Small Business Worried About Teachers Strike
Prince George, B.C.- A new survey by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) indicates small business owners are worried about the impact the BCTF strike will have on their bottom line.
The survey found 43% believe the strike will have a negative impact on their business if it continues, while 47% said it would have no impact.
The most frequently cited impacts are lost sales (60 per cent), employees with children who have to stay home (41 per cent), and owners will have to work longer hours (21 per cent).
When it comes to the BCTF demands, two-thirds (66 per cent) of entrepreneurs say any new collective agreement should be in line with what has been negotiated with other public sector unions, 13 per cent say there should be no increase at all, and a further 14 per cent say “other”. Only 5 per cent support an increase in line with the BCTF demands.
Business owners were also asked how the savings on teacher salaries during the strike should be used. The BCTF wants the money to go to teachers. The government has committed to give parents $40 per day for each public school student under the age of 13.
Thirty-eight per cent of business owners agreed with the government that all savings should be returned to parents, 11 per cent supported the BCTF position that savings go to teachers, but almost one-half (45 per cent) said savings should be used to pay down the provincial debt.
Comments
It won’t hurt business. It will just change people patterns and shopping behaviour a bit.
Besides teachers take their big pay and shop at Walmart. You know supporting their union brothers:)
Boycott Walmart lildigger. You sound ridiculous.
Doesn’t take a masters in economics to realize that those who earn no money can spend no money!
There are others this strike affects such as the bus drivers, mechanic and other office staff to name a few. Does anyone hear them wining?
lildigger
Walmart is anti union. They have even shut stores down were employees voted in a union. In fact I remember when Walmart was coming to PG the unions were against it. Due to the effect Walmart would have on local small businesses. Not to mention the poor employee pay compared to gross profits made.
@ 33BKCF, and yet we have so many teachers and other union members regularly shopping at Walmart?? Please explain that for me!
The majority of small business says it will make no impact, yet the headline reads that small business is worried about the strike. But a headline like “majority of small business anticipates no impact because of teachers strike” doesn’t get enough reaction I suppose.
@HartGuy
You want me to explain why union members shop at Walmart. For me to speak on behalf those you say shop at Walmart would be irresponsible as I have never asked one. You seem to know were union members choose to spend their money so ask them yourself. For me it about trying to get the best value and quality for dollars spent. Those businesses get my money. I also look for made in Canada products first.
I am fully cognizant of walmarts anti union business model.
What I am saying is that if you go there, you will see teachers there buying up the cheap products.
But now the teacher want all the union support.
I’m basically calling teachers hypocrites if you can’t figure it out.
Duh!
Lildigger you first comment came across as tho you were saying teachers shop at Walmart TO support their union brothers. Your attempt at sarcasm didn’t come thru. But your use of the word “Duh” during mature discussion does raise a question of your maturity level.
I thought Lildiggers’ sarcasm was obvious. Perhaps I need to learn how to read what is not there. I’ll try, I promise.
metalman.
Duh = immature.
Must be a teacher scolding me?
Wow so much drama because I didn’t sense the sarcasm in someone’s comment. Chill out people.
That’s the problem 33BKCF, you just don,t get it. Suprise.
Maybe the teachers were at Walmart applying for employment… they do have those nice blue vest coats employees at Walmart get to wear you know.
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