Unpaid Internship

Hey Dears,

As I mentioned briefly on my previous posts that i was doing a work placement at Canada Post. 

So I will talk about this placement today. 

Basically, I was fortunate to be part of the placement program. Usually, the Labour studies Department under the Faculty of Arts, offers an opportunity to participate in this program once in every two years. So this is what happens, the co-coordinators place you at a workplace and you have to learn from that workplace while reporting daily to your professor. I find this course a learning experiencing with real life applications. You also have to write a research paper on the project you choose to work on. The course is called LABR4510 and LABR4520. The course also includes a seminar class where you discuss all your coursework and guide you in your writing skills. You do not get paid however you do get credit hours for it.

So, I was placed in a crown corporation-Canada Post. For my fall semester, I worked with Occupational Health and Safety Department where I job shadowed the supervisors. I conducted workplace inspections, daily management meetings, observing how employees do their tasks and whether they apply safety measures and so many other duties that you could think of a safety officer would perform. I was lucky to have seen how safety officers work both outside the plant and inside the plant. At the end of the term placement,  i worked on a safety campaign project on how to deal with stress at the workplace. My project was titled "wellness from stress". In addition, I also had to come up on a safety action plan.

As for the winter semester, I am working with the Labour Relations Officers (LRO) . I worked with Anitha who introduced me to the grievance system, John Sharpe who introduced me into LRO duties, John Dawson and I went deeper into analyzing grievances and I having a review on them then Hannah and I worked mainly on the arbitration process,from the start to the end. Well, it was good and bad that an arbitration hearing was cancelled because we resolved all the files. 

Last week, I just presented my project on "Duty to accommodate on the basis of family status". I'm hoping to attend an arbitration hearing on March 14th if the hearing goes through. 

Overall, I think this work placement is what makes my program unique and special. The fact that Labour studies has this kind of program is a plus plus for a university student like me who is just at the university to get an education and enter the job market and "maybe" go further to specialize. Otherwise, I would recommend this program to anyone so long as they know what they will do with it. You can branch into Law school after or go on with the Human resource side. With me? I don't know what is laying ahead but all i know for now is that i'll be done this year and enter the world of work.

Jobs

Hey Dears,

Today's post will feature some Labour Related jobs.
I am sure most people do not know what you could do with a Labour Studies degree.Well, at the end of the day, with a LS/LR degree, your knowledge will be around these issues: (judging from the courses you take)

-The Canadian Labour movement

-Working for a Living

-Political economy of Labour

-Employees, Employers and the State

-Labour Law

-Employment Law

-Workplace Health and Safety

-Pensions & Benefits

-Worker's self management

-Globalization and Labour

-Negotiations and Bargaining

-Working class and Labour history

-The skills and knowledge from the field placement.

Here are some jobs you could utilise: Be it in a Gov't position, NGO, private businesses, Union...

-Worker Advocate

-Employment Standard Officer

-Health and Safety Officer

-Human Rights Investigator

-Human Resource Manager

-Labour Relations Board Officer

-Workers Compensation Board caseworker

-Worker Advisor

-Legislative Assistant

-Policy Researcher

-Union Representative

-Union organizer

-Labour Lawyer

PS: My University,-UofM- helps students to attend Mel Myers Labour conference each year. This is a way of networking. You never who you meet and what the person can do for you. Well, I attended last year's Mel Myers Labour conference which had over 350 people. I'm also fortunate to be attending this years conference on March 20 and 21st at Victoria Inn. I am looking forward to interact with like minded people!

International Womens Day 2014

Hey dears,

So I celebrated my "Wanawake Day" at the bud,spud and steak event that was put on by the women's committee from Manitoba Federation of Labour, with proceeds going to women's memorial fund. I was not alone but with my friend Lidet. We enjoyed the night and we had some many proud moments of being a woman. We ended the night at Double D's cheesecake!

So, this years International Womens Day slogan is "Inspiring change". May we live by it. 

Pick for yourself :)

Some nice prizes though we didnt win ;)

                                                         The food was tres deliciuex

                                                            My ticket :)

Moi :)

                                                                               Lidet :)

The end xx

Happy 2014 dears!

Hi dears,

I wish you a prosperous 2014. For me, this year has alot of unlimited possibilities but of all, I intend to make it my last undergrad year. By God's grace it will be true.
Im also looking forward to going home after almost three years of not being home.

