Stop Temporary Foreign Workers

i agree with you to a certain degree. What I'm saying is don't blame anyone for the pay in the industry.
We have a choice to drive or not. Doesn't matter if you live in Toronto or dog river sk. If someone wants change bad enough that person will, no matter what the circumstances are. Some drivers are happy with what they make and with that to each their own. But the guys complaining I have no sympathy. We have the choice to seek something better... Always. No one and I mean no one can force you to drive.

 

First of all, I am a huge supporter of rural way of life. BUT I had a discussion about the very same subject with one of my friend and we both came to conclusion that it`s a matter of choice really. What do you want more, live a rural lifestyle or make money ?? Usually it is difficult to have both and in every civilized country it is that way.

I could be an Airline Pilot or a doctor IF I really wanted to. If making money would be my only purpose in life. So .. I accept that I make less money than them but it doesn`t mean I am unhappy doing it. I probably just don`t want it enough to make the leap and go learn a bit more.

 

And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. As long as one is content that's all that matters.

 

This is a good read.

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/busi...+gone+rails+Alberta+labour/9879619/story.html

 

not wanting to sound personally insulting or condescending, but;
I'll bet you could be an airline pilot or doctor.....jeeze

there is a LOT more to it than just want. look at peterbilt princess, do you think she just doesnt really want to drive a rig badly enough ? what is holding her back, hmmmm ? do you think she is the only one, or, perhaps the tip of the iceberg- millions of underemployed folk, many with university degrees having to settle for less. I went to class with a fellow who flew tim hortons owner private citation jet and the prop TH had too (dont imagine he was paid anymore than the average az driver- $40g p/a salary, 24hrs on-call)- he wanted to become an airline pilot too, but couldnt quite get the required hours. he also tried atc, but found they really closed ranks to keep new recruits out. he realized with a wife and kids he needed a better income so he had to leave that and do something else that delivered. the needs of ones own family outweigh the needs of a few dreams a single person might entertain.
actually, (and I am sorry because this is insulting I think, and I do not mean it personally against you- but rather the type of person you seem to represent to me), but you sound like you are content... and i think anyone who is content has given up - no longer strives to achieve, no longer tries to suceed- easier to say you dont want more than to admit you do but then be forced to acknowledge their failed desires. I know I want MORE- I always do- I want more time, I want to make more and work less so I can spend more of my time on my own ventures. I didnt like living in a tin can so Im out of that and moved on, and having moved on to the best paying job of my life, do you think I intend to settle where I am now ? not on your life. I have drive, and I am not the only one either- many others want more, you just dont like them you want them to be quiet because you have chosen to silently contend with the meager leavings you earn and the shadows of your dreams. wake up and rattle your cage, man ! dont go to the dance and say you dont want to dance with the hottest chick there- you are like that shy little guy who says that- theres no way shes going to dance with you- you first have to admit you want, then you have to act.

want. try. suceed.

 

I thought this was about TFW's and their apparent implication in the demise of the trucking industry?
So far no one has provided any rock solid evidence that this is in fact true. There's been accusations,baseless ranting and rhetoric but no solid proof.
Who here can actually say honestly that they have personally been fired from a truck driving job in canada and directly replaced with a TFW?
Who can say honestly that they were forced to take a reduction in wages due to TFW's "invading" their company?
If you can then do tell.
If you took a low paying job then as others have already said, you can't blame a TFW for a low paying job because you had the choice to take it or turn it down. And if you say that the employer was using TFW's as a reason to pay you less but how do you know that same employer was not simply preying on your immediate need for work and knew you would take the job for low pay?

 

kw9's, did you not read the article Prairie Boy posted ?

 

KW9,

Today's average truck driver wage hasn't changed much in the last 20 years. Certainly nowhere near the cost of living index.



https://www.aier.org/cost-living-calculator

 

Here is my problem with the temp. foreign worker program, and I level this at all federal political parties....they all say the same line....." we live in a FREE MARKET SYSTEM....the markets will decide what pricing consumers will pay.

Transfer this ideal now to trucking, we have more people holding commercial driver licenses than there are open seats, the reason most people have left trucking is that for all of the crap you have to put up with your compensation is low.

So using the governments own creedo of free market systems the driver pay should increase and as it increases people who got out of trucking would start to get back in is as it becomes more and more lucrative.

What the federal government is doing is undercutting this system by making it possible for cheaper labour to be brought in to do these jobs keeping pay rates low. They want their cake and to eat it too.

So the market has decided that being a truck driver ( long hours, days away from home) is not worth doing by many Canadians. We have enough unemployed and underemployed Canadians to fill these jobs.

Let the market decide what the compensation should be and don't undercut your own system. If that means a driver needs to earn 90-100k to fill the seats than so be it.

 

if the companies were smarter, they would set up a relay system of local/regional drivers to get stuff from origin to destination, like the pony express did with the mail over 100 years ago. theres a lot of ex-drivers aching to fill local seats, and local knowledge hazards, construction, detours, expeditious routes is far more certain than gps/dated map. but then, that would mean they cant take advantage of tfws