities that I enjoyed at that age to work at a traditional entry level part time job because she was born in Canada.
believe me your daughter will do just great...actually more than great.....it has nothing to do with where you were born and everything to do with where and how you were educated.....if you are a product of a canadian public school and your parents are the typical white progressive liberals...then your kids are doomed to low paying menial jobs or useless govt. jobs....nobody else wants them or their skill set......if i was still as active in business as i once was i would hire either of your kids in a heartbeat.
Quote from: "Obvious Li"
Quote from: "Fashionista"
Quote from: "Obvious Li"
i was never a worker....i was always an owner/boss.......i hired workers that would make my businesses successful.....and that would most certainly not include any white canadian public school/university product.....waste of skin and my time.
My daughter, while a product of private school education will be applying for her first part time job in a few years Obvious Li..
It would break my heart if she was denied the same opportunities that I enjoyed at that age to work at a traditional entry level part time job because she was born in Canada.
believe me your daughter will do just great...actually more than great.....it has nothing to do with where you were born and everything to do with where and how you were educated.....if you are a product of a canadian public school and your parents are the typical white progressive liberals...then your kids are doomed to low paying menial jobs or useless govt. jobs....nobody else wants them or their skill set......if i was still as active in business as i once was i would hire either of your kids in a heartbeat.
Thank you so much Obvious Li..
I would like to see have the same opportunity I did to get a part time job..
Most entry level jobs are in fast food or retail..
I know she will work hard and learn as much as she can in a few years..
My son is a long way off from a part time job yet.
^There will always be a job for your kids, especially in Alberta. Don't even worry about that.
As I said, my thoughts on this are mixed. I know there is a skills shortage here in Western Canada. I also know it can be difficult for franchisees in places like Saskatoon, Edmonton and Grande Prairie to find people for low-skilled service jobs. However, this is happening in some places like Nova Scotia which indicates franchisees are gaming the system and worse than that discriminating against Canadians. This will inevitably bring about a federal crackdown which hurts employers who genuinely cannot find workers.
Quote from: "Shen Li"
As I said, my thoughts on this are mixed. I know there is a skills shortage here in Western Canada. I also know it can be difficult for franchisees in places like Saskatoon, Edmonton and Grande Prairie to find people for low-skilled service jobs. However, this is happening in some places like Nova Scotia which indicates franchisees are gaming the system and worse than that discriminating against Canadians. This will inevitably bring about a federal crackdown which hurts employers who genuinely cannot find workers.
Maybe, I worry too much..
I see the Sobey's and Walmart I shop at always have a sign looking for employees.
Quote from: "Fashionista"
Quote from: "Shen Li"
As I said, my thoughts on this are mixed. I know there is a skills shortage here in Western Canada. I also know it can be difficult for franchisees in places like Saskatoon, Edmonton and Grande Prairie to find people for low-skilled service jobs. However, this is happening in some places like Nova Scotia which indicates franchisees are gaming the system and worse than that discriminating against Canadians. This will inevitably bring about a federal crackdown which hurts employers who genuinely cannot find workers.
Maybe, I worry too much..
I see the Sobey's and Walmart I shop at always have a sign looking for employees.
yes you worry way too much.......my son runs a big company in Calgary...when she is ready and if you are interested let me know and i will make the phone call....see...easy peasy japaneasy........ :ugeek:
^There you go Fash, problem solved. Now stopping asking franchisees to consider the applications of lazy Canadians. ;)
Quote
The report also suggests that one-quarter of new jobs in Canada could be going to temporary foreign workers.
New data from StatsCan, released Tuesday, show the number of job openings in Canada continues to shrink, sitting near its lowest points since StatsCan started measuring the data in 2011.
There was an average of 219,000 job vacancies in Canada in 2013, down from 252,000 in 2012, StatsCan reported. Competition for jobs is also growing: There were 6.2 unemployed people per job in 2013, compared to 5.4 unemployed per job the year before.
The PBO report, released last month, suggests that the TFW program may be behind the shrinking job opportunities.
//http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/04/17/pbo-temporary-foreign-workers_n_5162001.html
While we all agree some people have used the Temp Worker Program in a way it was NEVER intended there is still a need for foreign workers.
Quote
Toronto, August 22, 2013 – While labour market pressures eased somewhat in the second quarter, 290,000 full- and part-time private sector jobs still went unfilled for four months or more, according to data compiled by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB).
The results of the quarterly Help Wanted report are based on responses from 3,526 small business owners, who were surveyed on unfilled jobs in their firms owing to the shortage of qualified labour. Later today, CFIB and Employment Minister Jason Kenney will host a Twitter forum (#cdnjobchat) on these ongoing labour shortages, and possible solutions such as the Canada Job Grant program.
