Strike looms at First Quantum's giant copper mine in Panama on impasse in wage talks

Jacob Lorinc and James Attwood, Bloomberg News

Canadian copper producer First Quantum Minerals Ltd. faces the threat of a strike at its flagship mine in Panama this weekend if union leaders and company representatives can’t agree on a wage contract for workers at the massive operation.

Negotiators are in the final day of salary talks with workers at the Cobre Panama mine, but are “stuck” on some of the details related to wage adjustment and bonuses, union leader Michael Camacho said Friday in text messages. He said a strike will begin after midday on Saturday if negotiators fail to reach an agreement. 

Shares of the company fell as much as 2.4 per cent Friday on the Toronto Stock Exchange. The stock was down 1.7 per cent to $33.97 as of 11:08 a.m. Toronto time, the lowest price since Aug. 29.

The impasse has created newfound uncertainty for First Quantum’s largest asset six months after the Vancouver-based company reached a tentative tax agreement with the Panamanian government to keep Cobre Panama open. The mine is an economic engine for the Central American country that accounts for about 1.5 per cent of global copper production.

Wage talks are approaching a deadline just as lawmakers in Panama consider a new operating deal brokered by the government and the company. Deliberations in Panama’s congress on the tax agreement have spurred street protests in the capital this week, according to local press reports.

 

Canada has 'patch' for aging demographics with immigration: Author

Daniel Johnson , BNN Bloomberg

As countries around the world contend with aging demographics, one geopolitical expert says Canada has been able to minimize the impacts due to a robust immigration system. 

Peter Zeihan, a geopolitical expert and author, said in an interview with BNN Bloomberg on Thursday that decades of geopolitical shifts have resulted in declining birth rates across many different countries, including Germany Poland and Japan.

After years of lower birth rates, he said “this was always the decade” many nations would see a dwindling number of working-age adults.

In the case of Canada, Zeihan said the country’s immigration system has worked to alleviate economic challenges that often arise when a large swath a population ages out of the workforce.

“Canada has found a partial patch to the demographic crisis that has plagued most of the rest of the world in immigration. It’s the only country in the world that has been able to pull it off,” Zeihan said. 

As long as you keep the door open, you're bringing in people in their 20s. And there just is a very limited supply of those on a global basis that actually have skills.”

However, Canada’s immigration policy comes with risks, Zeihan said, pointing to pressures in the housing market.  

 

Canada job gains double expectations, wages accelerate

Randy Thanthong-Knight, Bloomberg News

Canada’s labour market blew past expectations and wages rose faster, signaling there’s still some gas left in the jobs machine even as the economy gears down.

The country added 40,000 jobs in August, while the unemployment rate held steady at 5.5 per cent following three straight monthly increases, Statistics Canada reported Friday in Ottawa. The figures beat expectations for a gain of 20,000 positions and a jobless rate of 5.6 per cent, according to the median estimate in a Bloomberg survey.

Rising workers’ compensation reflects some remaining tightness in the labour market, with wages accelerating to 5.2 per cent, beating expectations for a 4.7 per cent gain and up from 5 per cent a month earlier.

The Canadian dollar extended gains and Canada two-year yields rose to fresh session highs, topping through 4.62 per cent, after the report. The loonie traded 0.5 per cent stronger at 1.3613 against the U.S. dollar, outperforming many peers in the Group of 10 currencies.

Still, the data suggest the jobs market is looser than it was last year. Population growth outpaced the increase in employment in August and the employment rate fell 0.1 percentage point to 61.9 per cent. That’s the seventh straight month this year that population growth outpaced job gains.

Since January, employment has increased by 25,000 on average per month, while the population aged 15 and older grew by 81,000. Given this pace of population growth, monthly job gains of about 50,000 per month are required for the employment rate to stay constant.

The August data shows an economy that’s still churning out jobs even amid higher interest rates, albeit at a slower pace than its potential given the backdrop of record-high population growth. Governor Tiff Macklem and his officials held borrowing costs at five per cent on Wednesday, saying recent evidence suggests excess demand in the economy is easing. But wage growth remains a key concern.

Last month, total hours worked rose 0.5 per cent on a monthly basis, the fastest pace since February, and were up 2.6 per cent compared to a year earlier. That points to relatively strong economic momentum in the middle of the third quarter, when economists surveyed by Bloomberg expect gross domestic product to expand 0.7 per cent. Last week, preliminary data suggested gross domestic product was flat in July.

