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?
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?
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?
Ontario government imposes contracts on teachers
January 6, 2013 by tbarrett
Filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 10 - Third-Party Intervention, Chapter 13 - Future Issues, Chapter 8 - The Collective Bargaining Process
Description: The Ontario government has imposed contracts on elementary and secondary school teachers, freezing pay and reducing sick days.
Source: The Globe and Mail
Date: 01/03/2013
Related links:
- Video: Education Minister Laurel Broten announces government move
- Andrew Coyne opinion piece
- Thomas Walkom opinion piece
- Ontario education ministry
- The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario
- The Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation
Questions for discussion:
- What are the main features of the contracts imposed by the Ontario government?
- What reason does the government give for taking this action?
- What is the teachers’ response?
- Summarize the arguments made by Andrew Coyne and Thomas Walkom.
- Which arguments do you find to be the most persuasive? Why?
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.
Saskatchewan plans changes to labour laws
November 25, 2012 by admin
Filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 13 - Future Issues
Description: Saskatchewan Labour Minister Don Morgan has angered unions by announcing planned labour law changes to a business audience.
Source: CBC
Date: 11/18/2012
Link: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/story/2012/11/18/sk-labour-laws.html
Related links:
Questions for discussion:
- What is the labour minister proposing?
- What effect do you think these changes, if implemented, would have on unions? On employers?
- What is the Saskatchewan Labour Federation\’s complaint?
- Do you think it is justified?
- Consult your textbook: what is the Rand formula? Why do you think the government decided not to alter provisions related to it?
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?
Canada Post, CUPW reach tentative agreement
October 8, 2012 by tbarrett
Filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 10 - Third-Party Intervention, Chapter 13 - Future Issues, Chapter 8 - The Collective Bargaining Process
Description: Canada Post and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers have reached a tentative agreement without arbitration in a bitter year-long dispute.
Source: CBC
Date: 10/07/2012
Link: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2012/10/07/canada-post-deal.html
Related links:
- Toronto Star story
- Earlier story: Federal Court orders new arbitrator for Canada Post dispute
- Earlier update: Federal government orders CUPW back to work
- Canada Post
- CUPW
Questions for discussion:
- Summarize the steps that led to this tentative agreement.
- Why did the Federal Court order a new arbitrator in this dispute?
- Do you think it is a positive sign that the two sides reached a tentative agreement without an arbitrator?
- Why or why not?
- Do you think the government’s back-to-work order looks like a wise move in retrospect?
- Why or why not?
Ontario teachers boycott after-school programs
September 23, 2012 by tbarrett
Filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 8 - The Collective Bargaining Process, Chapter 9 - Strikes and Lockouts
Description: The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario is calling for a “pause” in extra-curricular activities after the Ontario government brought in a bill that freezes their wages and limits their bargaining rights.
Source: The Toronto Star
Date: 09/18/2012
Related links:
- Professor David Doorey discusses the legal issues in this dispute
- Bill 115, the Putting Students First Act
- Statement from the Ontario ministry of education
- The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario
- Earlier update on B.C. teachers’ job action
Questions for discussion:
- What are the teachers doing here?
- What is work to rule? Why can’t Ontario teachers apply that term to this dispute?
- How is this situation similar to that in B.C. last year? How is it different?
- The Toronto Star story describes parents trying to explain this action to students. What would you say if you were a parent?
- Prof. Doorey asks: “If you think a law like that is a good idea, then should it apply beyond teachers? Should all employees be required to perform volunteer work, or just teachers?” What do you think?
B.C. teachers ask labour board to fire mediator
April 9, 2012 by tbarrett
Filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 10 - Third-Party Intervention, Chapter 8 - The Collective Bargaining Process
Description: The B.C. Teachers’ Federation has asked the B.C. Labour Relations Board to overturn the appointment of a mediator in their dispute with the provincial government.
Source: The Victoria Times Colonist
Date: 04/05/2012
Related links:
- B.C. Labour Relations Board
- Earlier update
- B.C. Teachers’ Federation
- B.C. Ministry of Education
- B.C. Public School Employers’ Association
- Bill 22, the Education Improvement Act
Questions for discussion:
- Summarize the BCTF’s argument in favour of overturning the mediator’s appointment.
- What is the government’s response?
- What is Dr. Jago’s response?
- Who do you think has the strongest case?
- Review your text’s section on labour boards. Given what you know, do you think the B.C. LRB has the power to overturn the appointment? Explain.
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.