Life in a Temporary Pressure Mode

And the pressure to temp continues to be noticed. So do its consequences.

Source: Saira Peesker for OpenFile Toronto

Never-ending contracts: how precarious employment is making us sicker, poorer

Are you certain of where you’ll be working a year from now? If so, you’re one of the lucky ones—and not just when it comes to your wallet.

Only about 60 per cent of Canadians have that kind of job security, says an academic who studies short-term workers. He says the trend is growing. McMaster University labour studies professor Wayne Lewchuk says up to twice as many people are working precarious jobs compared to the 1980s, as an ever-increasing number of employers hire short-term contractors over permanent employees.

“The old role of temp agencies has been abandoned,” Lewchuk says. “Now temporary work is a permanent part of companies’ staffing plans... Today, half of our teaching (at McMaster) is permanently done by contract people. We have slots that are always filled by someone who is a temporary worker—these aren’t replacements.”

More in the link.

An Intersection of Science, Comics, Humour and Politics

I went to see Paul Dewar speak at First Baptist Church on the legacies of Tommy Douglas and Martin Luther King Jr. tonight. Officially, the program guide for the Martin Ivison Lecture Series this year referred only to Douglas, but Dewar felt that both were of a kind in terms of the influence they had as men of faith on their respective societies.

My motive for going was partly historical study, partly political-mindedness and partly to visit places I'd never been before; First Baptist of Ottawa is one of the old standing places in town, and it's seen a lot over the decades.

After the main remarks and Q & A session, I went with many of the rest of the attendees to the basement for refreshments and informal conversation. It's at this point where ttallan will be interested.

Mr. Dewar happened to notice a button I'd bought from Tara at CAN-CON over the weekend. I was wearing it on one of the shoulder straps of my backpack. It's got the character "Mal" from Galaxion and a most particular quote from his science lab. Check the last panel of p. 44 to find it if you're not already a reader of the series:

"If we knew what we were doing, it wouldn't be research."

Anyway, Mr. Dewar noticed the quotation, and promptly suggested that Stephen Harper should get one of the buttons. I wasn't even remotely interested in faulting the suggestion.