Canada Post, CUPW reach tentative agreement

Posted by & 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

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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?

BC licensed practical nurses switch unions

Posted by & filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 12 - Changes to the Union or the Employer, Chapter 13 - Future Issues, Chapter 4 - The Structure of Canadian Unions, Chapter 6 - Establishing Union Recognition.

Description: B.C.’s licensed practical nurses have voted to leave the Hospital Employees’ Union for the B.C. Nurses’ Union.

Source: The Vancouver Sun

Date: 10/05/2012

Link: http://www.vancouversun.com/health/After+bitter+battle+LPNs+join+Nurses+Union/7352263/story.html

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Questions for discussion:

  • What do licensed practical nurses do?
  • What reasons does this story give for LPNs wanting to leave the HEU for the Nurses’ Union?
  • What do you think will be the advantages for LPNs related to this move? The disadvantages?
  • What does your textbook say about union “raiding”? Why is it controversial?
  • Do you think this situation fits the definition of “raiding”?

BC government workers reach agreement

Posted by & filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 8 - The Collective Bargaining Process.

Description: The B.C. government and the B.C. Government and Service Employees Union have reached a tentative agreement that includes cancelling plans to privatize the government’s liquor wholesaler.

Source: The Vancouver Sun

Date: 09/28/2012

Link: http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Province+BCGEU+reach+tentative+deal+with+modest+wage+hike/7315593/story.html

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Questions for discussion:

  • What are the main features of this agreement?
  • Why does columnist Vaughn Palmer think the government agreed to drop its plans to privatize liquor distribution?
  • How does the agreement’s wage increase fit with the government’s “cooperative gains mandate”?
  • How does the situation in B.C. compare to public sector bargaining in Ontario?
  • Pundits had written earlier that the B.C. government was planning a confrontation with the BCGEU for political purposes. Can you think of some reasons why that didn’t happen?

CAW, Chrysler reach tentative agreement

Posted by & filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 13 - Future Issues, Chapter 7 - Defining and Commencing Collective Bargaining, Chapter 8 - The Collective Bargaining Process.

Description: The Canadian Auto Workers union has reached a tentative agreement with the last of the Detroit Three automakers.

Source: CBC

Date: 09/26/2012

Link: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/story/2012/09/26/wdr-chrysler-caw-deal.html

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Questions for discussion:

  • What are the main features of the Chrysler tentative agreement?
  • What are the positive and negative aspects of the deal from the union’s point of view?
  • From the company’s point of view?
  • If you were a Chrysler worker, would you be happy with this agreement? Why or why not?
  • If you were a worker, which would you rather have: an increase in your base wage, or a bonus and annual cost-of-living adjustments? Why?

Canada should boldly embrace emerging markets

Posted by & filed under Environment, Global Management, Management.

Description: Canada should follow a more balanced approach where they need to move beyond its focus on the U.S. and more actively pursue opportunities in emerging markets.

Source: The Globe and Mail

Date: September 25 2012

Link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/commentary/lets-boldly-embrace-emerging-markets/article4565058/

Questions for Discussion:

  1. Discuss some of the reasons why Canada needs to pursue emerging markets more actively?
  2. Is Canada’s dependence on the U.S. hurting them?
  3. Discuss some ideas of improving trade with emerging markets?

Should Canada be protecting ownership of its oil sands?

Posted by & filed under Environment, Global Management, Management, Strategy.

Description: Although they support the proposed $15.1-billion acquisition of Nexen Inc. by China’s CNOOC Ltd., top industry executives want Ottawa to protect ownership of major oil sands companies.

Source: The Globe and Mail

Date: September 25 2012

Link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/protect-canadian-ownership-of-oil-sands-firms-executives-urge/article4568562/

Questions for Discussion:

  1. Do you agree with the executives that Ottawa should not allow foreign ownership of Canadian oil sand companies?
  2. Discuss both the advantages and disadvantages of allowing foreign ownership of oil sand companies?
  3. Is this concern primarily towards China or will it be similar towards any other foreign nation?

CAW members ratify Ford contract

Posted by & filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 7 - Defining and Commencing Collective Bargaining, Chapter 8 - The Collective Bargaining Process.

Description: Members of the Canadian Auto Workers have voted 82 per cent in favour of a four-year contract with Ford Canada.

Source: The Financial Post

Date: 09/23/2012

Link: http://business.financialpost.com/2012/09/23/caw-members-ratify-4-year-deal-with-automaker-ford/

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Questions for discussion:

  • What are the main features of the Ford contract?
  • How does it compare with the tentative agreement with GM?
  • If you were a worker at one of these auto plants, would you vote in favour of these contracts? Why or why not?
  • What appears to be the main issue in the talks with Chrysler? What does Chrysler argue? What does the CAW say?
  • What does your text say about pattern bargaining? How well do you think it is working in this case?

Ontario teachers boycott after-school programs

Posted by & 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

Link: http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/1257158–parents-scramble-to-explain-teacher-boycotts-to-their-children

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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?

Bombardier sees upside in city congestion

Posted by & filed under Environment, Global Management, Strategy.

Description: Bombardier sees growth as major cities try to overcome increasing congestion. It presently has orders worth U.S. $31.9 billion to build better public transportation to reduce people’s over reliance on cars.

Source: The Globe and Mail

Date: September 19 2012

Link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/bombardier-sees-upside-in-city-congestion/article4553201/

Questions for Discussion:

  1. Discuss how Bombardier has sustained such impressive growth despite the slow economy?
  2. What are some of the lessons that other Canadian companies can learn from Bombardier?
  3. Discuss what role has Bombardier’s global expansion played in their high growth?
  4. Do you think Bombardier’s future growth is likely to come from North America or from other continents?

Is risk necessary in era of slow growth?

Posted by & filed under Environment, Management, Strategy, Video Report.

Description: Scotiabank CEO Rick Waugh says banks need to take a certain amount of risk to stimulate growth. He asserts that Canadian banks have managed risk well.

Source: Business News Network

Date: September 18 2012

Video and Text Link: http://www.bnn.ca/News/2012/9/18/Risk-necessary-in-era-of-slow-growth-Scotia-CEO.aspx

Questions for Discussion:

  1. Do you agree with Rick Waugh that banks should take risk to stimulate growth?
  2. Is it advisable to take greater risk when the economy is highly volatile and uncertain?
  3. Should the government overlook the kind of risk that major banks undertake to avoid another crisis?