Decentralized I.R. jurisdictions create ‘complex landscape’
April 14, 2013 by tbarrett
Filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction
Description: Daphne Taras, dean of the Edwards School of Business at the University of Saskatchewan, says Canada has “the most decentralized labour relations in the world.”
Source: The Globe and Mail Report on Business
Date: 04/11/2013
Related links:
- “Why Canada can’t compete”
- Canadian Chamber of Commerce competitiveness report (pdf)
- “Labour laws and regulations in Canada”
- Daphne Taras
Questions for discussion:
- Do you think the headline on this Globe and Mail article accurately reflects Dr. Taras’s comments? Discuss.
- What does Dr. Taras say about labour codes and flexibility?
- What does the Chamber of Commerce report say about labour codes and flexibility? What do you think they are getting at?
- Consult your text and describe briefly the history of industrial relations jurisdiction in Canada.
- What determines whether a union-employer relationship falls under federal or provincial jurisdiction?
Temporary foreign worker case opens in Federal Court
April 14, 2013 by tbarrett
Filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 13 - Future Issues, Chapter 3 - HIstory of the Canadian Union Movement
Description: A Federal Court in Vancouver is hearing arguments concerning the hiring of more than 200 temporary Chinese workers for a mine in northeastern B.C.
Source: CBC
Date: 04/09/2013
Related links:
- RBC apologizes in foreign worker controversy
- Earlier update
- Union safety complaint
- The Temporary Foreign Worker Program
- The International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 115
- The Construction and Specialized Workers’ Union (Labourers), Local 1611
- HD Mining International
Questions for discussion:
- What is the Temporary Foreign Worker Program?
- Why do you think it is so controversial right now?
- Why does the company say it needs to use workers from China?
- What is the basis of the unions’ court challenge?
- Who do you think should win this dispute? Explain.
ILO criticizes federal government
April 7, 2013 by tbarrett
Filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 10 - Third-Party Intervention, Chapter 13 - Future Issues, Chapter 4 - The Structure of Canadian Unions
Description: The International Labour Organization has found that the federal government violated international law when it imposed back-to-work legislation on Canada Post workers.
Source: Doorey’s Law of Work Blog
Date: 04/05/2012
Link: http://lawofwork.ca/?p=6463
Related links:
- Earlier story
- The ILO
- The ILO decision
- Federal labour ministry
- Canada Post
- Canadian Union of Postal Workers statement
Questions for discussion:
- Briefly describe the government’s actions that prompted this complaint.
- What is the ILO?
- Summarize the ILO’s findings.
- Given what you know, do you agree with this decision? Discuss.
- What practical impact will this decision have?
After four years, foreign workers receive settlement
April 7, 2013 by tbarrett
Filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 13 - Future Issues, Chapter 3 - HIstory of the Canadian Union Movement
Description: Latin American workers who helped build a Vancouver rapid transit line have finally received the money awarded to them in a 2008 human rights ruling.
Source: Canadian Press/Globe and Mail
Date: 04/02/2013
Related links:
- Story from November, 2012
- Story from 2008
- The Construction and Specialized Workers’ Union Local 1611
- SNC-Lavalin
- B.C. Human Rights Tribunal
Questions for discussion:
- Summarize the reasons the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal gave for its decision.
- Do you agree with its reasoning? Why or why not?
- Why did it take so long for the workers to receive their settlements?
- What was the employer’s argument against the award? Do you agree?
- Do you think justice was done in this case? Discuss.
Ottawa wants to talk sick leave, pensions with unions
March 24, 2013 by tbarrett
Filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 13 - Future Issues, Chapter 8 - The Collective Bargaining Process
Description: The federal government wants to look at “changes to the labour relations regime,” including sick leave, pensions and compensation, to help balance the budget.
Source: CBC
Date: 03/21/2013
Link: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/story/2013/03/21/ottawa-public-servant-sick-benefits.html
Related links:
- Winnipeg Free Press editorial
- Federal budget
- Public Service Alliance of Canada media release
- Earlier story
Questions for discussion:
- Describe briefly the current federal sick leave provisions.
- What arguments do these stories and editorials give for renegotiating sick leave provisions?
- What arguments does PSCA make for keeping things the way they are?
- Which do you think are the most persuasive arguments?
- How do you think this situation will be resolved?
CBSA to appeal child-care decision
March 24, 2013 by tbarrett
Filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 13 - Future Issues
Description: The Canada Border Services Agency is appealing a ground-breaking decision from the Federal Court of Canada that ruled employers have an obligation to accommodate employee child-care needs.
