The United Way is partnering with Brock University to examine the precarious employment situation in Niagara.

A $74,700 seed grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation has allowed the research to move forward.

Precarious employment refers to full- or part-time workers employed on a casual or permanent basis who may receive no benefits, receive low wages, or face job insecurity.

The Social Justice Research Institute at Brock will be leading the research work, relying on the expertise of Johan Butovsky, Jeff Boggs, June Corman and Rachel Hirsch. Also joining the United Way and Brock University on the grant are Bridges Community Health Centre, Niagara Workforce Planning Board and Niagara Economic Development.

“Precarious employment research was conducted by United Way Toronto & York Region and McMaster University several years ago,” said United Way of Niagara Falls and Greater Fort Erie executive director Carol Stewart-Kirkby. “We are excited to extend this research into Niagara so that we can gather the data to clearly demonstrate the status of precarious work here, how it impacts our community and find solutions,” she added.

“I am so pleased to see the United Way receiving Ontario Trillium funding – I have worked with the United Way extensively in my past and I know how wonderful an organization they are,” said Niagara Falls MPP Wayne Gates. “I look forward to the outcomes of their research with Brock University on precarious employment in Niagara, which in my opinion is an incredibly important issue to study.”

For more on the story, see the story in the St. Catharines Standard.