As for school, my winter semester courses are more like my fall sem... I took span courses,in other words, six credit hours classes. i need to have completed five of the six credit hours courses to fulfill my B.A. less alone six credit hours for humanities, six credit hours for social sciences and six credit hours for sciences. In sciences, i had to take a maths course so i took statistics 1000 in my first year which got cleared im happy no more maths classes for me. none the less, i needed electives of my own desire and my major courses.

So, for this semester i continue with my French class by Andrew Osborne, Religion by David,my field placement courses and a new course called "Becoming an Advocate" taught by Karen Naylor.

Well, i will have a new post about my field placement. In brief, i got an opportunity to work with Canada Post in their management team. Last semester i worked in Occupational Health and Safety. I job shadowed the safety officers in the depot and processing plant. This semester, i will be doing labour relations specifically dealing with arbitration.

Then i will take two courses in the summer semester to finish of my minor in management.

I pray all goes well and i get to clear this journey and continue with the next. God Bless x

Working women

Hey Dears,
Today i want us to look at how the status of women in the society has changed. Do you think theres still a long way to go for equality to happen?
Apparently, nowadays women are more educated, working less at home and they have fewer children. They say that there are even more women university-graduates than men.
Well, no one will be shocked when you say you are going for a six month maternity leave but say you are on maternity leave for SIX YEARS untill the child can attend school.mh!
Life keeps on changing. I hope women will stay be able to keep their traditional ways even if adapting to the modern world is crucial. As much as i believe on women equality but i would not want to hear a mother is spending longer working hours than socializing her family first. Family first.
Nice day xx
Zita

Happy weekend

My dear reader,
I wish you a happy weekend.
Stay blessed and keep reading my labour topics.
Be on the lookout as you never know when ill post :)

Happy weekend xx
Zita

What would you do?

Hey dears,

So picture yourself in this scenario as the employee....You ask for permission to leave to attend your grandmothers funeral then the next day you return at work and you get greeted by this;

Employer: "Do you believe in life after death?"
Employee: "Yes sir/madam."
Employer: "Well then, that makes everything just fine....after you left early yesterday to go to your grandmother's funeral, she stopped in to see you." 
Employee:_________________________

Hahahaa! Caught red handed!right there on spot!
Uwiiiiii so, if you were the employee,what would you have done?

International Day of the girl

Hey dears,
Happy International Day of the girl. October 11th is marked by the UN as the international day of the girl. It is a honour to have a day set to create more awareness on girl issues. Even if the day on its own does not play a huge impact as the function of the day. I take this time to share my views on this day as a contributor in social networks/bloggers.
As sexism is huge in our society and at most times, it is girls who get oppressed in so many ways. For instance at work, there is always that managerial stage where a woman stops at. You hardly find top directors leading positions held by women. Again, in schools you are more likely to find primary or nursery teachers as women than men. Thank goodness that all these differences and many other that exist in our society are now changing as time goes by. Women are now more recognised  than in the past. Certain top positions are being held by women. For instance, the Malawian president-Joyce Banda :). This is soo inspiring!
I was listening to my president's- (Mh. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete) speech for the end of October and he mentioned about gender equality in secondary schools. He said that the most part to achieve gender equality has been achieved that more girls now go to primary and secondary schools. However, what is get to be achieved is girls in upper level education which is attending university. There are only 68% of girls in higher level. He also mentioned that, in the Tanzanian parliament, the 50/50 partcipation of women is yet to be achieved. And he said that, "its a challenge to achieve this goal by 2015." Despite that, i was so impressed to listen to him talk about how girls are being more appreciated in the society nowadays by trying to ensure gender equality is being implemented in the society by all means. Well, I must say,  Im humbled to be a girl and to be able to encourage more other girls to stand up for their rights.
Dear reader, I hope you are able to join the cause in celebrating and ensuring girls get the same rights as boys, on this International Day of the girl.

Labour Factfile

 Today's thought by Sam Goldwyn,

"I don't want any yes-men around me. I want everybody to tell me the truth even if it costs them their jobs."

Mmmhhh would you? Are you one of them who isn't afraid to speak nothing but the truth to your boss???















Till then xx

Labour FactFile

Hey Dears,

"Labour FactFile" will be another category in MonLabourWorld. I will feature different facts, quotes, jokes etc from ILO and other Labour-related organisations.

