A message from a retiring 464 member:
http://www.teamsters464.org/news/open-letter-my-fellow-union-members#
Once again, the middle class must pay!
The Teamsters Union is opposed to the federal government-imposed hike in EI contributions, which took effect on January 1 of this year – the second consecutive annual increase. As a result of this rate hike, the average worker will now pay almost $100 more in contributions over 2010.
“Once again, the middle class must bear the brunt of government decisions,” declared Teamsters Canada President Robert Bouvier. “Is this increase – which will only make workers more impoverished – reasonable?”
CEO salaries are subsidized
Canadians will now be caught between a government that takes more money out of their pockets and companies that enjoy a reduced tax burden.
The drop in corporate taxes, from 21% to 15% over the past six years, has deprived the federal government of almost $1.2 billion, according to the Canadian Labour Congress.
The President of Teamsters Canada expressed a related view, last March: that tax breaks granted to companies were a disguised subsidy for part of CEO salaries.
“Canadians are already paying more than their fair share of taxes,” he explained. “I have no issue with subsidies granted to companies in trouble, but these businesses must be required to create jobs rather than enrich their CEOs' already-swollen salaries. Nothing justifies reducing their tax burden on the backs of Canadians.”
Twisted logic
Where’s the logic in asking Canadians to reduce their debt load and save more while also continuing to keep the economy going? How can workers seriously be expected to bear the costs of increased EI contributions, a rise in the Consumer Price Index, soaring gas prices and higher government-imposed administrative costs?
“It seems obvious to me that Canadians are – slowly but surely – suffocating economically,” pointed out Robert Bouvier. “What is the federal government waiting for? Why is it not taking actions that are fair to all citizens?”
The Teamsters Union represents 125,000 members in Canada in all trades. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters, with which Teamsters Canada is affiliated, has 1.4 million members in North America.
Information:
Stéphane Lacroix, Director of Communications, Teamsters Canada