Description: A Canadian Labour Congress report says unionized workers earn an average of almost $5 an hour more than their non-union counterparts, pumping more than $78 million a week into local economies. Source: Ottawa Citizen Date: 08/21/2013 Link: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/business/Higher+union+wages+pump+extra+money+into+local+economy+labour+congress+says/8818168/story.html Related links: The CLC report CBC story Winnipeg Free Press story Dr. Ian Lee Windsor lawyer… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Chapter 2 – Theories of Industrial Relations
Unions merge in hopes of reversing decline
Description: With organized labour on the defensive across the country, the Canadian Auto Workers and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada are merging to create a 300,000-member union called Unifor. Source: The Globe and Mail Date: 08/08/2013 Link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/unions-political-calculus-with-numbers-come-power/article13678660/ Related links: Unifor CAW CEP Financial Post story CTV story Questions for discussion: Who… Read more »
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 Link: http://www.journalofcommerce.com/article/id54055/–taking-another-look-at-the-controversy-around-bill-c-377 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:… Read more »
B.C. teachers reject premier’s call for 10-year contract
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?… Read more »
NHL, players reach tentative agreement
Description: The NHL and the NHL Players’ Association have reached a tentative agreement after the second-longest lockout in league history. Source: The Toronto Star Date: 01/06/2013 Link: http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/nhl/article/1311128–nhl-lockout-ends-with-tentative-deal-between-league-nhlpa Related links: Industrial relations expert Mark Thompson offers some advice to negotiators Globe and Mail story Earlier update NHLPA NHL Questions for discussion: Read Mark Thompson’s commentary… Read more »
Buzz Hargrove criticizes “amateur hour” NHL talks
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… Read more »
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 Link: http://www.labour-reporter.com/articleview/16665-union-accountability-bill-raises-serious-privacy-concerns-privacy-commissioner Related links: Pro-C-377 opinion piece from the Toronto Star Anti-C-377 opinion piece from the Toronto Star Office of the privacy… Read more »
Electricians’ union official runs for BC Fed leadership
Description: Michelle Laurie, president of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 258, is challenging incumbent president Jim Sinclair for the leadership of the B.C. Federation of Labour. Source: The Province (Vancouver) Date: 11/10/2012 Link: http://www.theprovince.com/business/Sinclair+challenged+Federation+Labour/7530828/story.html Related links: Statement from Michelle Laurie The B.C. Federation of Labour “Renew the Fed” Renew the Fed Facebook page… Read more »
Ontario PCs attack public sector unions
Description: Ontario Progressive Conservative leader Tim Hudak has promised to take on public sector unions, accusing them of buying votes in a byelection his party lost to the New Democratic Party. Source: The Globe and Mail Date: 09/07/2012 Link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/hudak-readies-to-battle-unions-after-by-election-loss/article4526251/ Related links: National Post story CBC story Toronto Sun story Ontario Public Service Employees Union… Read more »
Unions and the middle class
Description: Columnist Antonia Zerbisias argues that “when union membership thrives, so does the middle class.” Source: The Toronto Star Date: 08/31/2012 Link: http://www.thestar.com/news/insight/article/1249944–is-decline-of-unions-leading-to-decline-of-middle-class Related links: Thomas Walkom column Vancouver Sun column Article: Some analysts see hope for renewal Globe and Mail story Questions for discussion: Summarize Antonia Zerbisias’s arguments. Do you agree? How would an… Read more »
