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.
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.
Bill C-377 is necessary, construction industry head says
Description: Bill C-377, which would force greater financial disclosure from Canadian unions, has moved to the Senate.
Source: The Journal of Commerce
Date: 02/18/2013
Related links:
- Prof. David Doorey’s Workplace Law Blog
- Senator Hugh Segal’s speech in the Senate
- Bill C-377
- Russ Hiebert, MP, sponsor of Bill C-377
- Earlier update
Questions for discussion:
- Summarize Bill Stewart’s argument.
- Summarize Hugh Segal’s argument.
- Who do you think makes the strongest points? Why?
- Do you think this bill is necessary? Why or why not?
- Prof. Doorey asks: “Do these arguments against Bill C-377 and ‘right to work’ laws seem more convincing when made by a Conservative senator than when made by unions and academics?” What do you think?
Buzz Hargrove criticizes “amateur hour” NHL talks
December 9, 2012 by tbarrett
Filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 10 - Third-Party Intervention, Chapter 2 - Theories of Industrial Relations, Chapter 3 - HIstory of the Canadian Union Movement, Chapter 7 - Defining and Commencing Collective Bargaining, Chapter 8 - The Collective Bargaining Process, Chapter 9 - Strikes and Lockouts
Description: Former Canadian Auto Workers head Buzz Hargrove says the NHL Players’ Association shouldn’t have agreed to meet with team owners without the association’s executive director.
Source: CBC
Date: 12/06/2012
Link: http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/Canada/ID/2313280372/
Related links:
- Donald Fehr speaks to the CAW
- Two sides still in contact after talks break off
- Earlier update
- NHL
- NHLPA
Questions for discussion:
- Why does Hargrove refer to these talks as an “amateur hour”?
- What does Hargrove believe may be needed to reach a settlement?
- Consult your textbook and make a list of the advantages to such an approach.
- Now make a list of the disadvantages.
- Based on what you have learned in this course, what do you think should be done to reach a settlement?
Michigan right-to-work vote may affect Ontario
Description: “Right-to-work” laws in Michigan could affect Ontario workers.
Source: The Globe and Mail
Date: 12/06/2012
Related links:
- Right-to-work protests
- CNN: Michigan Senate passes right-to-work measures.
- A U.S. pro-right-to-work site
- A Canadian anti-right-to-work opinion piece
- Statement from Michigan Gov. Rich Snyder
Questions for discussion:
- What are right-to-work laws?
- What arguments do their proponents make?
- What arguments do their opponents make?
- Which arguments do you think are the most persuasive?
- How likely do you think it is that right-to-work laws could be passed in Canada? Explain.
TWU to hold merger vote with Steelworkers
Description: Leaders of the Telecommunications Workers Union have voted to begin a merger process with the Steelworkers union.
Source: Canadian Labour Reporter
Date: 11/28/2012
Related links:
- Telecommunications Workers Union
- United Steelworkers Union
- TWU merger update
- A history of the USW
- An earlier merger between the USW and the IWA
- A list of mergers involving the Canadian Auto Workers union
Questions for discussion:
- Consult the Related Links above: Who does the TWU represent?
- Who does the USW represent?
- What are the next steps in the merger process?
- Consult your text: What are the pros and cons of such a merger?
- Why do you think the TWU is taking this step at this time?
- If you were a TWU member, how do you think you would vote?
Sinclair re-elected BC Fed president
December 2, 2012 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: Jim Sinclair was elected to a record seventh term as head of the B.C. Federation of Labour at the labour body’s convention in Vancouver.
Source: The Globe and Mail
Date: 11/29/2012
Related links:
- Interview with Jim Sinclair
- B.C. government workers union endorses Sinclair
- Statement from Sinclair’s challenger, Michelle Laurie
- Michelle Laurie’s website
- Earlier story
- Earlier update
Questions for discussion:
- Why did the Globe and Mail say this convention could be one of the most pivotal in the history of the B.C. Federation of Labour?
- What was Michelle Laurie’s campaign platform?
- What was Sinclair’s platform?
- How close was the final result?
- What do you think this suggests?
Court to hear temporary workers challenge
November 25, 2012 by admin
Filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 13 - Future Issues, Chapter 3 - HIstory of the Canadian Union Movement
Description: A Federal Court judge has ruled that a case involving temporary Chinese workers at a northern B.C. mine can go ahead.
Source: CTV
Date: 11/22/2012
Related links:
Questions for discussion:
- Why did the Federal Court judge decide to allow this case to go forward?
- What are the unions seeking in this case?
- What did the government and HD Mining argue?
- Based on what you know, do you agree with this decision?
- What happens next?
Temporary Chinese miners underpaid, court told
November 18, 2012 by admin
Filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 13 - Future Issues, Chapter 3 - HIstory of the Canadian Union Movement
Description: A lawyer representing two unions told the Federal Court that Chinese workers brought to northern B.C. appear to make as much as $17 an hour less than Canadian workers.
Source: CBC
Date: 11/16/2012
Link: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2012/11/16/bc-coal-miners-union-court.html
Related links:
Questions for discussion:
- What are the two unions asking the court to do?
- Who is opposing the unions in court and what do they argue?
- Which side do you think has the most persuasive case? Why?
- Why is the federal government reviewing this program?
- Prof. David Doorey asks: “Should Canadian employers be required to pay that rate required to attract workers to remote areas of Canada, even if that rate is higher than the employer would like to pay?” What do you think?
Federal commissioner says union bill intrudes on privacy
Description: Federal Privacy Commissioner Jennifer Stoddart has told the Commons finance committee that a private member’s bill to increase disclosure of union finances “is a significant privacy intrusion.”
Source: Canadian Labour Reporter
Date: 11/08/2012
Related links:
Questions for discussion:
- What does Bill C-377 seek to do?
- Summarize Jennifer Stoddart’s analysis of this bill.
- What are the arguments in favour of passing this bill?
- What are the arguments against?
- Which arguments do you find most convincing?
- Do you think the benefits that would come from this bill would outweigh the privacy concerns? Why or why not?
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.