Labour Day nothing to celebrate, paper argues

Posted by & filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 13 - Future Issues, Chapter 2 - Theories of Industrial Relations, Chapter 3 - HIstory of the Canadian Union Movement.

Description: An editorial argues that unions’ “unwillingness to put the public’s good at the forefront” means Labour Day is no longer something to be celebrated.

Source: The Toronto Sun

Date: 09/04/2011

Link: http://www.torontosun.com/2011/09/02/its-labour-day-by-george

Related links:

Questions for discussion:

  • Review the editorial and the related links above. Which arguments do you find the most persuasive?
  • Which arguments do you disagree with?
  • Are there any important arguments that the two sides haven’t raised?
  • What is your personal experience with unions? Do you or members of your family belong to a union?
  • Do you think Labour Day is worth celebrating?

NDP debates union ties

Posted by & filed under Chapter 13 - Future Issues, Chapter 3 - HIstory of the Canadian Union Movement.

Description: As the New Democratic Party prepares to choose a successor to the late Jack Layton, senior party members disagree over whether to maintain the party’s historical affiliation with organized labour.

Source: The Globe and Mail

Date: 09/04/2011

Link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ndp-does-some-soul-searching-on-the-role-of-labour-in-the-party/article2153445/

Related links:

Questions for discussion:

  • What benefits do you think organized labour gets from its affiliation with the NDP?
  • What benefits does the NDP get from the arrangement?
  • What are the disadvantages for labour?
  • For the NDP?
  • Would an end to the affiliation make you more or less likely to vote for the NDP? Why?

Out of Gas

Posted by & filed under Global Management.

One year after announcing a partnership, Encana and PetroChina now say the estimated $5.4-billion deal is off. The failure stems from an inability to agree on the operational aspects of the joint venture. Both entities staked a lot on the success of the deal when it was announced back in February. Now Encana’s investors are showing a loss of confidence and PetroChina is suffering from loss of face.

QUESTIONS:

  1. For more than a decade, we have been hearing about companies going global by investing in China, now the shoe is on the other foot. Look at reasons for going global in the text and identify why China  is looking to Canada.
  2. Aside from the fact that the article says the deal was a joint venture, what are the characteristics that make it a joint venture? What do the two companies offer each other that make such an arrangement attractive?
  3. With all that China hoped to gain from this joint venture, why would it walk away?

SOURCE: N. Vanderklippe & C. Tait, “Power Struggle Ends Encana, China Gas Deal,” Globe and Mail (Retrievable online at http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/industry-news/energy-and-resources/power-struggle-ends-encana-china-gas-deal/article2068877/)

Ottawa moves to end Canada Post lockout

Posted by & filed under Chapter 13 - Future Issues, Chapter 8 - The Collective Bargaining Process, Chapter 9 - Strikes and Lockouts.

Description: Federal Labour Minister Lisa Raitt has announced she will introduce legislation to end the Canada Post lockout.

Source: Canadian Business

Date: 06/20/2011

Link: http://www.canadianbusiness.com/article/30532–ottawa-tables-bill-ordering-locked-out-postal-workers-back-to-work

Related links:

Questions for discussion:

  • What arguments can you think of in favour of introducing back-to-work legislation in this dispute?
  • What arguments can you think of against introducing back-to-work legislation in this dispute?
  • What effect do you think this move will have on long-term labour relations at Canada Post?
  • How is this dispute similar to the Air Canada dispute?
  • How does it differ?

Air Canada workers vote on new contract

Posted by & filed under Chapter 13 - Future Issues, Chapter 3 - HIstory of the Canadian Union Movement, Chapter 8 - The Collective Bargaining Process, Chapter 9 - Strikes and Lockouts.

Description: Striking Air Canada workers will be voting on a new contract after the federal government introduced back-to-work legislation in the Commons.

Source: The Windsor Star

Date: 06/20/2011

Link: http://www.windsorstar.com/business/leaders+Canada+deal/4973375/story.html

Related links:

Questions for discussion:

  • What can you say about the timing of this strike?
  • Why do you think the government introduced back-to-work legislation in this dispute more quickly than in the Canada Post dispute?
  • What do you think would have happened if the government had not introduced back-to-work legislation?
  • What effect do you think the back-to-work legislation will have on long-term labour relations at Air Canada?
  • What happens if the workers do not ratify the contract?

The Transformation of Canadian Manufacturing

Posted by & filed under Operations Management.

