Podcast: Rising Inflation Creates Tension in Collective Bargaining

With year-over-year inflation topping 8%, far in advance of nominal wage gains, workers in all parts of Canada’s economy are struggling to protect their real living standards. Real wages have declined by more than 3% in the last 12 months alone, with further erosion pegged in the months ahead.

Collective bargaining tables in both the private and public sectors have been roiled by the acceleration in inflation. Workers are determined to try to keep up with inflation. And that determination is only heightened by the fact that corporate profits have increased so strongly alongside the rise in consumer prices. Some major strikes have already occurred (such as in Ontario’s construction sector); others are possible in the months ahead.

Centre for Future Work Director Jim Stanford recently discussed the outlook for collective bargaining and wage trends in this extended podcast with Phil Johnson, host of Early Edition for the iHeartRADIO network.