Dennis I usually delete your stuff cause it’s so academic and I’m a plain language aficionado. But this one is short and clear.  Thx.  Take care. Jean. 

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> On Feb 6, 2024, at 6:19 AM, Dennis Raphael <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 
> "It seems that most unions have little-to-no regard for those who cannot work and will never be able to work — or who choose for whatever reasons to contribute to society outside market relations."
> 
> I think this is where you go profoundly wrong :-)
> 
> https://ofl.ca/enough-is-enough/
> 
> Fed up with the rich getting richer, while workers struggle to get by?
> 
> We are too. We're done with waiting.
> 
> We’re taking action in communities across Ontario. Because enough is enough.
> 
> Here are our demands:
> 
> REAL WAGE INCREASES
> As the cost of living increases, wages are staying the same. Here’s what we need to do.
> 
> LEARN MORE
> KEEP SCHOOLS AND HEALTH CARE PUBLIC
> Everyone deserves accessible health care and education. We won’t let our public services be sold off for profit.
> 
> LEARN MORE
> AFFORDABLE GROCERIES, GAS AND BASIC GOODS
> It’s what we need to survive. We shouldn’t have to struggle to afford it.
> 
> LEARN MORE
> RENT CONTROL AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING
> Everyone deserves a place to live. We’re ready to win that.
> 
> LEARN MORE
> MAKE THE BANKS AND CORPORATIONS PAY
> We all have to pay our fair share. Especially banks and big corporations.
> 
> LEARN MORE
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ________________________________________
> From: Social Determinants of Health <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of Elaine Power <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Tuesday, February 6, 2024 9:05 AM
> To: sdoh
> Subject: Re: [SDOH] Basic Income
> 
> I think it was the spring of 2021 that I began to realize how much of a political struggle it would be to implement basic income. Yes. I was definitely naive until that point. I forget which wave of the pandemic we were in, but public health was advocating for 10 paid sick days for all workers. Surely a “no-brainer” in the midst of a global pandemic. But no. A temporary allotment of 2 paid sick days in Ontario.
> 
> At that point, it occurred to me that if low-paid workers (e.g., Amazon warehouse workers, UBER drivers, fast food workers, etc, etc) without benefits like sick days had access to a basic income (like CERB) and could quit their poorly paid, possibly unsafe jobs where they are treated badly, and not have to worry about putting food on the table, then they would have higher wages, benefits, sick days, etc. And that is exactly why we don’t have basic income, and won’t have it anytime soon. It will be a major political struggle.
> 
> And as I write this, it occurs to me that maybe this is why so many Canadian unions (not in Europe) are resistant to endorsing BI or even seriously engaging the arguments… be/c perhaps they perceive it (needlessly) as a threat to their power. It seems that most unions have little-to-no regard for those who cannot work and will never be able to work — or who choose for whatever reasons to contribute to society outside market relations.
> 
> In 2022, Aric McBay and I published the attached article in a special issue of Canadian Food Studies on Just Food Futures:  “An Unconditional Basic Income is Necessary but Insufficient to Transition towards Just Food Futures.” I would say that similar arguments could be made for the transition to a just economy.
> 
> But for sure, it is a “chicken and egg” problem. We need BI so that ordinary people can live outside market relations and work towards creating a more just future and participating in political action … but our current governments and policy makers who are without a doubt “in the pockets of the corporate and business sector” will not be implementing one anytime soon.
> 
> It will be a major political struggle to create a more just society and economy.
> 
> Elaine
> 
> 
> 
> To leave, manage or join list: https://listserv.yorku.ca/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=sdoh&A=1
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
>> On Feb 6, 2024, at 7:49 AM, Dennis Raphael <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>> 
>> Is basic income the way to a better quality of life in Canada?
>> 
>> Dennis
>> To leave, manage or join list: https://listserv.yorku.ca/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=sdoh&A=1
>> 
>> <Is basic income the way to a better quality of life_.pdf>
> 
> 
> 
> To leave, manage or join list: https://listserv.yorku.ca/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=sdoh&A=1
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> 
> 
> To leave, manage or join list: https://listserv.yorku.ca/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=sdoh&A=1