Alberta premier angers former labour allies
March 3, 2013 by tbarrett
Filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 13 - Future Issues, Chapter 8 - The Collective Bargaining Process
Description: The teachers, nurses and public sector workers who supported Alberta Premier Alison Redford in last year’s election are unhappy with her latest cost-cutting moves.
Source: The Globe and Mail
Date: 02/26/2013
Related links:
- Calgary Herald story
- Alberta Teachers’ Association
- Alberta Education Minister Jeff Johnson
- Premier Alison Redford
- Alberta Health Services
- Alberta Federation of Labour
Questions for discussion:
- Why is labour angry at the Redford government?
- Why is the government making cuts now?
- What is the state of negotiations between the government and teachers?
- Summarize the positions of the government and the teachers.
- Which side do you think makes the most persuasive arguments? Why?
Ottawa-area school board becoming impatient
February 24, 2013 by tbarrett
Filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 10 - Third-Party Intervention, Chapter 8 - The Collective Bargaining Process, Chapter 9 - Strikes and Lockouts
Description: The Upper Canada District School Board says it’s worried about the length of time the Ontario Labour Relations Board is taking to decide on an application for a cease-and-desist order.
Source: The Ottawa Citizen
Date: 02/22/2013
Related links:
- Earlier Toronto Star story
- Upper Canada District School Board
- District media release
- Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario
- Ontario Labour Relations Board
- Earlier update
Questions for discussion:
- What actions does the school board want the OLRB to halt?
- What did the school board argue before the OLRB?
- Review the related links above. What was the teachers’ argument?
- Do you think the teachers’ activities fit the definition of a strike? Why or why not?
- Why do you think it has taken so long to reach a decision?
B.C. teachers reject premier’s call for 10-year contract
January 27, 2013 by tbarrett
Filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 13 - Future Issues, Chapter 2 - Theories of Industrial Relations, Chapter 8 - The Collective Bargaining Process
Description: The B.C. Teachers’ Federation wants no part of a government proposal that would include a 10-year collective agreement.
Source: CBC
Date: 01/24/2013
Link: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2013/01/24/bc-teachers-plan.html
Related links:
- YouTube video of Premier Christy Clark’s announcement
- Government statement
- Government plan (pdf)
- BCTF response
- Earlier update
Questions for discussion:
- What would the teachers gain under the government proposal?
- What would the teachers lose?
- Ten-year collective agreements are extremely rare. Why do you think that is?
- Who do you think would benefit the most from this proposal? Why?
- B.C. voters go to the polls May 14 and the Clark government is well back in the opinion polls. How do you think that affects the contents of this proposal and the teachers’ response?
LRB declares teachers’ protest unlawful
January 13, 2013 by tbarrett
Filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 8 - The Collective Bargaining Process, Chapter 9 - Strikes and Lockouts
Description: The Ontario Labour Relations Board has declared a planned one-day walkout by elementary school teachers illegal.
Source: CTV
Date: 01/11/2013
Link: http://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/etfo-osstf-cancel-planned-walkouts-1.1109787
Related links:
- Labour board decision (pdf)
- Blog post by Prof. David Doorey
- Statement by the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario
- Ontario Labour Relations Board
- Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario
- Ontario Ministry of Education
Questions for discussion:
- Who brought the application to the Ontario LRB?
- What did the Elementary Teachers’ Federation intend to do?
- Summarize the arguments made by the two sides.
- What reasons did the board give for its decision?
- Prof. David Doorey asks: “Do you think the definition of ‘strikes’ should include a protest against a government’s public policies?” What do you think? Why?
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?
York Region elementary teachers poised for job action
November 18, 2012 by admin
Filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 8 - The Collective Bargaining Process, Chapter 9 - Strikes and Lockouts
Description: Elementary school teachers in Ontario’s York Region appear ready to take job action.
Source: CBC
Date: 11/18/2012
Related links:
Questions for discussion:
- What is an “escalating withdrawal of administrative services”?
- How does that differ from an all-out strike?
- What are the issues in this dispute?
- Consult the related links above: What happens on Dec. 31?
- What effect do you think that will have on this dispute?
B.C. government wants 10-year contract with teachers
October 21, 2012 by tbarrett
Filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 13 - Future Issues, Chapter 8 - The Collective Bargaining Process
Description: B.C. Premier Christy Clark has announced she wants a 10-year collective agreement with the province’s teachers.
Source: The Globe and Mail
Date: 10/17/2012
Related links:
- Globe and Mail column
- Bill 22, the Education Improvement Act
- B.C. Teachers’ Federation
- B.C. Ministry of Education
- Prof. Fiona McQuarrie discusses the announcement on CBC Radio (Oct. 18 show: begins at 1:58)
Questions for discussion:
- Why does the B.C. government want a 10-year agreement?
- Why are such long contracts unusual?
- What are the advantages of a long-term deal for both parties?
- What are the disadvantages?
- Do you think it is likely the two sides will reach a 10-year agreement?
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?
Mediator in teachers dispute has no mediation experience
Description: The government-appointed mediator in the B.C. teachers dispute has no mediation experience.
Source: The (Vancouver) Province
Date: 03/29/2012
Related links:
- B.C. Government and Service Employees’ Union takes strike vote
- Court injunction blocks B.C. anesthetists’ job action
- Earlier update
- B.C. Public School Employers’ Association
- B.C. Ministry of Education
- B.C. Teachers’ Federation
Questions for discussion:
- What are Dr. Charles Jago’s qualifications to mediate the B.C. teachers dispute?
- Why is the BCTF upset about his appointment?
- Do you think they have valid reasons to be concerned?
- Why or why not?
- What is unusual about this mediation process?
B.C. teachers plan ‘day of action’
February 27, 2012 by tbarrett
Filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 10 - Third-Party Intervention, Chapter 8 - The Collective Bargaining Process, Chapter 9 - Strikes and Lockouts
Description: Teachers in B.C. are planning protests in the face of a provincial government plan to legislate an end to their job action.
Source: CTV
Date: 02/27/2012
Related links:
- Victoria Times-Colonist story
- Vancouver Sun column
- Earlier update
- B.C. Teachers’ Federation
- B.C. Ministry of Education
- B.C. Public School Employers’ Association
Questions for discussion:
- What was the outcome of the government fact finder’s inquiry?
- Why, according to Vancouver Sun columnist Vaughn Palmer, did the government appoint the fact finder?
- What alternative to a legislated resolution is the Teachers’ Federation proposing?
- Why would the teachers favour such a step?
- Why would the government favour a legislated resolution?
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.