This is the first of two jobs reports before the next rate decision on Oct. 25. The majority of economists in a Bloomberg survey currently expect the bank to hold rates steady, and many see the bank already reaching its terminal point for rates this tightening cycle.

The involuntary part-time employment rate — another indicator of the balance between job supply and demand — was 18.9 per cent in August, up from 17.2 per cent a year earlier. That signals an easing of labour market demand.

Job gains were led by increases in professional and technical services, and construction. Some of the biggest decreases were in education services, manufacturing, and finance and real estate.

Employment rose in Alberta, British Columbia and Prince Edward Island, while it fell in Nova Scotia and was little changed in other provinces.

In Ontario, the population aged 15 and older grew by 45,000, accounting for nearly half of total population growth in the country. With little change in employment and an increase in the size of working-age population, the employment rate in the province fell 0.3 percentage points to 61.7 per cent.

With assistance from Erik Hertzberg and Anya Andrianova.

Economists weigh in on surprise August jobs gain

Iva Poshnjari, BNN Bloomberg 

The Canadian economy added double the number of jobs economists had forecasted for August, but strength reflected in the figure could be misleading, according to one economist – while others warned about inflation risks from accelerating wage growth.

Statistics Canada reported 40,000 jobs added in August, blowing past the 20,000 estimate from economists surveyed by Bloomberg.
 
Brendon Bernard, senior economist at Indeed, told BNN Bloomberg that rapid population growth helped carry the jobs figure higher – one reason he is hesitant to consider the figure an indicator of labour market strength.
 
“This isn’t to say that the 40,000 number isn’t strong, but what it’s saying is that we have to revise up what our baseline is for a solid jobs report when the population is growing so quickly, because more people means more potential workers,” he explained in a Friday interview.
 
The unemployment rate held steady at 5.5 per cent in August, following three straight monthly increases, according to Statistics Canada’s figures. The median jobless rate estimate from economists surveyed by Bloomberg was 5.6 per cent.
 
WAITING FOR WEAKNESS
 
Bernard cautioned that while the jobs data was positive, he is waiting for signs of weakness in to show in Canada’s labour market as the economy battles with inflation and an economic slowdown. 
 
“Another month where we’re kind of waiting for those cracks to show,” he said. 
 
Even with a higher-than-anticipated job gains, Bernard points out that the labour market is not as strong as it was a year ago. 
 
“I do think the Canadian labour market isn’t chugging like it was back in 2022 or (the first quarter) of this year,” he noted. 
 
He pointed to lack of productivity and a general economic slowdown for the dip – and he anticipates more labour market weakness ahead. 
 
“The underlying drivers are there to cause a deceleration,” he warned.

WAGE ACCELERATION 
 
Wage growth accelerated to 5.2 per cent in August, beating expectations for a 4.7 per cent gain and up from 5.0 per cent a month earlier, the data showed. 
 
James Orlando, director and senior economist at TD Economics, said rising worker compensation will complicate the Bank of Canada’s fight against inflation and weigh on the economy.
 
“When workers are demanding higher wages, businesses see those wages, they see their costs rising, they usually pass that onto consumers and that really is the source of inflation that we have right now in Canada,” he told BNN Bloomberg on Friday. 
 
“It makes the Bank of Canada’s job a lot harder and it risks that they need to raise interest rates even higher then they already have,” he added. 
 
Another economist agreed with Orlando’s wage growth concerns. 
 
“From an inflation control perspective, another acceleration in the growth in permanent employees’ wages is troubling,” Marc Desormeaux, principal economist at Desjardins, wrote in a note to clients on Friday. 
 
In addition to the growth in headline wages, (accurate?) other individual sectors saw wage growth reaccelerate last month, Desormeaux pointed out. 
 
WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR THE BANK OF CANADA?
 
Despite the strong gains in job numbers and wages, Desormeaux does not think August’s labour force data will change the Bank of Canada’s plans at its October meeting, when he predicts the central bank will keep rates on hold again.
 
“Canadian consumers and businesses have yet to feel the full effects of prior hikes, and there is mounting evidence that economic growth and inflation are cooling,” he said.

 

Canadian companies looking to electrify vehicle fleets, industry player says

Ben Cousins, BNN Bloomberg

Canada’s commercial fleet of electric vehicles is growing, but barriers remain if commercial EVs are to be adopted more widely, according to one industry player. 

