EI – Welfare for the Capable

[gavitron]

I’m having a hard time looking at this from different angles. As of late I seem to be running in to a fair number of people who are welcoming the economical troubles with open arms. These are people who have been laid off and are collecting EI. It almost seems like they are celebrating. And now EI benefits are being extended. I’ve had conversations with people who are laughing at all the different ways they are better off on EI. Their goal is to ride it out as long as they possibly can. This just baffles my mind. The following scenario is something I have heard through the grapevine and don’t have hard facts on, but if its true, something is very wrong. I’ve been told that the union members that work for Tembec had a chance to go back to work if they were willing to take a 10% pay cut. For example, instead of $25/hr, they would have to work for $22.50/hr. If what I’ve heard is true, they voted against this and it will not be happening. That said, I know a large number of people who would gladly work the mill for that wage. I would also like to mention that I know a bit about the mill, and I’m pretty sure there are people who would work there for even less than that. Its a pretty sweet job. Some of these people are collecting their EI benefit and have taken it upon themselves to use all their new found free time to make more money on the side. Some are actually working less than they used to and bringing in more money. That fine, we’re all in it to make as much money as possible. But if these people are capable of making money elsewhere, shouldn’t people that could really use a job be able to get the mill fired up? If we don’t get money flowing again, how are we supposed to make any progress? I’m not trying to call out the Tembec crew specifically, this is just a really good example of how the EI program is way out of control. Perhaps unions are to blame as well. Isn’t EI for people that don’t have a job option? Another scenario comes to mind. The treeplanters. Some of these people have made a life style out of working the summer with full intentions of riding out the winter months on EI. Is it not wrong to give insurance money to people who know well in advance that they will be out of work at the end of a season? Isn’t EI for unexpected loss of employment? To me, thats like lighting my car on fire right in front of the insurance office, walking in, saying "pay me" and they do it.
I guess the main defence is "We paid in to it, so we’re just taking what we’re entitled to." I see the rational in that. But give an inch, they’ll take a mile. Part of that mile comes from my paycheque. I do believe there are people out there that are using EI as a last resort and are trying to get back in the game as soon as they can. But I know there are people who are abusing it. Whatever those people choose to do, I’ll still be here working hard to try to do my part to dig us out of these difficult times.
I’m not one to stand in the way but atleast give me the option to not contribute to this.

[cs86]

I totally agree. Too many people abuse the system. Another thing that gets me is the welfare system. There are some long-time locals that have been on the welfare system for YEARS, and they are fully capable of walking around town all day, or picking bottles out of garbage cans at 7 in the morning. If you can get out of bed at 7 and walk all over town picking bottles, then why the hell can’t you work somewhere? Or if you can walk all over town during the day, take your kids to the park, go for coffee anytime (a life I’d LOVE to have) then why can’t you work? I am definitely not talking about people with disabilities or mental illness, I am talking about fully capable human leeches sucking the money out of the province/country.

[cs86]

haha amen to that

[wrender]

The canadian government has adjusted employment insurance plans recently to be even more lenient for the changing economy. Check this link out.. http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/ei/i … 2009.shtml Although I hate to see people abusing EI, and I can’t get EI myself as I am self employed, I think for the changing times it makes sense for more people to be using EI.

I think you need to be activily seeking a job to get EI, but I have heard of people just making stuff up and getting away with it when they are actually not seeking a job. Maybe the gov should tighten this up.

[gavitron]

Its been brought to my attention that some people are actually having difficulty getting on EI and really do need it. I’d imagine the abusers are to blame for this as well as the EI people are having to try to keep everything legitiment. Maybe there should be strict penalties for people caught making stuff up…something to discourage them from doing it.

[sparky424]

BROTHER, and I use that term as sarcastically as possible, how are unions to blame for people abusing ei? You obviously have no idea what unions are about.union members make a higher wage because they are willing to stand up for themselves and not take a loss when push comes to shove. We bargain for our wages, and why should we give it back when things slow down? Do you honestly think that during times when the employer is making money hand over fist, they decide to boost wages outside of any collective bargaining?not very likely. I have been a part of a few unions in my life as a tradesman and I always make more money, with better benefits, when I am working union.I am willing to work non union when there is no union work, I do not, nor ever had rode the ei express outside of attending trade school. I am originally from the east coast, and let me assure you it IS a way of life for many people. Union or non union, the system will be continued to be abused by people who are lazy.I believe there should be a limit to yearly income, for ei eligibility. I make 6 figures yearly, whether there’s a boom or bust as I am willing to travel. The thing is I can go on ei tom if I so chose to and asked for a layoff. I would need to pay back 30% of my total ei claim on next years taxes. Well big whoop, I still got the other 70% on top of the earnings I made the rest of the year. The system has been abused since inception, and will continue to be. Work union, live better!

[emjay]

Indeed unions can be a good thing, but lately ive come to think that they need to be broken or at least take a step back. For example: does anybody know how much auto workers were geting paid ? And now im supposed to feel sorry for them..not likely.
Im a tradesman in the valley here and i am not union. The fact that im not union doesnt mean that i dont get really good pay or benefits. In fact I get better pay than some guys who have 5-10 years over me , and its because my work ethic is better than thieres. Im sure unions can be a good thing but not when they back up lazy spineless whiners. Maby there would be more production and no need for us contractors. At the same time im not saying all the workers are bad at all, i know alot of them that are great contributers to thier employers.

As for the EI and welfare cruisers, It really does bother me that so many of them are waiting till the last minuite to find a job. Ei only lasts so long, this being said Ei should really be a last resort and soo many people are just jumping on the EI train to hopefully ride out this dryspell. Myself personally i would work 2 crappy jobs if i had to , to avoid Ei as long as i could.With all of this train riding going on it make me kind of worried for the time if i cant find any work at all weather it be my trade or what ever else i can do or even 2 crappy jobs . Will all of the money ive been contributing from my pay take weeks or months to get to me because of an overflow of easyriders?

[rudy-admin]

A new union group has directly caused the Fernie Library to be closed. The union members hold their right for more revenue above the public’s right to use the library. Their myopic perspective is ironic.

[edwin]

the only way to stop EI ‘cruisers’ is to go to a big brother Orwellian type society…..and that would lead to putting cameras at every stop sign as well….so STOP claiming EI if you are able to work and are not looking…and STOP at the STOP signs and we wont have to re-read 1984.

[Author]

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