Source: Canadian Labour Reporter
Date: 03/19/2013
Link: http://www.labour-reporter.com/articleview/17532-cbsa-to-appeal-federal-court-family-status-decision
Related links:
- Lexology law blog
- Federal Court decision
- Earlier story
- CBSA
- Public Service Alliance of Canada
- Canadian Human Rights Tribunal
Questions for discussion:
- What was Fiona Johnstone seeking after her maternity leave expired?
- What was CBSA’s response?
- What is a “duty to accommodate?”
- Briefly summarize the reasons behind the Federal Court decision.
- What impact do you think this decision will have for other workers and employers?
BC NDP leader avoids speaking to nurses union
March 17, 2013 by tbarrett
Filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 13 - Future Issues, Chapter 6 - Establishing Union Recognition
Description: B.C. New Democratic Party leader Adrian Dix has refused to speak to the B.C. Nurses’ Union, which has been condemned for raiding by the B.C. Federation of Labour and the Canadian Labour Congress.
Source: The Vancouver Sun
Date: 03/12/2013
Related links:
- B.C. Nurses’ Union
- Hospital Employees’ Union
- Earlier news story
- News story regarding the BCNU and licensed practical nurses
- The B.C. NDP
Questions for discussion:
- Consult your text: what is raiding?
- What are the arguments against raiding?
- What arguments are used in favour of raiding?
- Do you think raiding is justified? Explain.
- Why do you think raiding provokes such strong emotions?
Union calls Target hiring practices unfair
March 17, 2013 by tbarrett
Filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 12 - Changes to the Union or the Employer, Chapter 13 - Future Issues
Description: The United Food and Commercial Workers of Canada says Target’s practice of guaranteeing interviews – but not jobs – to Zellers employees in Thunder Bay is unfair.
Source: CBC
Date: 03/12/2013
Link: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/story/2013/03/12/tby-targer-hiring-thunder-bay-store.html
Related links:
- UFCW statement
- Target Canada
- Earlier story
- Target Fairness campaign
- Earlier update
- Slaw legal blog discussion of successorship
Questions for discussion:
- Why is the union critical of Target?
- What is Target’s response?
- Which arguments do you think are the strongest?
- The Zellers workers in Thunder Bay do not belong to the UFCW. Why do you think the union is making this complaint?
- Would Target have to act differently if the Zellers workers had a collective agreement? Explain.
NSCAD, faculty reach agreement
March 10, 2013 by tbarrett
Filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 10 - Third-Party Intervention, Chapter 13 - Future Issues, Chapter 8 - The Collective Bargaining Process
Description: NSCAD University in Halifax and the union representing faculty and librarians have reached a tentative three-year agreement.
Source: The Chronicle Herald
Date: 03/08/2013
Link: http://thechronicleherald.ca/metro/904171-nscad-university-faculty-reach-deal
Related links:
- Earlier news story
- NSCAD University
- University statement
- The Faculty Union of NSCAD
- SUNSCAD – the NSCAD student union on Twitter
- Nova Scotia Conciliation Services
Questions for discussion:
- What was the main issue in this dispute, according to news stories?
- Consult the Related Links above. Can you find any language in the FUNSCAD Unit 1 collective agreement that relates to this issue?
- What impact do you think job action by the union would have had on students?
- If you were a student at NSCAD, what position would you take on this strike?
- Why?
Conciliator meets with parties in Sudbury dispute
March 10, 2013 by tbarrett
Filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 10 - Third-Party Intervention, Chapter 8 - The Collective Bargaining Process
Description: Community Living Greater Sudbury and the Ontario Public Service Employees Union Local 676 are using a conciliator in the hopes of reaching a collective agreement.
Source: Sudbury Northern Life
Date: 03/08/2013
Link: http://www.northernlife.ca/news/localNews/2013/03/08-community-living-opseu-sudbury.aspx
Related links:
Questions for discussion:
- How long have the parties been without a collective agreement?
- Consult your text. What happens when a collective agreement expires?
- What is conciliation?
- What is a “no board”?
- What can happen after one is issued?
Fiona McQuarrie's Industrial Relations in Canada received wide praise for helping students to understand the complex and sometimes controversial field of Industrial Relations, by using just the right blend of practice, process and theory. The text engages business students with diverse backgrounds and teaches them how an understanding of this field will help them become better managers.