Canadian company Transformix knows the secret to making manufacturing work – add value and have a good neighbor. Everything else will take care of itself. So when the tsunami hit Japan, Transformix CEO Peng-Sang Cau did not worry about the impact. She bought more supplies. Ms. Cau does not worry about from where her parts come. She is too busy guiding the company in what it does best, which is utilizing intellectual capital to design high speed manufacturing equipment prized by other companies, particularly those in the United States.

QUESTIONS:

  1. We typically think of productivity as an internal element that creates a competitive advantage. For Transformix, it is something different. What is it?
  2. What is Transformix’ competitive advantage as a middle player in the supply chain?
  3. Discuss how Transformix blends manufacturing and service technology to add value.
  4. Use Figure 18.2 to analyze Ms. Cau’s decision making following the March 11 disaster in Japan.

SOURCE: R. Blackwell, “Canadian Manufacturers Find a Niche Supplying the Intellectual Part,” Globe and Mail (Retrievable online at http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/economy/manufacturing/canadian-manufacturers-find-a-niche-supplying-the-intellectual-part/article2060920/singlepage/#articlecontent)

Related video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4e8u6xJLTzE

Air Canada workers poised to strike

Posted by & filed under Chapter 3 - HIstory of the Canadian Union Movement, Chapter 8 - The Collective Bargaining Process, Chapter 9 - Strikes and Lockouts.

Description: Air Canada sales and customer-service  employees, represented by the Canadian Auto Workers Union, are threatening to strike over wages and pensions.

Source: CBC

Date: 06/13/2011

Link: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2011/06/13/aircanada-striketalks-monday.html

Related links:

Questions for discussion:

  • Browse the links above. As you will see, one of the key issues in this dispute is pensions. What is a defined benefit pension?
  • What is a defined contribution pension?
  • Which type of pension would you prefer if you were an employee?
  • Which would you prefer if you were an employer?
  • Why?

Canada Post reduces deliveries

Posted by & filed under Chapter 13 - Future Issues, Chapter 8 - The Collective Bargaining Process, Chapter 9 - Strikes and Lockouts.

Description: Canada Post is cutting mail deliveries, saying rotating strikes are costing it millions; the Canadian Union of Postal Workers counters that the company is trying to spark a full strike.

Source: CBC

Date: 06/13/2011

Link: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2011/06/13/postal-strike-13.html

Related links:

Questions for discussion:

  • Union president Denis Lemelin says Canada Post is trying to impose a “partial lockout.” What does he mean?
  • Do you think the term is accurate?
  • Lemelin says the company is trying to provoke a general strike. Do you think a general strike, as opposed to rotating strikes, would be in Canada Post’s interest?
  • Why or why not?
  • The union says Canada Post wants the federal government to impose back-to-work legislation. Why do you think the employer would want back-to-work legislation?
  • How do you think the union would feel about back-to-work legislation?
  • Why?

Postal workers launch rotating strikes

Posted by & filed under Chapter 13 - Future Issues, Chapter 8 - The Collective Bargaining Process, Chapter 9 - Strikes and Lockouts.

Description: Members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers began rotating strikes following the expiration of 72-hour strike notice.

Source: CTV.ca

Date: 06/03/2011

Link: http://winnipeg.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20110602/wpg_postal_strike_110602/20110603/?hub=WinnipegHome

Related links:

Question for discussion:

  • What is the difference between a rotating strike and a normal strike?
  • Why would a union choose to hold rotating strikes rather than an all-out strike?
  • List some of the considerations that would go into a decision to hold a rotating strike.
  • Read the letter to the editor and the opinion piece above. Which arguments do you find the most persuasive?
  • Are there significant points that the two writers don’t address?

Ontario nurses get lump-sum award

Posted by & filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 10 - Third-Party Intervention, Chapter 13 - Future Issues, Chapter 8 - The Collective Bargaining Process.

Description: An arbitrator has granted members of the Ontario Nurses’ Association lump-sum bonuses, despite a provincial government wage freeze policy.

Source: The Toronto Star

Date: 06/03/2011

Link: http://www.thestar.com/news/ontario/article/1002549–nurses-get-bonuses-despite-wage-freeze

Related links:

Questions for discussion:

  • Review the links above. How does this settlement fit within the government wage freeze?
  • How does this settlement work out to a “net zero increase?”
  • If you belonged to this union, would you prefer a lump-sum award or a wage increase? Why?
  • What is the role of the provincial government in collective bargaining with the nurses’ union?
  • What is the role of the Ontario Hospital Association?