Here is a look at the role of private sector and public sector unions.

1. Private and Public
Unions – Canada and
USA
BY: PAUL YOUNG, CPA, CGA
DATE: AUGUST 18, 2020

2. Paul Young - Presenter- Bio
• CPA, CGA
• Academia (PF1, FA4 and MS2)
• SME – Risk Management
• SME – Close, Consolidate and
Reporting
• SME – Public Policy
• SME – Financial Solutions
• SME – Supply Chain Management
Contact information:
Paul_Young_CGA@Hotmail.com

3. Disclaimer
 This presentation is one opinion on unions including public sector unions

4. Agenda
 Union dues
 Union dues purpose
 Pensions
 CPPIB
 Issues
 Lobbying
 Blog – CPPIB
 Oversight
 Justin Trudeau and the Media fund
 Jerry P Dias / CPC attacks
 Brewers Retail Union
 ETFO Union
 OSSTF and ETFO
 Federal Government jobs
 Efficient Government
 Worker Rights
 Montreal Port Strike
 Unifor
 What’s next

5. Union Dues
 Union dues are a regular payment of
money made by members of unions. Dues
are the cost of membership; they are used
to fund the various activities which the
union engages in. Nearly all unions require
their members to pay dues.

6. What does your
dues fund?
 Your dues pay for experienced staff, including specialists in
bargaining, grievance handling, pensions, pay equity,
benefits, health and safety, human rights, communications,
education, research, organizing and more.
 Your dues pay for a network of regional offices and
membership centers, bringing OPSEU resources to
communities across Ontario.
 Your dues pay for all member expenses, including travel,
accommodation and meals for bargaining, grievance
hearings, education, conventions and conferences. Your
Local doesn’t have to cover any of the essential “big ticket”
items.
 Your dues pay for skills training so you and your co-workers
can run an effective Local and participate in the decisions
affecting the union.
 Your dues allow you to book off members to do union work
without losing pay.
 Your dues pay for skilled representation if your employer
violates your contract.

7. Pension
Funding -
Private Sector
and Public
Sector Unions

8. CPPIB
Source - https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/canada-pension-fund-manager-posts-3-1-return-for-2019-
20-1.1441082
• CPP has been enhance. The CPP enhancement
comes at a cost -
https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/public
pensions/cpp/cpp-enhancement.html
• Liberals ignored other others like pooling pension
plans for workers -
https://fcaa.gov.sk.ca/consumers-investors-
pension-plan-members/pension-plan-
members/pooled-registered-pension-plans
• People that need enhancement were left out -
https://www.benefitscanada.com/pensions/govern
ance-law/cpp-enhancements-problematic-
incomplete-study-finds-99478
• More could have been done with OAS and GIS to
better support seniors than enhancing CPP -
https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/2019-
election-retirement-payroll-tax-cpp-canada-
august-2019

9. Pension Funds
The market value of assets held in public sector funds rose 3.8% in the fourth quarter, while the value of
private sector funds edged down 0.1%. Nevertheless, the growth in private sector assets (+12.6%)
outpaced that of public sector assets (+7.7%) in 2019.
Source - https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/pension-plans-continue-face-solvency-issues
Source - https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/200610/dq200610c-eng.htm
Risk
https://www.cfo.com/retirement-plans/2020/06/pension-risk-transfer-plan-terminations-buyouts-lift-outs-and-buy-
ins/?utm_campaign=CFODailyAlert&utm_nooverride=1&utm_source=CFO-
email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=CFODailyAlert_Wednesday_2020-6-17&utm_term=retirement-plans

10. Stock Market

11. Issues facing Unions
 Members living longer
 Low market returns on pension funds
 Less new members
 Lack of training programs - https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/2019-
election-human-capital-and-skills-management-may-2019

12. Unions and Election Support
 Election lobbying
CBC Article

13. Blog - CPPIB
Diane Cox
 I am all for a good debate when it comes to policy, but people need to stop including links unless they are going to debate merits of the
contents.
 I have done allot of work on many policies as I am about solutions.
 I am not sure you are looking at all angles.