In the past year, Canada Post, IKEA Canada and BC Transit are among the companies looking to expand or begin adding electric vehicles to their fleets. 

The latest data from Geotab show the company, which provides vehicle tracking to help businesses achieve their sustainability goals, has seen 72 per cent growth on its platform in Canada between August 2022 and August 2023, compared to 60 per cent growth in the U.S. 

COST HURDLES

Charlotte Argue, senior manager of Sustainable Mobility at Geotab, told BNNBloomberg.ca that companies still face hurdles to commercial EV adoption. 

“One big barrier that still exists is the relative cost, so the capital upfront cost of an electric truck compared to an equivalent gas or diesel truck,” she said in a recent telephone interview.

“In jurisdictions where there's additional incentives to support that price differential, that's helping those fleets make the case in these early days.” 

CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE

Argue also highlighted the infrastructure upgrades that are required when a company begins to ramp up its EV fleet, specifically charging capabilities. 

“As the fleet starts to scale, it's a lot more investment both in terms of capital costs, but also just learning internal capacity,” she said. “Any jurisdiction that has programs that are both incentivizing infrastructure, but also supporting with advisory services or where the utility is being more proactive, this is also where we're seeing the hotspots for accelerated EV uptake.” 

Charging stations remain an issue for EV expansion in Canada for personal and commercial markets. Recent data from the Department of Natural Resources show less than a fifth of federally funded charging stations in Canada are operational, while several companies, including Telus, Parkland and Imperial are working to expand the network. 

SUPPLY CHAIN DELAYS

Another roadblock is supply. Hurdle said a company looking to switch its fleet to electric or add an electric vehicle is often left on a waitlist, while a gas or diesel-powered vehicle can be available sooner. 

“In some cases, there are certain vehicles that are not yet available in Canada that might be available in the U.S.,” she said. “One need is just to ensure that we have the supply, but we know that that's getting better.” 

BENEFITS OF ELECTRIFICATION

Despite the hurdles and upfront cost concerns, Argue said there are plenty of incentives for a company to make the switch to an EV fleet. 

“The driving experience is often preferable, you've got really good performance of EVs and drivers really like to drive them for many reasons,” she said. “Partly because of the acceleration and by the larger -- meaning heavy-duty -- drivers who drive commercial vehicles say that there's a lot less fatigue because you have less vibrations and less noise. So for employees and drivers, there's definitely a benefit there for them.” 

With files from The Canadian Press 

 

Virgin Galactic launches third commercial flight in step toward space tourism

Loren Grush, Bloomberg News

MOJAVE, CA - DECEMBER 7: Virgin Galactic unveils its new SpaceShipTwo spacecraft at the Mojave Spaceport on December 7, 2009 near Mojave, California. The eight-person VSS Enterprise, named after the Star Trek ship of the same name, is the first of a series of space-planes for customers of Virgin Galactic who have paid around $200,000 for a suborbital flight into space. British entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson is financing the spacecraft and aerospace designer Burt Rutan is building it through The Spaceship Company, a joint venture of Scaled Composites and Virgin Group. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images) , Photographer: David McNew/Getty Images

Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc. said it launched its third commercial flight Friday morning, sending another crew of paying tourists to the edge of space and back.

The flight, called Galactic 03, marks the latest milestone for the venture, founded by billionaire Richard Branson, as it strives to reach a monthly cadence of launches for its commercial business.

The mission took off at 8:34 a.m. local time, the company said in a post on social media site X, with Virgin Galactic’s VMS Eve carrier aircraft hoisting the space plane VSS Unity into the sky from Spaceport America in New Mexico. Roughly 45 minutes later, Unity dropped from the aircraft and climbed to the edge of space, the company said in another X post. 

On board this trip were two company pilots, three customers and one employee support astronaut, Virgin Galactic said. 

After the flight, Virgin identified the passengers as U.S. real estate investor Ken Baxter, entrepreneur Tim Nash from South Africa and Adrian Reynard, an engineer from the United Kingdom. The company also released a short video of the astronauts floating while in space. 

Galactic 03 comes a month after the company’s previous flight, which sent its first private tourists to space. Virgin Galactic kicked off commercial spaceflight operations in June with Galactic 01, a research mission for the Italian Air Force — a feat that came nearly two decades after the company’s founding.