According to International Labour Organisation, it is estimated "some 2 million people die every year from work-related accidents and diseases, 160 million people suffer from work-related diseases and 4% of the World's annual GDP is lost as a consequence of occupational diseases and accidents". This shows how serious Occupational Health & Safety should be taken keenly at the workplace.

Stay protected xxx

Trends in the workplace

Hey Dears,

Today, I thought I should share my critics in the way working people dress. Well, it may seem too obvious that a person has to dress appropriate at all times. However, sometimes you would be amazed with what people wear at work. Some writings or images or graffiti on t shirts/shirts might be insulting should never be allowed which is my first point here. Then again the level of covering up the "goodies" is another issue.

Well,  this is what i think for a typical male and female going to work.
 googleimages

Yes! im still very traditional i guess :)

And also those with tattoos should cover them while at work. Its a free world yes but i just think thats the way a workplace should be! this is my opinion and you are not subjected to agree with me neither am i subjected to your opinion.

 googleimages

Happy new week! Enjoy xxx

Is it Labour or Labor?

Hey Dears,

I'm sure some of you have had this doubt of whether it is Labour or Labor? As a matter of fact, either word is correct it means the same thing. There is no difference in meaning when you write Labour or labor.
Labor is American English and Labour is used by the rest of the world in Canada, the UK, Australia etc including their colonies.So, since Tanzania was among the British colonies, I grew up using "Labour" as the correct form. As for now, i use both ways i really don't mind using Labor though it still feels weird spelling Labour as Labor, it feels like I misspelled the word.
   Well, one of my profs mentioned that it is necessary to note the difference. For instance, if i mention i finished my "Honours" degree instead of "Honors" degree it might not bring a good image of respecting the American culture. So, beware in your CV's, if you are writing to a Canadian company make sure to use "Honours" and not "Honors".
     Well dears, i want to know from you, Which one do you use? Labour or Labor? Honour or Honor?

Till then, xx

Pensions & Benefits

Hey Dears

   So this time, one of my summer courses is Pensions & Benefits (LABR3140) taught by Karen Naylor. It is quite interesting to learn about Pensions. I know most people hardly know anything about Pensions beside them being deducted off their pay check. Well, its important to get some knowledge on them. One should know the kind of pensions he or she is eligible to...is it a defined benefit or contributory? A defined benefit pension is the one which an employer promises to give you a certain amount of money after you retire- Usually every month. There are terms and conditions that come with this...for instance, how many years you have worked with the employer?...It usually depends how the amount of money will be calculated. Again, there are ways to calculate it like by taking:

the accural rate x salary/earnings x pensionable service 

for instance 3% x 60,000 x 30yrs

The common used way of calculating pension benefit also known as the "gold plate" where the calculation will be based on your best working years for instance the highest period within the ten years so your last five years. It depends. I'm just giving examples. Or the other method of pensions benefit plan is by unknown earnings where it will depend.

The other type of pensions is called defined contribution pension. As it says, "contribution" so both the employee and employer do have to put in a certain amount of money into the plan. It will be difficult to have an actual figure on how much pension will be given back once an employee retires. So the actuaries become useful here, they help in assuming how much will be given back based on the life expectancy and the investment returns from the funds.

So my dears, don't just let that money go off the pay check without knowing whats going on...its good to find out & understand how things are running. I'm always happy with a clear mind. Besides, Its your right to acquire knowledge about anything based on given opportunities... You have a Right to know, Right to Participate and Right to Refuse. There you go...Be sure to find out what type of pension plan you are in? In the first place, Does your workplace have pensions plan?

xxx

Trends in the workplace

Heh! My dears, who said the workplace can not be a stylish place????? 

You actually have to look fabolous at work at all times because thats where you spend most of the time. Imagine looking "ewww" for a 40 hour week...as in 8hours a day, five days a week, thats a typical working week for many people. 

So yeah, looking fab pays in many ways...First of all, you feel confident. You feel good when u dress bien.So that self fulfillment and satisfaction is already a good feeling and motivation for you to work better. 

None the less, some workplaces have uniforms. But still that doesnt stop you from looking fab!  Anyways, so since its all about the workplace, I am introducing to u, my dears, a category called 

"Trends in the workplace"

This will feature different trends in the working industry. Not necessarily based on seasons(spring,summer,autumn and winter) or the "up-to-date fashion". It will include a mix of old styles, cultures, gender etc. I will display pictures of "my taste" of a typical working girl or boy or both...if u have ideas feel free to share them too.

