S.A.M.E. activists bring migrant awareness to thousands of students

In many regards the 2012-2013 school year was an historic milestone for S.A.M.E. (Students Against Migrant Exploitation).  Among the many accomplishments for the organization, now in its fourth year, was the total number of students that were engaged through presentations and online campaigns: more than 7,500 students altogether!

This incredible feat was reached over the year through a series of presentations and events held at over 50 different schools, campuses, and communities across Ontario.

June marked the end of the school year presentations for S.A.M.E, whose activists visited Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School in Grimsby, Ontario where they had the opportunity to speak to hundreds of interested students at the school’s annual Multicultural Week assembly.

As has become customary, the S.A.M.E seminar was accompanied by the musical talents of Benny Esguerra. Collectively, the presentation outlined the importance of diversity, multiculturalism, and the importance of acknowledging, respecting and celebrating the thousands of migrant workers that come to Canada yearly to harvest the food we eat.

While the in-school presentations have come to an end for this school year, S.A.M.E is already working hard to make next year bigger and better. “The fact that the S.A.M.E. in-school component has come to end until next fall is bitter-sweet. It is always exciting and inspiring speaking to students, but for now it will be just as rewarding working with this year’s volunteers who have signed up in record numbers,” explains Pablo Godoy, the coordinator for S.A.M.E.

If you or anyone you know is interested in volunteering with S.A.M.E this year, please contact info@thesame.ca.

By the Numbers: Retail jobs and the Canadian economy

Statistics via the United Food and Commercial Workers Union complements of www.revolutionizingretail.org

- Retail salesperson/clerk is the most common occupation in Canada.
- In 2010, the Canadian retail industry represented total consumer sales of $443.2 billion.
- Cashier is the second most common occupation for Canadian women.
- 1 in 8 Canadian workers is employed in retail/wholesale – about 2.7 million people.
- Across industrialized countries, retail workers constitute about 10% of the labour force.
- Wage earners of all ages work in retail. There is a relatively high proportion of young workers, yet 4 in 10 retail workers in Canada is over the age of 45.
- 2/3 of all workers in retail are women.
- Currently about 13% of retail workers in Canada and about 5% in the United States are unionized.

Quick facts on student debt

Education should be a human right, not a debt sentence says major Canadian union

Between 1990 and 2010, average tuition fees for post-secondary education in Canada increased four-fold from $1,271 to $5,139, the United Food and Commercial Worker's union (UFCW) said today.

By the end of September 2010, student debt exceeded nearly $15 billion and growing - higher than the debt of some provinces. The total cost of a post-secondary education - including tuition, school supplies, housing, and other expenses - is roughly $14,500 a year, or close to $60,000 for a four-year program. (Statistics Canada)

Average undergraduate tuition in Canada is $5,366. (Statistics Canada)

More than 60 percent of current post-secondary students will graduate with student debt.
A recent poll showed that 58 percent of post-secondary students who borrow to pay for their education expect to graduate with nearly $20,000 in debt while 21 per cent expect to owe more than $40,000.

The Canadian Federation of Students estimates that average student debt is almost $28,000. According to the Canada Student Loan Program, most students take 10 years to pay off their loans.
Students studying in the Maritimes have the highest average debt loads while those studying in Quebec have the lowest.

Student Debt by Province in 2011 dollars:

Alberta: $25,698

British Columbia: $29,497

Manitoba: $21,564

New Brunswick: $34,413

Newfoundland and Labrador: $35,703

Nova Scotia: $35,642

Ontario: $26,480

Prince Edward Island: $32,960

Quebec: $15,195

Saskatchewan: $31,061