According to a study released by Statistics Canada, the average weekly earning of employees was $788.71 in March, up 0.3% from February and 3.2% from a year earlier.
Earnings rose the most in the health and social assistance sector with a 4.3% increase. Additionally, there was a 2.7% increase in retail, 2.6% in educational services and 2.3% in manufacturing compared with a year earlier.
Hourly earnings also increased in March. On average, hourly wages were $19.83, up 0.8% from February. However, average hours worked for these employers was down 1% to 30.8.
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Public Sector Employment Growth Steady
In the face of government cutbacks from the 1990s, the public sector employment rate grew by 1.9% in 2007 to reach an average of 3.2 million workers.
According to Statistics Canada, since 2000, public sector employment has continued to grow at a steady pace. Annual employment growth in educational institutions and in government has also been steady.
The Newfoundland and Labrador government had the most significant growth in 2007, with an increase of 8.4%.
Annual employment growth in university, colleges and school boars has remained constant at 2% for the past three years. A 2.6% grown was reported in the health and social services institutions, up from 1.8% the previous year. In both sectors, Alberta accounted for one-third of the growth.
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Purolator Employees Ratify Agreement
Purolator employees have voted to ratify a tentative four-year agreement that was reached between the company and the employees’ union, Teamsters.
The new agreement, which expires Dec. 31, 2011, will give employees get a 3% wage increase a year over the next three and a 3.25% increase in the fourth year. A substantial increase was made to the employee pension plan and group insurance and pre-retirement benefits were also given a boost.
“I personally, along with the Canada Council of Teamsters, am happy that Purolator’s employees have spoken and chosen to ratify a new collective agreement,” says Robert Bouvier, president of Teamsters Canada.
Stephen Gould, senior vice president of human resources with Purolator adds, “the negotiating teams worked hard to reach an agreement that addresses the needs of our employees while providing the basis for continued innovation and growth for Purolator.”