Virgin Galactic’s shares closed down 2 per cent in New York. The stock is down 34 per cent so far this year. 

Though rare, New England hurricanes have proven to be destructive, deadly

By Jesse Ferrell, Accuweather.com



Tracks of hurricanes that made landfall between 1938 and 1991.

As hurricane forecasters await an anticipated northward turn of Hurricane Lee, New England residents continue to watch to see if they might be affected.

New York City, Long Island and New England have been hit by hurricanes over the years but not officially since Hurricane Bob in 1991.

More recently, tropical systems that were not officially hurricanes when they hit the region have done significant damage in New York City and the coast of southern New England, including Superstorm Sandy in 2012, and Tropical Storm Henri and Tropical Rainstorm Ida in 2021.

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The most recent hurricane hit in New England was under the unassuming name "Bob."

On Aug. 19, 1991, Category 1 Hurricane Bob made landfall in Rhode Island with 100 mph winds, which killed 17 people and caused $1.5 billion in damage (1991 USD). At the time, because of the heavily-populated area affected, it was one of the costliest hurricanes in the United States.

Hurricane Gloria made landfall on Long Island as a Category 1 storm with 85-mph winds on Sept. 12, 1985, after striking the Outer Banks of North Carolina as a Category 2 storm. Like Hurricane Donna 25 years prior, heavy rain and high winds caused damage across much of the East Coast.

Hurricane Donna slammed into the Florida Keys as a Category 4 storm in September 1960 then made landfall again on the Florida mainland and eastern North Carolina before coming ashore as a Category 2 storm on Long Island on Sept. 12. In total, the storm killed 50 people in the U.S., and damages approached $1 billion (1960 USD).

Flooding and power outages were recorded from Florida to Maine.

Storm surge from Hurricane Carol batters the coast of 

Connecticut on August 31, 1954. Photo courtesy NOAA

The only year on record to have two hurricanes make landfall in the northeastern U.S. was 1954. On Aug. 31, Hurricane Carol hit the eastern tip of Long Island as a Category 3 hurricane.

Less than two weeks later, on Sept. 11, Hurricane Edna hit Massachusetts as a Category 2 storm.

The worst effects of a hurricane are often seen on its eastern flank. Carol's highest storm surge and winds were mostly east of Long Island.

An unnamed hurricane of 1938 hit farther west on Sept. 21, causing immense damage on Long Island and coastal New England. Colloquially called the Long Island Express, it is considered the worst storm to hit the area and was certainly the deadliest.

The hurricane killed between 600 and 800 people, as it hit with little warning. Scores of trees were felled, with 35 percent of New England's forests were affected. Damage was estimated at $308 million (1938 USD). The storm almost killed actress Katherine Hepburn.

Only one hurricane has ever officially made landfall in the state of Maine. Hurricane Gerda came inland just west of Cross Island on the evening of Sept. 9, 1969. There was minor damage from Massachusetts up the coast, but no injuries or fatalities were reported.

MONOPOLY CAPITALI$M

US takes on Google in landmark antitrust trial


By AF
Published September 10, 2023

Image: — © AFP
Alex PIGMAN

Google faces its biggest ever legal challenge in a Washington court on Tuesday, as it fends off accusations from the US government that it acted unlawfully to build its overwhelming dominance of online search.

Over ten weeks of testimony involving more than 100 witnesses, Google will try to persuade a federal judge that the landmark case brought by the Department of Justice is without merit.

The trial is the biggest US antitrust case against a big tech company since the same department took on Microsoft more than two decades ago over the dominance of its Windows operating system.

“Technology has progressed a lot in 20 years so what results from this case will have a strong bearing on how tech platforms operate in the future,” said John Lopatka, from Penn State’s School of Law.

The Google case centers on the government’s contention that it illegally forged its domination of online search by entering into exclusive contracts with device makers, mobile operators and other companies that left rivals no chance to compete.

Through these payments of billions of dollars every year to Apple, Samsung or carriers like T-Mobile or AT&T, Google secured its search engine default status on phones and web browsers and allegedly guaranteed its success to the detriment of competitors.

“Two decades ago, Google became the darling of Silicon Valley as a scrappy start-up with an innovative way to search the emerging internet,” the Justice Department said in its lawsuit. “That Google is long gone.”

The biggest alleged victims in the case are rival search engines that have yet to scratch out a meaningful market share against Google, like Microsoft’s Bing and DuckDuckGo.

