Commentary,  COVID,  Future of Work,  Labour Standards

There are Opportunities as Well as Threats for Workers in the COVID-19 Recession

July 9, 2020 /

The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic crisis poses many obvious threats to workers in all industries: job loss, reduced hours, employer demands for concessions in wages and benefits… and of course the risk of contracting the virus at work. However, the pandemic is also highlighting long-standing weaknesses in Canada’s labour market structures and policies – and opening promising opportunities to win improvements in those structures and policies.

Journalist Chelsea Nash, labour beat reporter with the Canadian digital news site rabble.ca, has published an inspiring article discussing those opportunities, and analyzing what unions and equality advocates will need to do to make the most of them. Her article features extensive quotes from Centre for Future Work Director Jim Stanford, and links to our recent paper on Ten Ways the COVID-19 Pandemic Must Change Work for Good.

Here is Chelsea’s full article: A look to the future: How Canada’s pandemic recovery could benefit workers.

Jim Stanford is Economist and Director of the Centre for Future Work. He divides his time between Sydney, Australia and Vancouver, Canada. Jim is one of Canada’s best-known economic commentators. He served for over 20 years as Economist and Director of Policy with Unifor, Canada’s largest private-sector trade union.