As economy worsens, unions come under attack
October 24, 2011 by tbarrett
Filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 13 - Future Issues, Chapter 2 - Theories of Industrial Relations, Chapter 3 - HIstory of the Canadian Union Movement
Description: As unemployment rises and the economy stalls, the union movement is under attack from governments, businesses and even workers.
Source: The Montreal Gazette
Date: 10/20/2011
Link: http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/Unions+easy+target+weak+economy/5575308/story.html
Related links:
- Prof. Robert Hebdon
- National Union of Public and General Employees
- The Fraser Institute
- Robert Reich on economic inequality
Questions for discussion:
- This article says: “… if the government prevents unions from walking out to protest members’ wages, the entire economy suffers. The butcher and the baker and the automaker all shed customers as workers’ wages decline.” Do you agree?
- Why or why not?
- How has the union movement fared in past times of economic difficulty?
- What is different today?
- This article asks: “…if the jobs created don’t pay very well and the only institution we have to fight for living wages is handcuffed, then where does that leave us as a society struggling to recover from a recession and massive wage inequities?” What do you think?
Court finds B.C. ‘gag law’ unconstitutional
October 24, 2011 by tbarrett
Filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 13 - Future Issues, Chapter 3 - HIstory of the Canadian Union Movement
Description: The B.C. Appeal Court has agreed with a number of unions that a B.C. government attempt to restrict third-party election advertising is unconstitutional.
Source: The Vancouver Sun
Date: 10/20/2011
Link: http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Union+hails+ruling/5578606/story.html
Related links:
- CBC story
- The Appeal Court ruling
- Statements from the B.C. Teachers’ Federation
- Statement from the B.C. Nurses’ Union
- The B.C. Election Act
- B.C. Attorney-general’s ministry
Questions for discussion:
- What did this law seek to do?
- Why did the unions seek to overturn it?
- What does the Charter of Rights and Freedoms say about limits on free speech?
- Do you agree with the court’s decision?
- What do you think will be the effects of this decision if it stands?
Air Canada claims bad faith bargaining
Description: Air Canada has complained to the Canadian Industrial Relations Board that the Canadian Union of Public Employees bargained in bad faith.
Source: The Globe and Mail
Date: 10/14/2011
Related links:
- CBC story
- Canadian Industrial Relations Board
- Statement from CUPE
- Statement from Air Canada
- Earlier update
Questions for discussion:
- What did the government do to block a strike by Air Canada flight attendants?
- What does your textbook say about bargaining in bad faith?
- What arguments do you think the company would make to support a claim of bargaining in bad faith?
- What arguments would the union make against such a claim by the company?
- Given what you know about this dispute, do the union’s actions amount to bargaining in bad faith?
- What is the role of the Canadian Industrial Relations Board?
Steelworkers, U.S. Steel settle in Hamilton
October 17, 2011 by tbarrett
Filed under Chapter 13 - Future Issues, Chapter 8 - The Collective Bargaining Process, Chapter 9 - Strikes and Lockouts
Description: Workers at the U.S. Steel plant in Hamilton have ratified a tentative agreement after an 11-month lockout.
Source: The Hamilton Spectator
Date: 10/16/2011
Link: http://www.thespec.com/news/business/article/610128–hamilton-s-1005-votes-yes-but-nobody-liked-it
Related links:
Questions for discussion:
- Summarize the issues in this dispute.
- How does this contract compare to earlier company offers?
- Why do you think the union decided to accept the contract now?
- What effect do you think an 11-month lockout would have on the company?
- On union members?
Postal workers’ union ordered to pay $50,000 damages
October 11, 2011 by tbarrett
Filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 4 - The Structure of Canadian Unions, Chapter 9 - Strikes and Lockouts
Description: An arbitrator has ruled the Canadian Union of Postal Workers must pay $50,000 in damages for walkouts in 2008.
Source: Doorey’s Workplace Law Blog
Date: 10/11/2011
Link: http://www.yorku.ca/ddoorey/lawblog/?p=3953
Related links:
Questions for discussion:
- Why was the union ordered to pay damages?
- Why was the union, as opposed to just the workers involved, held to be liable?
- How did the arbitrator settle on the figure of $50,000?
- Dr. Doorey asks: “Is that a fair outcome?” What do you think?
- Dr. Doorey also asks: “Here, the union officials were directly involved in organizing the strike. Do you think the outcome would/should be different if union members engage in an unlawful strike without any direct involvement of union officials?” What do you think?
Air Canada flight attendants promise strike
Description: Air Canada flight attendants have rejected a tentative contract and have given strike notice. The federal government has promised back-to-work legislation.
Source: The Toronto Star.
Date: 10/11/2011
Related links:
- Bloomberg story
- CBC story
- Earlier update on Ottawa’s use of back-to-work legislation
- Earlier update on the tentative agreement
- Statement from Air Canada
- Statement from CUPE
Questions for discussion:
- What are the issues in this dispute?
- Can you think of compromises on these issues that would leave both sides reasonably happy – or, at least, equally unhappy?
- Do you think the threat of back-to-work legislation affected the attendants’ decision to reject the tentative agreement?
- Why or why not?
- After reviewing the related links above, outline the likely effects of back-to-work legislation on both sides.
Bill would force unions to make finances public
October 4, 2011 by tbarrett
Filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 13 - Future Issues, Chapter 3 - HIstory of the Canadian Union Movement, Chapter 4 - The Structure of Canadian Unions
Description: A Conservative backbench MP’s private member’s bill would force unions to open their books.
Source: The Globe and Mail
Date: 10/02/2011
Related links:
- Windsor Star story, with union reaction
- Opinion piece by the Fraser Institute
- Global News story
- CBC blog post
- Text of the bill
Questions for discussion:
- Private members’ bills rarely become law. What reasons are there to think this bill might be different?
- Usually, when the government wants to amend a law it introduces a government bill. Why might this case be different?
- Consider the arguments in the Fraser Institute article and the union comments in the Windsor Star piece. Which do you feel are most convincing?
- Which arguments do you feel are less convincing?
- If you were an MP, would you vote for this bill? Why or why not?
Settlement keeps St. Lawrence Seaway open
October 4, 2011 by tbarrett
Filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 8 - The Collective Bargaining Process, Chapter 9 - Strikes and Lockouts
Description: The St. Lawrence Seaway and members of the Canadian Auto Workers union have reached a tentative agreement.
Source: CTV.ca
Date: 10/03/2011
Related links:
- Federal government hints it might bring in back-to-work legislation
- Montreal Gazette story
- CBC story
- Press release from the St. Lawrence Seaway
- CAW press release
- Earlier update on federal back-to-work legislation
Questions for discussion:
- What were the main issues in this negotiation?
- The tentative agreement was reached after the union served 72-hour strike notice. What effect do you think that notice might have had on the negotiations?
- The settlement also comes after federal Labour Minister Lisa Raitt hinted at back-to-work legislation. What effect do you think that might have had?
- Do you think this settlement fits the pattern discussed in the earlier update on federal back-to-work legislation? (See above under “Related links.”)
- What arguments can you think of for federal intervention in this case?
- What arguments can you think of against federal intervention in this case?
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.