The new modus vivendi requires that alternative approaches be offered, based on healthy cooperation and the joint pursuit of common goals. The first balance that must be found is between social values and economic values. Labour is more than just a commodity, to be auctioned off without regard to the underlying human condition. In addition to the income that it provides, employees see work as an expression of their humanity, as an outlet for their creativity. They look to work as a source of social security, for its predictability and for the attendant benefits.
Employees also seek, quite naturally, the ability to influence their working environment.
These are vital and common aspirations, essential for a healthy and productive workforce. Secure jobs are the foundation for both social and economic benefits. In a competitive world, these jobs depend upon the ability of a nation to generate economic activity and to compete in an increasingly global marketplace. Many jobs depend on domestic consumption, on the ability of Canadian workers to buy Canadian products and services. Jobs also depend upon both domestic and foreign investment.