Canadian Labour Reporter

Economy adds 6,600 jobs in July OTTAWA (REUTERS) — Canada added an estimated 6,600 jobs in July from June, in a mixed report from Statistics Canada on Friday that left analysts concluding that while the economy was not spectacular, it was at least "steady as she goes." The gain in July nearly mirrored a fall in June while holding onto May's outsized gain of 58,900. The average increase is 19,700 jobs in the last three months and 11,200 in the last half year. The jobless rate held at 6.8 per cent. The median forecast in a Reuters survey of economists was for a gain of 5,000 jobs, with the jobless rate at 6.8 per cent. However, the number of full-time posi- tions fell by 17,300 and the number of em- ployees actually fell an estimated 33,900, with the self-employed rising by 40,500. Employment grew in the services sector but fell in the goods-producing sector. "Obviously, it's not a particularly strong report. We saw an outright decline in full- time jobs. But it also doesn't show a pro- nounced weakening in the economy," said Bank of Montreal chief economist Doug Porter. "Typically, if we were having a full-blown recession, you would have this process where output declines and then employ- ment declines and then spending declines and it feeds on itself, and we're just not see- ing that in Canada." In Canada, it's serv- ing as a "steady-as-she-goes type of release," said David Tulk, chief Canada macro-strategist at Toronto-Dominion Bank. The U.S. number is the same kind of thing, where it's close enough to the market where it doesn't really drive too much." The U.S. added 215,000 non-farm jobs in July, with unemployment at 5.3 per cent. (The two jobless rates are not strictly com- parable.) Manitoulin Family Resources, OPSEU ratify agreement MANITOULIN ISLAND, ONT — Em- ployees at Manitoulin Family Resources have ratified a three-year agreement with the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU). The union represents 30 workers with the agency. The OPSEU members voted 75 per cent in favour of the new agreement. The deal includes annual wage increases of 1.25 per cent, 1.5 per cent and 1.5 per cent. Improvements to holidays include the addition of the August civic holiday as a designated holiday as well as the addition of two half-day floaters for part-time workers. The recall period was increased from 18 to 24 months while stronger language pro- vides protections for seniority, lieu hours, scheduling and harassment. Despite extensive debate, the union re- ported the parties were unable to come to an agreement on the issue of a pension plan. The parties' previous agreement — also a three-year deal — expired on June 30. "This local is made up of a small number of very caring and hardworking women who are dedicated to helping some of the most vulnerable members in their com- munity," said OPSEU president Warren (Smokey) Thomas. "This is an example of what can happen when an employer respects and values its employees, and bargains in good faith." LABOUR BRIEFS 2 Canadian HR Reporter, a Thomson Reuters business 2015 FORMERLY CLV REPORTS Serving labour relations professionals since 1956 www.labour-reporter.com Published weekly by omson Reuters Canada Ltd. 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The law was adopted by U.S. securities regulators and applauded by unions and Democrats, like Senator Elizabeth Warren.

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