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 Powering the Labour Movement since 1987 |
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A project of the Toronto & York Region Labour Council in partnership with George Brown College.
[COPE 343]
1997 - 2001
The late 1990's were seen by many as "boom" years -- a period of recovery after the tumult and restructuring of the free trade era.
Nevertheless there was plenty for LEC to do. Globalization had had a permanent effect on the Canadian labour market, leaving many older, less skilled workers unable to find the kinds of decent, well paying jobs once available to them. Employers in every sector continued to pursue cost-cutting by lowering wages and benefits, contracting out work to non-union companies, and hiring part-time, lower paid workers. Layoffs continued to cascade through every sector of the economy from manufacturing to retail, from personal services to health care.
LEC never lost its passion for responding to the needs of unions and workers affected by these changes. We were always prepared to share our knowledge, skill and resources. We entered into partnerships with organizations such as the Canadian Steel Trades & Employment Congress, the Communications Technology Adjustment Committee and the Brampton Labour Action Centre, creating an collaborative approach to the delivery of services that continues to be replicated by many other groups to this day.
But this period also represented extremely hard times for LEC. Programs that were formerly supported by the provincial and federal governments, like English and Adult Basic Education at the Workplace, and many aspects of helping unions to cope with layoffs, were no longer funded. LEC, which had formerly grown to more than 40 full time and 100 part time staff, entered a period of downsizing and contraction.
These were not easy times for LEC, We had to look hard to ourselves, and the kinds of programs and services that we needed to offer to continue to be relevant to our affiliates and their members.