"While the overall vacancy rate dropped to 2.4 per cent (from 2.5 per), the problem continues to be most acute for smaller businesses," said Ted Mallett, CFIB's chief economist and vice-president. "In fact, those with fewer than 4 employees saw an increase in their vacancy rate (4.5 per cent), while larger businesses all saw decreases."
Saskatchewan continues to have the highest provincial vacancy rate in the country, and climbing (4.1). Alberta's rate dipped (3.4), but continues, along with Newfoundland and Labrador's (3.0) to be above the national average. Quebec (2.4), Manitoba (2.5) and British Columbia (2.4) landed right around the average, while Ontario (2.1), New Brunswick (2.0), Nova Scotia (2.0) and Prince Edward Island (1.8) had lower-than-average vacancy rates.
By sector, personal services (3.9) and construction (3.5) had the country's highest vacancy rates, although both saw slight declines from the previous quarter. Health and education services (2.4) and hospitality (2.8) saw increases in their vacancy rates.
"If you can't find people with the right skills, sometimes you find people, and work on the skills," said CFIB president Dan Kelly. "Programs like the Canada Jobs Grant have significant potential to help on the training front if they reflect the realities of running a small business. I look forward to today's Twitter forum to get the minister's thoughts on these issues."
http://www.cfib-fcei.ca/english/article/5388-help-wanted-release.html
These kind of abuses are going to bring about a federal crackdown on the entire program.
Who the fuck works at a family restaurant for 28 years? :o :o :o
Quote
"
"How can it be that I'm the one out looking for a job and they're the ones that are still employed?"
In March, she and all the staff received letters from the three brothers who own the restaurant.
She says about half of the workers are Canadians. The other half are temporary foreign workers.
"Due to changes in operations we are currently discharging all of our staff," the letter says.
Some of them were subsequently hired back, including two waitresses who are temporary foreign workers.
But Nelson was permanently dismissed.
Since 2002, the federal government has allowed companies to hire temporary foreign workers for jobs they can't fill with Canadians.
Employers are supposed to advertise available positions in hopes of finding Canadian candidates. If no Canadians want the job, they can hire temporary foreign workers after applying for a Labour Market Opinion, a process intended to demonstrate there are no Canadian workers available to do the job.
In recent years, Brothers has brought in workers, including waitresses, through this process.
Now those government-approved temporary foreign workers have jobs, while Nelson continues to look for one.
Nelson says she was planning to retire at Brothers and had every reason to believe that would happen.
She says that at a meeting a few years back, "the three of them [Brothers personnel] were sitting there and they all said as long as we own this place, you'll always have a job with us."
'It's hurtful to be put aside'
Shaunna Jennison-Yung said she was given the same promise.
"The jobs they have aren't jobs that nobody wanted. We wanted them," Jennison-Yung explained.
She said to make matters worse, as a supervisor, she was unwittingly training her replacements.
"It's hurtful to be put aside and have people that you trained to do your job now doing your job. It's heartbreaking is what it is."
Brothers restaurant responds
In a written statement to CBC's iTeam, the owners of Brothers acknowledged that the company participates in the Temporary Foreign Workers Program.
"To the best of our information and belief the business is compliant with the program and any changes to operations will be structured to ensure compliance."
And they pointed out "employees are a valuable asset to any business."
"All obligations to any employee are taken seriously. This includes the protection of personal information."
Chris Worswick, a labour economist with Carleton University in Ottawa, said there is increasing anecdotal evidence employers prefer to hire temporary foreign workers.
"I don't see how they can legally choose to not hire Canadian workers who are qualified, who want to work at the advertised wage, and then turn around and ask the government for a temporary foreign worker. My understanding is they should be refused in that situation."
Worswick said temporary foreign workers are tied to the employer who brought them into the country and would have to leave Canada if they lost their jobs.
He said this gives Canadian employers confidence that foreign workers will be hard working and won't take days off.
"I have genuine concern that Canadian employers are distorting the program, sort of breaking the rules, I think explicit rules of the program, to their own advantage."
Brothers situation raises questions, expert says
The chair of Queen's University's School of Policy Studies in Kingston, Ont., said while she doesn't know the specifics of the Brothers situation, on the surface it raises some questions.
"It would certainly be against the spirit, the intent of the program and likely it would be against the letter of the regulations to bring people in and then subsequently displace people as a result of bringing those folks in," said Naomi Alboim.
She worries that Canadian companies are using the temporary foreign worker program before they've done their due diligence and thoroughly examined the Canadian labour market.
"We should only be using temporary foreign workers as the very, very, very last resort." Alboim explained.