Photo Credits to Krisztinawilliams.. Get more from http://www.krisztinawilliams.com/2013/03/style-guide-2-ways-to-wear-modern.html

I'll start with myself. I worked at Ilboru Safari Lodge in Arusha Tanzania.
The Masai print (Culture) was once the uniform at the restaurant.

                                                The pictures were taken way back in 2010

 xxx

Labour & Poverty in Rural Tanzania

Hey dears,

Its been almost a month,less four days, since i received my copy of the book "Labour and poverty in rural Tanzania-Ujamaa and rural development in the United Republic of Tanzania". Good news is, i did not have to buy it nor did i get it from Paul Collier. Guess who give it to me?

Oh well, i got it as a present from someone soo dear to me. A very important person in my life. I actually got it as a suprise. I did not know it was the book i wanted for so long...because i had given up on it and other stuff kept on piling up, so actually,  i literally forgot about it. Then THERE! JUST LIKE THAT! i got it...Anyways, so im gonna read it, understand it and share it with y'all!

God bless you all and most importantly to the person who gave me the book! I Love youuuu!

 

Waiting to hear all about the book huh? Okay till then xxx

I'm doing my exams now so not anytime soon dears.

Left with LABR1260

I thank God for his mercies. I'm only left with one exam to complete this semester.

Yes continue to pray my dears. God does wonders coz I believe if you act, God acts too.

The last exam is from my major course for the degree. Almost everything educational in "MonLabourWorld" comes from this particular course called "Working for a Living". So yes, i do have a giant understanding in the field but still i wont be able to look at my notes during the exam so it is not a guarantee that i have an A* :) still alot has to be done. I have fourteen topics that need to be reviewed. I'll share them with you...

1. Work before Capitalism
2. How Capitalism Transformed Working Life Part A
3. How Capitalism Transformed Working Life Part B
4. Unpaid Work
5. Working For Wages
6. Work in the South
7. Work in the North
8. Workplace Rights in Canada
9. Work and Health
10. Live to work or Work to Live? Part A
11. Live to Work or Work to Live?Part B
12. Young workers
13. Working class responses
14. Working class alternatives

So this is how my weekend is gonna be :( just digging into books books and books!

Anyways, Yes its all about the history of WORK! WORK WORK and WORK!...This is what i chose to study. I have to stay I love what i'm studying. These topics are so interesting and very flexible. The analysis of the topics could be used in any country not just in Canada. Although yes!, an emphasis is placed on Canadian Employment standards particularly Manitoba Employment Laws.

For the love of my motherland, I do alot of comparisons between Tanzania and Canada. Yes, solutions will one day be found for better working conditions in both countries. For now, let me get the knowledge first :)

Be blessed Dears and don't forget to Pray for my last exam xxx

Working Life

Hey Dears,

 "Special Sunday" is here!!! So whats our special dish for today?

This week I learnt a lot about Work in the North, then for the past few weeks I have been learning about Work in the South. Then I thought, oh wow! Its good to come with comparisons between the two sides and share it with you.

 First of all, 

As a starter/appetizer, we all do ask ourselves questions about jobs....I will provide answers to what i think. Understand my answers to these questions are highly subjective

Why are jobs sooooo important?

Zee's answer

Income earning "work hard, play hard"

What do we want from jobs?

Zee's answer

1. An interesting, satisfying and trusting job which offers security.
2. Financial security meaning good pay
3. Meaningful or useful to the society sometimes to achieve self satisfactions

What do we get from the jobs and why so?

Zee's answer

Unless self employed but control over the job is plays a key role.

No wonder when it gets to Friday, for those who feel tooo controlled at their workplace they think of "TGIF"-Thank God its Friday and find relief in the sense that they don't have to be answerable to their duties assigned by their bosses during the week days.

Understand that most interesting jobs tend to be least alienated, for instance teaching, a teacher has to follow the curriculum but as a professor at university, more control over what he or she teaches. But still control is present.

Wages and Fringe Benefits

Jobs gives us wages and other fringe benefits like free health care, housing, a free car etc. This provides us job security on top of the contract.