– 90 percent share –

Google remains the world’s preeminent search engine, capturing 90 percent of the market in the United States and across the globe, much of which comes through mobile usage on iPhones and phones running on Google-owned Android.

In its defense the company contends that its success is due to the unbeatable quality of its search engine that has been judged a cut above the rest since its launch in 1998 by founders Sergei Brin and Larry Page.

“In sum, people don’t use Google because they have to — they use it because they want to,” said Kent Walker, Google president of global affairs in a blog post.

The trial will be presided over and decided by Judge Amit P. Mehta, whose ruling would come many months after the roughly three months of hearings.

The stakes for Google are enormous if Mehta upholds any or all of the US government’s arguments.

Remedial action could involve a break up of Google’s far flung business or an order to revamp the way it operates.

The company has faced major legal action in Europe, where it was fined more than 8.2 billion euros ($8.8 billion) for various antitrust violations, although those decisions are under appeal.

Whatever Mehta ends up deciding, the US case will almost certainly be appealed by either side, potentially dragging the case on for years.

Launched in 1998, Washington’s case against Microsoft ended in a settlement in 2001 after an appeal reversed an order that the company be split up.

The US government launched its case against Google during the Trump administration and the suit carried over in the transition to President Joe Biden.

Biden has also made a point of challenging tech giants, but with little to show for it.

In January, Biden’s Department of Justice launched a separate case against Google involving its advertising business and this could go to trial next year.

The company also faces other lawsuits from US states that accuse it of abusing monopolies in ad tech and for blocking competition in its Google Play app store.

Google and the states said on Tuesday that they had reached an agreement in principle to settle the Google Play case.

Game makers seek unions as digital entertainment booms


By AFP
PublishedSeptember 9, 2023

An ongoing strike by actors and writers gripping Hollywood is being credited with increased interest in unionizing by behind-the-scenes workers at film and video game studios - Copyright GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP Michael M. Santiago

Glenn CHAPMAN

Unsung workers who make movie superheroes fly and lightsabers crackle are turning to labor unions as relentless demand for content turns dream jobs into grueling routines.

A union trend that started at an independent game studio last year is gaining momentum as video streaming services vie for subscribers and video game makers push to keep players engaged.

The latest moves come from visual effects (VFX) crews at Marvel Studios and Walt Disney Pictures, according to labor organizers who represent behind-the-scenes workers in entertainment.

The rash of organizing comes as Hollywood is in the throes of shutdown brought on by unionized writers and actors over pay and concerns about the use of artificial intelligence (AI).

Mail-in ballots will be tallied Tuesday by the National Labor Relations Board to determine whether VFX workers at Marvel will be certified as the first union of its kind at a major studio.

Labor organizers at the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) see the effort as a major shift in a job that has been largely non-union since VFX was revolutionized by “Star Wars” in the 1970s.

Visual effects crews at Walt Disney Pictures are voting this month whether to unionize.

“We are witnessing an unprecedented wave of solidarity that’s breaking down old barriers in the industry and proving we’re all in this fight together,” said IATSE International President Matthew Loeb.

“Entertainment workers everywhere are sticking up for each other’s rights, that’s what our movement is all about.”

– ‘Crunch’ time woes –

Competition between streaming television titans Amazon, Apple, and Netflix has ramped up demand for shows, almost all of which involve visual effects these days, IATSE organizer Mark Patch told AFP.

“Without VFX, you wouldn’t have a lightsaber; you wouldn’t have Avengers flying around,” Patch said.

“We love this work, but we need health care; we need to be paid overtime, we need to have meal breaks…”

It is common for VFX workers to put in 15-hour-plus days, even sleeping under desks while facing production deadlines, according to Patch.

Video game industry workers have long complained of similar grueling schedules during crunch times to make release dates.

Employees in studios are increasingly seeking solidarity to improve working conditions, according to IATSE international representative Chrissy Fellmeth.

Video game worker pay and benefits have stagnated in the multi-billion-dollar industry, while the speed of releases has accelerated along with demand for updates, Fellmeth told AFP.

And with games rushed out the door, studio workers have to scramble afterward to fix software bugs.

People working behind the scenes in video games typically last about seven years before changing careers to other tech sectors, according to Fellmeth.

“They tend to leave for greener pastures,” Fellmeth said.