She said Canadian companies should do some self-reflection and examine their own wages, working conditions and training programs before looking outside the country.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/waitresses-in-saskatchewan-lose-jobs-to-foreign-workers-1.2615157
Quote from: "Shen Li"
Who the fuck works at a family restaurant for 28 years? :o :o :o
Quote
"
"How can it be that I'm the one out looking for a job and they're the ones that are still employed?"
In March, she and all the staff received letters from the three brothers who own the restaurant.
She says about half of the workers are Canadians. The other half are temporary foreign workers.
"Due to changes in operations we are currently discharging all of our staff," the letter says.
Some of them were subsequently hired back, including two waitresses who are temporary foreign workers.
But Nelson was permanently dismissed.
Since 2002, the federal government has allowed companies to hire temporary foreign workers for jobs they can't fill with Canadians.
Employers are supposed to advertise available positions in hopes of finding Canadian candidates. If no Canadians want the job, they can hire temporary foreign workers after applying for a Labour Market Opinion, a process intended to demonstrate there are no Canadian workers available to do the job.
In recent years, Brothers has brought in workers, including waitresses, through this process.
Now those government-approved temporary foreign workers have jobs, while Nelson continues to look for one.
Nelson says she was planning to retire at Brothers and had every reason to believe that would happen.
She says that at a meeting a few years back, "the three of them [Brothers personnel] were sitting there and they all said as long as we own this place, you'll always have a job with us."
'It's hurtful to be put aside'
Shaunna Jennison-Yung said she was given the same promise.
"The jobs they have aren't jobs that nobody wanted. We wanted them," Jennison-Yung explained.
She said to make matters worse, as a supervisor, she was unwittingly training her replacements.
"It's hurtful to be put aside and have people that you trained to do your job now doing your job. It's heartbreaking is what it is."
Brothers restaurant responds
In a written statement to CBC's iTeam, the owners of Brothers acknowledged that the company participates in the Temporary Foreign Workers Program.
"To the best of our information and belief the business is compliant with the program and any changes to operations will be structured to ensure compliance."
And they pointed out "employees are a valuable asset to any business."
"All obligations to any employee are taken seriously. This includes the protection of personal information."
Chris Worswick, a labour economist with Carleton University in Ottawa, said there is increasing anecdotal evidence employers prefer to hire temporary foreign workers.
"I don't see how they can legally choose to not hire Canadian workers who are qualified, who want to work at the advertised wage, and then turn around and ask the government for a temporary foreign worker. My understanding is they should be refused in that situation."
Worswick said temporary foreign workers are tied to the employer who brought them into the country and would have to leave Canada if they lost their jobs.
He said this gives Canadian employers confidence that foreign workers will be hard working and won't take days off.
"I have genuine concern that Canadian employers are distorting the program, sort of breaking the rules, I think explicit rules of the program, to their own advantage."
Brothers situation raises questions, expert says
The chair of Queen's University's School of Policy Studies in Kingston, Ont., said while she doesn't know the specifics of the Brothers situation, on the surface it raises some questions.
"It would certainly be against the spirit, the intent of the program and likely it would be against the letter of the regulations to bring people in and then subsequently displace people as a result of bringing those folks in," said Naomi Alboim.
She worries that Canadian companies are using the temporary foreign worker program before they've done their due diligence and thoroughly examined the Canadian labour market.
"We should only be using temporary foreign workers as the very, very, very last resort." Alboim explained.
She said Canadian companies should do some self-reflection and examine their own wages, working conditions and training programs before looking outside the country.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/waitresses-in-saskatchewan-lose-jobs-to-foreign-workers-1.2615157
I feel so bad for the people that lost their jobs.
:(
With all the publicity surrounding their dubious dismissal they will get job offers, guaranteed.
Quote from: "seoulbro"
I didn't read any follow up story about them..
I hope it all works out for them.
Slimy, backstabbing Chinese will always find a way to bring in more Candiscams.
Quote from: "Gary Oak"
If you don't mind Oak, we're trying to discuss a serious issue.
i'm thinking the owners of Brothers restaurant in Weyburn SK. will be keeping a low profile for a while.....that is old style reform country........a city not on Justins future book signing tour...... :ugeek:
Quote from: "Obvious Li"
McDonald's is ordering some kind of change to how their franchisees recruit foreign labour. I find it hard to believe that fast food joints in Sask and Alberta will rely on locals any time soon to meet their labour needs.