 https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/retirement-pension-and-gis-canada-analysis-april-2019
 There needs a proper balance when it comes to government programs like OAS and GIS.
 Many EU countries raised the age for OAS to 67 as part of ensuring the OAS was sustainable
 Trudeau never looks whether anything is sustainable as he has left $18B structural deficit - https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/fiscal-management-cycle-
surpluses-deficits-canada-harper-vs-trudeau
 Market returns fluctuate due to many factors including economic policies
 Money market investments do not have the same return they did 30 years ago
 CPP enhancements do not help existing retirees
 CPP enhancements will not benefit millennials as they will not max out the CPP investment for 40 years.
 CPPIB is being used by the govt to fund their infrastructure - https://nationalpost.com/opinion/kelly-mcparland-justin-trudeaus-hidden-agenda
 FYI – Brison now works for BMO - https://newsroom.bmo.com/2019-02-14-BMO-Capital-Markets-Hires-Hon-Scott-Brison-as-Vice-Chair-Investment-Corporate-Banking

14. Union Oversight
 Bill 377 – Conservative Party of Canada
 Scrapped by the Liberal Party of Canada
Justin Trudeau oversight
and transparent
Government
Our country faces many real and immediate
challenges – from a struggling middle class
to the threat of climate change. If we are to
overcome these obstacles, Canadians need to
have faith in their government’s honesty and
willingness to listen. That is why we
committed to set a higher bar for openness
and transparency in Ottawa. Government and
its information must be open by default.
Simply put, it is time to shine more light on
government to make sure it remains focused
on the people it was created to serve – you -
See more at:
http://pm.gc.ca/eng/news/prime-minister-
justin-trudeaus-open-letter-
canadians#sthash.eenCEsm2.dpuf

15. Justin Trudeau and Media Fund
 Nice acting job! The problem as usual
is low on facts! Harper wanted
accountability when it came to how
union dues were spent as well as
options if people wanted to join
unions or not. It is abundantly clear
that @Justintrudeau has zero clue
what it means to be open, transparent
and ethical!

 https://www.facebook.com/LisaRaittM
P/videos/2324495144282453/
• “"I just don't think it's the
right solution. I think it
carries the potential to do
more harm to news
agencies' credibility than it
does to actually do
anything more than protect
existing systems in the
short term," he told
CBC.”Source -
https://www.cbc.ca/news/p
olitics/journalists-question-
media-bailout-1.5147761
• Unifor has done attack Ads
at CPC/Scheer -

16. Jerry P Dias vs CPC
https://o.canada.com/news/unifor-union-to-run-anti-conservative-ad-campaign-despite-concerns-of-
member-journalists/wcm/73130ab6-8f81-4872-9432-c7788e82f131
So, it is not about protecting local union jobs, right? @jerrypdias should not be wasting union dues on
attacking the @CPC_HQ and @AndrewScheer
Jerry,
Canada is less competitive due to fail policies by @Bill_Morneau
https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/2019-election-business-competitiveness-canada-may-2019

17. Brewers Retail / Union
https://twitter.com/ONBeerFacts/status/1143528629042929664
It never seems to amaze me how little you and your group grasp supply chain management.
https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/2019-election-alcohol-distribution-ontario-june-2019

18. ETFO
Jennifer Blackshaw Wow! Nice attitude! I see you rather slammed by comment about transparency on dues,
right? FYI - 80-88% of a school board's budget is tied to compensation. I guess you missed that memo. I
also guess you miss how Harper wanted more transparency how union operated, right?
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/liberals-put-halt-to-controversial-finance-disclosure-rules-for-unions-
1.3375076 or https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-marginally-increases-school-board-
funding-1.5112315 or https://www.niagaracatholic.ca/finance/bps-business-documents-disclosure/
I am all about having a strong education system, but it both must be affordable and effective

19. OSSTF and
ETFO
Teachers are at again that is me, me
and me.
Instructional costs are 80-88% of the
total education budget for school
boards
Drummond recommended increasing
school sizes
 Trudeau is again trying to
use the hate for Ford to win
votes in Ontario, because it
not about the facts!
https://www.slideshare.net/
paulyoungcga/2022-
election-education-ontario-
july-2019