I'm sure if i was to ask you the list of questions on jobs, then the questions will go on and on and on but those are a few I chose.

Main meal

Work in the South	Work in the North	Comparisons
Climate ideal for agriculture (farming, largest sector)	Short growing season plus cold makes farming difficult	Type of jobs
The economy wholly based on agriculture, nowadays mining and tourism	The economy is based on manufacturing	economy
Most employees are paid at the end of the month as Salary	Most employees are paid according to hours worked in every two weeks, "pay day".  In Manitoba the minimum hourly wage is $10.25 as per October 1st	Payment method
Usually, most people have one job, starting from 8am to 4pm a duration of 8 hours work per day	Usually having two jobs is common, for instance a day job or weekend job and an overnight job	Number of jobs

Dessert

 I hope this delicious dish filled you up  :) 

xxx

Daily Sundays aka Sunday Special

I noticed that most of my free time falls on Sunday. 

So I will keep up with the "Sunday Special" updates on MonLaborWorld. However, I'm subject to changes within the week, if something special comes up and I cant wait for Sunday then i'll pop by and alert you.

Sawa, until the next "Sunday Special" , Enjoy the week ahead.

Keep on walking with me as I pursue my Labour Degree

Mwl. Julius Kambarage Nyerere

I was trying to see what influence our late Mwalimu Nyerere had on Labour studies.

The best i could find was a link to" Labour and poverty in rural Tanzania: Ujamaa and rural development in the United Republic of Tanzania, Oxford University Press, New York 1991, ISBN 0-19-828315-6 by Paul Collier". 

"Paul Collier is currently an Advisor to the Strategy and Policy Department of the IMF, advisor to the Africa Region of the World Bank; and he has advised the British Government on its recent White Paper on economic development policy. He has been writing a monthly column for the Independent, and also writes for the New York Times, the Financial Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the Washington Post. His research covers the causes and consequences of civil war; the effects of aid and the problems of democracy in low-income and natural-resources rich societies." source: http://www.users.ox.ac.uk/~econpco/

So I decided to get in touch with Paul Collier to get a copy of the book. I'm still waiting for his feedback.

Otherwise, Happy Nyerere day. Long live his contributions to our society.

Source: google images

The Legacy of Julius Nyerere: a very good documentary video of Mwalimu

video credits to  kwaghafla on Oct 11, 2011

Forms of Labour

Usually, we dont exactly take notice of other forms of labour except for the paid labour. If someone says "work", all that comes first in mind is "pay=work". Definitely i had the same thing in mind not untill i walked into my Labour class and learnt about different forms of Labour.

• Unpaid Domestic work
• "free" paid labour
• "unfree" wage labour
• Volunteer labour
• Slave labour

We might be familiar to these forms, but i would like to give a very nice example which my prof used during the lecture.

For instance Child care

• Unpaid Domestic work-when mothers stay at home and take of their kids with no pay of course, nowadays, men too :) *thumbs up*
• "free" paid labour- is when a nanny or "dada" is hired to take care of the kids and paid for doing so
• "unfree" wage labour- care-giver or aupair where a nanny goes to a foreign land and takes care of the kids but she or he is only allowed to stay with that family alone. it is 'unfree" because the nanny is tied to that job and can not freely move to another job.
• Volunteer labour- offering to baby sit for a friend or relative without any form of payment
• Slave labour- when a slave is bought to look after kids ( common in the past)

Having said that, ill show you some forms of labour in picture :)

My trip with Sabrina and Saning'o to Misigiyo village was volunteer labour :)

My trip with Jessica and Diana to Kibaoni school was also volunteer labour :)

The pleasure of volunteering is self, it just feels nice to be able to share your time to those who need it most. Try volunteering as much as you can, you will be shocked how much happiness will be built within self.

"Free" paid labour, my dada Rukia can move freely move whenever and wherever she wants to leave however at the moment its been years and years with her so she is like my blood SISTER. Love her.

Unpaid Domestic work. I remember Pamcakes and I had to look after the kids in one afternoon. That was fun :)

As for slave labour, I dont have any specific picture of my own but i have one taken from Bagamoyo, last year July, as a sample of a slave.

Finally, unfree wage labour,coming soooooooooooon, im thinking of being an aupair so perhaps if all goes well, i'll update you with a picture. As for now, i have nothing to share for "unfree" wage labour.

xxx