“Even though they love working in games, it turns out to be way too difficult.”

Game studio Workinman Interactive in New York State, which boasts clients including Nintendo and Disney, last month saw the start of a unionizing effort according to the IATSE.

They would join a handful of video game studio unions, including the Game Workers Alliance Union launched early last year by quality assurance workers at Activision Blizzard’s Raven Software.

“I’m so excited to see what the future holds for us now that we have a chance to have our voices heard and respected as equals,” Workinman junior developer Cori Mori said in a release.

– Actors strike spark? –

Interest in union protection among video game workers has heightened as studios curtail remote work, meaning employees are being pressured to live near offices in cities that tend to be expensive, according to Fellmeth.

The ongoing strike by film actors and writers has also been a factor, spotlighting the power of workers uniting.

Writers walked off the job in May, followed by actors in July. Both unions are asking for better pay, and guarantees that AI will not steal their jobs and income, among other demands.

The strikes have halted production on many studio films and television series.

“Writers and the actors being on strike have brought the idea of organizing to a lot of people’s attention,” Fellmeth said.

“And that absolutely includes game workers.”

THE ZIONIST STATE IS NOT A DEMOCRACY

Israelis protest ahead of court hearing on legal reforms

By AFP
PublishedSeptember 9, 2023

A sea of flags in Tel Aviv at the latest protest - Copyright POOL/AFP Evan Vucci

Thousands of Israelis protested on Saturday against the hardline government’s judicial overhaul, ahead of a court hearing on a major element of the controversial reforms that have split the nation.

Since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition government unveiled its proposals in January, tens of thousands of Israelis have demonstrated weekly in what has become the largest protest movement in the country’s history.

“There is no such thing as democracy without the Supreme Court. Democracy, democracy!” chanted the protesters in Tel Aviv, where the rallies have taken place every Saturday since January.

“The Supreme Court is Supreme,” said one banner unfurled at the protest.

On Saturday, protests were also held in Jerusalem, Haifa, Beer Sheba, Modiin, Herzilya, and some other cities, organisers said.

The latest demonstration comes ahead of a Tuesday hearing in the Supreme Court on annulling parliament’s July vote to limit the so-called “reasonableness clause” used by the top court to review some government decisions.

Israel does not have a constitution or upper house of parliament, and the “reasonableness” law was put in place to allow judges to determine whether a government had overreached its powers.

The Supreme Court had used the measure in a high-profile ruling which barred Aryeh Deri, a Netanyahu ally, from serving in the cabinet because of a tax evasion conviction.

Opponents allege that Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption charges he denies, of trying to use the proposed legal overhaul to quash possible judgments against him.

He rejects the accusation.

“On Tuesday, the Supreme Court will have a discussion on whether the law the government has passed is legal or not,” protester Yuval Inbar, 21, told AFP.

“If we don’t come here (to protest) we are afraid that the government is not going to respect the Supreme Court.”

– ‘Political takeover’ –

The July 24 amendment to the “reasonableness clause” states that the courts cannot hear cases or issue orders against elected officials on the basis of that doctrine, activists say.

Opponents say this will give unlimited powers to the government and pave the way for more authoritarian rule.

“Netanyahu has been hijacked by messianic settlers who are attempting to have a revolution,” Josh Drill, a protest leader, told AFP.

“They are trying to do a political takeover and change the system of government to autocracy. That’s a revolution and this government is willing to bring the country down with them.”

Netanyahu’s administration, a coalition between his Likud party and extreme-right and ultra-Orthodox Jewish allies, argues that the legal changes are needed to rebalance powers between lawmakers and the judiciary.

Its supporters have also held occasional rallies, insisting that it is illogical for the Supreme Court to hear petitions that judge its own undefined role.

But protesters insisted on Saturday that the court has every right to do so.

“We don’t have a system of checks and balances,” said Drill.

“If there is a government that is attempting to remove all powers of the Supreme Court … then in my view it has the right, and it is even mandatory that the Supreme Court protect the democratic process.”

The protests have drawn support from across the political spectrum of Israel, among secular and religious groups, blue-collar and tech sector workers, peace activists and military reservists.

Occupational hazard: It’s time to tackle skin problems in the construction industry

By Dr. Tim Sandle
Published September 9, 2023

Construction workers on a flood defense project on the east side of Manhattan, New York - Copyright AFP Charly TRIBALLEAU

Those who work in the construction industry are often their feet all day and constantly using their hands. This means they may not always take the time to look after their skin.