20. Federal Government jobs
@justintrudeau “The country's biggest public-sector union says it's preparing for potential post-election strike action after accusing the government o
walking away from contract talks affecting more than 70,000 federal employees.”
https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/politics/federal-government-walks-away-from-bargaining-says-union-prompting-strike-talk/ar-
AAGX83M?ocid=spartanntp
@andrewscheer – Freedom of information worsen under Trudeau - https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/canadas-access-to-information-
system-has-worsened-under-trudeau-government-report/article36407309/

21. Job Quality

22. Efficient Government
You do realize that Canada has very strong social programs. The
problem is Canada has way too much govt including control and
taxation!
https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/2019-election-public-
sector-efficiency-canada-july-2019 or
https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/2019-election-tax-
reforms-and-fairness-canada-september-2019 or
https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/public-sector-how-to-
reform-all-levels-of-government
1. Too many govts do not live within their means
2. Too many govts think hiking taxes is the only solution

23. Worker Rights
Source - https://www.ituc-csi.org/ituc-global-rights-index-2016 and https://www.ituc-csi.org/violations-workers-rights-seven-year-high
2020 2016

24. USA and Labor
Both Bush and Obama failed the working-class person
 “Not all of Obama’s labor and workplace initiatives succeeded. He failed to raise the federal minimum wage.
Immigration reform remains in a holding pattern. An overtime pay law, a hallmark of his administration that would
have affected about 4.2 million middle-wage workers, all but died after a federal judge blocked it in late November
of 2016 shortly before it was set to take effect. His relationship with unions was also inconsistent. A two-tier wage
contract with union auto workers helped save U.S. automakers during the recession, but was widely unpopular with
workers, as was Obama’s stance on trade. Obama appointees to the National Labor Relations Board, the federal
agency that oversees labor laws and employees’ right to organize, issued more pro-union decisions than at any
other time in 30 years, but other efforts to push through pro-union legislation weren’t successful.
”https://www.workforce.com/news/workplace-legacy-barack-obama There are new laws each year -
https://www.forbes.com/sites/samanthatodd/2019/12/31/employment-law-changes-for-2020-what-american-
workers-need-to-know/#1f3afb9e5e20 (State/local and Federal)
 Union membership has gone down to fact more and more manufacturing moved to states that are non-unionized -
https://www.epi.org/publication/unprecedented-the-trump-nlrbs-attack-on-workers-rights/
 Texas is right to work state - https://www.statesman.com/NEWS/20180627/Supreme-Court-ruling-on-unions-to-have-little-
impact-in-Texas
 Obama made it easier for people to form a union - https://www.marketplace.org/2020/01/03/labor-unions-face-increasing-
challenges-in-2020/
 Trump
 Unions – Trump laws were business friendly - http://www.lawjournalnewsletters.com/2017/12/01/labor-and-
employment-law-changes-in-the-trump-era/?slreturn=20200522042332
 Reshoring of jobs - https://www.industryweek.com/the-economy/article/22027880/reshoring-was-at-record-levels-
in-2018-is-it-enough

25. Montreal Port Strike
Why was binding arbitration not
provided as an option
@FilomenaTassi @CQualtro Source
-
https://www.canadianmanufacturing.
com/exporting-and-
importing/quebec-ontario-ask-
ottawa-to-intervene-in-montreal-
port-strike-259101/
 It seems the Liberals only act
when it is about votes
Source - https://www.insidelogistics.ca/business-operations/container-sector-leads-
port-of-montreal-growth-155210/

26. Training and Development
 If you like to learn more
about trade and/or other
subjects as part of your
professional learning and
development then feel free
to review my material on
https://www.udemy.com/
(search Paul Young CPA
CGA)
 These subjects address
how to fixed issues with
housing and/or systemic
issues related to economy
including government
policies

27. What’s next
 There needs to be right balance between the economy and labor laws
 More needs to be done to fix income inequality - https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/has-canada-reduced-
gender-equality-issues
 States/Provinces/Local government need to work with their various federal government to streamline regulations
 Oversight into how dues are spent should be part of mandatory reporting by unions
 Focusing on supply chain and other areas to support GDP -
https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/transforming-the-economy-postcovid19-canada-and-the-world
 Unions had their place in time - https://www.jacobinmag.com/2020/01/marxism-trade-unions-socialism-
revolutionary-organizing
 More focus on reshoring of jobs and getting goods to market -
https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/tranformation-of-supply-chains or
https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/how-best-to-get-goods-to-market