Quote from: "Shen Li"
Quote from: "Obvious Li"
McDonald's is ordering some kind of change to how their franchisees recruit foreign labour. I find it hard to believe that fast food joints in Sask and Alberta will rely on locals any time soon to meet their labour needs.
agreed.....i reference this one case as it is a single entity owner business that laid off a 30 year and an 18 year employee and replaced them with Filipinos...the locals in small town weyburn bitch enough now that they have to repeat their order of pancakes to some non english speaking "mud" person...so i suspect they locals will not look kindly on their friends being replaced by dark faces...Macdonalds in general stated tonight on the news it is going ahead full steam with its TWP hiring policies.......i have mixed feelings about it all...the company i work for hires a lot of Filipino TFWs....they ALL end up staying in canada and bringing their families here......that is good....i like that part of the program......but the owners here get hundreds of applications from local kids.....they just throw them in the garbage and never respond.
it now appears Macdonalds will halt their participation in the program pending a third party review......so look for it to start up again soon
Quote from: "Obvious Li"
Quote from: "Shen Li"
Quote from: "Obvious Li"
McDonald's is ordering some kind of change to how their franchisees recruit foreign labour. I find it hard to believe that fast food joints in Sask and Alberta will rely on locals any time soon to meet their labour needs.
agreed.....i reference this one case as it is a single entity owner business that laid off a 30 year and an 18 year employee and replaced them with Filipinos...the locals in small town weyburn bitch enough now that they have to repeat their order of pancakes to some non english speaking "mud" person...so i suspect they locals will not look kindly on their friends being replaced by dark faces...Macdonalds in general stated tonight on the news it is going ahead full steam with its TWP hiring policies.......i have mixed feelings about it all...the company i work for hires a lot of Filipino TFWs....they ALL end up staying in canada and bringing their families here......that is good....i like that part of the program......but
That is terrible Obvious Li.
:(
Quote from: "Shen Li"
McDonald's is putting a hold on the program and conducting a third party audit. Good news. Thanks, CBC!
I saw last night that McDonald's was sticking a bunch of foreign workers into an apartment and deducting rent from their paychecks.
Quote from: "Romero"
Quote from: "Shen Li"
McDonald's is putting a hold on the program and conducting a third party audit. Good news. Thanks, CBC!
I saw last night that McDonald's was sticking a bunch of foreign workers into an apartment and deducting rent from their paychecks.
stop watching the CBC homy...those fuckers are insane.......part of the TFW program requires the business to provide a certain number of hours, transportation and housing...they do that here too...each TFW has so many guaranteed hours and is given staff housing and rent is deducted each month.... :ugeek:
The Conservative government watched the CBC investigation and are now looking into why Canadians are losing their jobs and why foreign workers are being exploited.
Quote from: "Romero"
oh ya homy.........i'm sure Harper is glued to the CBC on a daily basis......hahahahahaha
Quote from: "Romero"
Quote from: "Shen Li"
McDonald's is putting a hold on the program and conducting a third party audit. Good news. Thanks, CBC!
I saw last night that McDonald's was sticking a bunch of foreign workers into an apartment and deducting rent from their paychecks.
Nothing wrong with deducting rent from employer owned housing. The two big beef packing houses in Alberta do that to their out of province hires. Also not uncommon with construction workers hired out of province.
The problem with the TFW program is SOME employers abuse the system to discriminate against Canadians.
Quote
The Belizians worked at McDonald's locations in south Edmonton and said it took them more than an hour to get to work by public transit.
Five workers paying $280 bi-weekly works out to $3,030 per month. That suggests McDonald's charged them $600 more for rent than what it paid.
Employment Minister Jason Kenney told Go Public if the workers felt coerced to rent a place they didn't want to live in, that would warrant investigation.
"No one, including an employer, can force anyone to live in a particular place. People are free to choose where they live," said Kenney, whose department said it is looking into this case.
"It doesn't matter whether they are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or temporary resident, they have full mobility rights. And if any employer is somehow using ways to coerce people to stay in a particular place that would be illegal."
//http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/mcdonald-s-foreign-workers-call-it-slavery-1.2612659
Quote from: "Romero"
Quote
The Belizians worked at McDonald's locations in south Edmonton and said it took them more than an hour to get to work by public transit.
Five workers paying $280 bi-weekly works out to $3,030 per month. That suggests McDonald's charged them $600 more for rent than what it paid.
Employment Minister Jason Kenney told Go Public if the workers felt coerced to rent a place they didn't want to live in, that would warrant investigation.
"No one, including an employer, can force anyone to live in a particular place. People are free to choose where they live," said Kenney, whose department said it is looking into this case.
"It doesn't matter whether they are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or temporary resident, they have full mobility rights. And if any employer is somehow using ways to coerce people to stay in a particular place that would be illegal."
//http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/mcdonald-s-foreign-workers-call-it-slavery-1.2612659
If they were in fact paying more than Edmonton market rate for rent then why didn't they move? They are not forced to live in employer owned housing.
Quote
Quote from: "Romero"
Quote
That is illegal and since they didn't actually make an effort to find a place of their own we have no way of knowing if that is true or not. Lots of Filipina TFW's around Edmonton have found their own housing and some of them even work at Mickey D's.