The types of work will often expose a worker’s skin to potentially harmful chemicals and materials. It takes place in often harsh outdoor conditions and sometimes requires the use of heavy-duty PPE. All of this can lead to problematic skin conditions.

U.K. health and Safety Executive (HSE) data found that occupational skin diseases are some of the most common work-related health issues reported. Considering 799,000 U.K. construction workers identify as self-employed, developing a skin condition as a result of work can impact finances if the individual worker has to take time off work because of it.

Foot and hand health expert Margaret Dabbs OBE, owner of Margaret DabbsÔ London and multiple foot clinics, tells Digital Journal about the best options for keeping hands and feet in the best condition for workers in construction.

Recurrent problems

Bad skin health can lead to pain, illness and an impact on finances, particularly for self-employed workers, explains Dabbs. Occupational skin diseases are some of the most common work-related issues. For example, dry, cracked skin on our hands and feet is a common issue, with 62 percent of U.K. consumers purchasing a product because it claims to treat dry skin. Issues such as hyperkeratosis, callouses and corns can arise if a person does not look after their foot health, leading to extreme pain.

Contact dermatitis can be triggered through exposure to materials such as concrete. Once the allergy has been triggered, you will likely be susceptible to that material for the rest of a person’s life.

At least 100,000 new cases of skin cancer occur each year within the UK alone, with 44% of those diagnosed working within the construction industry.

Dabbs says that solutions such as properly-fitting protective equipment, regular moisturisation and sunscreen application can limit damage to the skin for construction labourers.

Why should we look after our skin and hands?

Our skin is our largest organ and its condition is a good indicator of our overall health. Dabbs explains that it is also our first defence against bacteria and germs.

Women are chronically underrepresented in the construction sector, with only 15 percent of all construction workers identifying as female and just 2% of those women working with tools. Many women in the industry find it difficult to source PPE that fits properly. Some have been forced to remove ill-fitting equipment to complete an intricate piece of work, thereby exposing their skin to irritants, or wear shoes that are multiple sizes too big for them.

If the skin on your hands or feet feels dry or irritated, watch out for splitting and open cuts. If left unsanitised and open to the air, cracks and cuts in your skin can let bacteria into your body, causing infection and illness. Infections can cause increased pain and limit your ability to focus on your work or even work at all.

Dabbs observes: “If your feet regularly crack or bleed, covering them up with socks and thick work shoes is not enough – you need to treat the cause of this dry skin. By simply ignoring issues, you run the risk of getting a Staph infection from the bacteria always present on the surface of your skin. If you’re working with soil, dust or metal objects during a project, be wary of cuts and cracks on your hands. The bacteria that cause the serious illness tetanus like to live in these areas.

Common construction conditions

Injuries are also a problem within the construction area, with many working in dangerous situations or with heavy-duty machinery. For instance, if you repeatedly use vibrating tools, such as chainsaws or pneumatic drills, for long periods, you may be at risk of hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS). It’s unknown how exactly the condition occurs, but it’s assumed that the nerves within the fingers, hands and arms sustain small repeat injuries from the use of the tools, causing them to gradually lose function. If you’ve been using vibrating tools for ten years or more for around 15 minutes a day, you’re at risk of HAVS.

Other disorders caused by extensively using vibration tools include vibration white finger (VWF) and carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). VWF, a disorder of the blood supply to the fingers and hands, is the most common disease prescribed under the Industrial Injuries Disability Benefit scheme in the last ten years. CTS is thought to occur through compression of the nerves in the wrist, causing pain in the fingers, hand and arm.

Contracting infections or acquiring injuries can damage your health and also result in loss of work. If you’re self-employed, time away from work could seriously impact your finances.

Protecting skin

The best way to prevent injuries and conditions such as HAVS, CPT and VWF, notes Dabbs, is to choose well-maintained, low-vibration tools. She sates: “You might also be able to use additional PPE, such as anti-vibration gloves or a wrist brace. If possible, take regular 10-minute breaks and keep your hands warm whilst at work.”

Contact dermatitis

Contact dermatitis causes an itchy and uncomfortable rash that can be hard to work through. Occupational contact dermatitis makes up a huge 80 percent of all work-related skin conditions.

Working with materials like cement without the proper protective equipment can trigger contact dermatitis even if you’ve never encountered a skin condition before. If an unknown allergy is triggered once, your skin may then be susceptible to this material for the rest of your life. Once the skin has been affected, you cannot desensitise yourself to that substance.

Dabbs goes on to states that “prevention is the best way to protect yourself against occupational contact dermatitis. If you’ve already been exposed to the allergen, wearing thick gloves or covering your arms in long sleeves will not cure your condition. In this case, you’ll need to take up a regular moisturising regime, avoid the allergen as best you can and perhaps speak to your doctor to explore your options with medicated creams.”

Dry, cracked skin

Conditions like eczema can be exacerbated in tough environments. Dabbs finds: “If you work outside or with hazardous materials, your hands and feet will face daily stress. Your skin will likely contend with irritants, causing dryness and irritation. Continually washing or sanitising your hands removes the protective oils which naturally coat our skin. This results in sore, parched skin and a weaker skin barrier.”

“Protect your skin by ensuring you regularly use moisturiser”, according to Dabbs. She comments: “Try applying hand and foot lotion every morning and night as part of your daily routine. Or, even better, keep some on you and moisturise after you’ve washed your hands in the bathroom. Moisturisers can help limit pain caused by dry, cracked skin and potential future injuries like open sores by restoring the oils to your skin.”

Dabbs continues: “If you need a more intensive treatment, try putting a thick layer of cream onto your hands and feet just before bed and wearing gloves or socks to allow it to sink in fully. You can even invest in some moisturising hand wash if your hands feel particularly dry after washing, but we’d still recommend post-wash moisturising too.”

Skin under pressure

Constantly having to wear thick, hard shoes, such as steel-toe caps essential for site work, can cause excessive pressure on your feet. This is only exacerbated if shoes are not the perfect fit for your feet. Extreme pressure can sometimes lead your skin to produce an excess of keratin, causing a condition known as hyperkeratosis or friction callosity.

Hyperkeratosis is the skin’s defence mechanism. It produces thick, hard layers of skin as a response to external irritants or pressure. But if this tough, fibrous skin affects the sole of your foot, it can lead to pain and difficulties walking.

Excessively thick skin can also lead to calluses and corns developing on your feet. Corns in particular can be extremely painful – seed corns, which appear on the base of your foot, can make walking very difficult.

Dabbs cautions: “This is a serious issue for those in the construction industry, who are on their feet all day at work. These calluses and corns can also form on hands if you’re continually working with heavy tools, such as hammers or screwdrivers.”

Heal your skin by keeping feet moisturised and exfoliated by using hydrating lotions and gentle foot scrubs, Dabbs recommends. This can help to limit the risk of hyperkeratosis and keep your feet in good working condition.

Dabbs recommends using a foot file to get rid of dead, hard skin on your feet. “Gently work the file with the grain of your foot to slough away dead skin. You can use a hydrating foot oil to nourish the newly-revealed skin underneath and keep everything feeling smooth.”

If you have corns or calluses on your feet, try placing a small amount of wool, soft cotton or moleskin in between your toes to relieve pressure and make walking less painful.

Serious skin damage

Letting skin conditions get out of control can lead to loss of motor skills, regular work and good health. An estimated 16,000 people in the U.K. are suffering from skin conditions they believe have been worsened by their work.

Dabbs reveals: “Every year in the UK reports at least 100,000 new cases of skin cancer. Data shows that an estimated 18.68 million people used sun protection in 2020, a drop from the previous year’s usage. In a country that boasted a population of over 67 million at this time, this is a concerning statistic.”

The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends an SPF of 30 or higher if a person is engaging in any activity outdoors for an extended period of time. Dabbs warns: “Your skin accrues damage from sun exposure over your lifetime. That’s why sun protection is especially important if you work outside year-round. Indeed, recent research shows that of those diagnosed with skin cancer, 44 percent work within the construction industry. Construction workers also make up 42% of all occupational skin cancer deaths every year.”

Therefore Dabbs recommends that it is “essential to incorporate sunscreen into your daily routine, especially if you work primarily outdoors, on sites or around scaffolding.”

WRITTEN BY Dr. Tim Sandle
Dr. Tim Sandle is Digital Journal's Editor-at-Large for science news. Tim specializes in science, technology, environmental, business, and health journalism. He is additionally a practising microbiologist; and an author. He is also interested in history, politics and current affairs.