Air Canada intervention may be “Band-Aid solution”

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

Description: Federally regulated employers say Ottawa’s intervention in several Air Canada disputes may hurt both unions and employers in the long run.

Source: The Globe and Mail

Date: 04/08/2012

Link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/ottawa-makes-no-apologies-for-air-canada-clampdown/article2395437/

Related links:

Questions for discussion:

  • Summarize the arguments made in this article.
  • What do you think about Mr. Ferrell’s arguments?
  • What do you think about Ms. Raitt’s arguments?
  • Do you agree with Dr. Lee that Ottawa is looking after the “greater public good”?
  • Why or why not?

B.C. teachers ask labour board to fire mediator

Posted by & 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

Link: http://www.timescolonist.com/business/BCTF+wants+labour+board+quash+appointment+Charles+Jago+mediator/6417231/story.html

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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.

RIM Troubles Continue

Posted by & filed under Change, Environment, Innovation/Creativity, Management, Organizational Change, Strategy, Technology, Video Report.

RIM Troubles Continue

Description: RIM continues to perform poorly. RIM CEO, Thorstein Heins, hints that they are open to selling RIM. Wall Street Journalists discuss possible suitors for RIM.

Source: Wall Street Journal Video

Date:  March 29, 2012

Link: http://online.wsj.com/video/can-rim-survive-the-turmoil/C79D4470-7F3B-4898-AA9B-E7E544B952F7.html

 Questions for Discussion:

  1. Discuss important reasons that led to the eventual decline of RIM?
  2. Should the Canadian government help to bail out RIM or let it be sold to a foreign company?
  3. Suggest some turnaround strategies for RIM?

Funding Innovation

Posted by & filed under Entrepreneurship, Environment, Global Management, Innovation/Creativity, Technology.

Description: Tom Jenkins, author of a key report on innovation, discusses federal budget’s policies on innovation.

Source: MSN Video

Date:  March 29, 2012

Link: http://video.ca.msn.com/?mkt=en-ca&vid=cbcc2012-2903-1812-0057-221705593300&from=&src=v5:share:permalink:

Questions for Discussion:

  1. Do you agree with Tom Jenkins that Canada has an innovation crisis?
  2. Do you feel the government is doing enough to encourage innovation in Canada?
  3. Suggest other measures that could encourage business to spend more money on innovation?

ILO rules against Ontario farm workers law

Posted by & filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 13 - Future Issues.

Description: The International Labour Organization has found that an Ontario law does not protect the rights of farm workers.

Source: Canadian Labour Reporter

Date: 03/30/2012

Link: http://www.labour-reporter.com/articleview/12694-ontario-should-change-farm-worker-laws-international-labour-organization

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Questions for discussion:

  • What is the ILO?
  • What powers does it have?
  • Summarize the reasons behind this ruling.
  • Describe the difference in opinion between the ILO and the Supreme Court of Canada.
  • Which ruling do you agree with? Why?
  • Prof. Doorey asks: “Do you think that the Liberal Government in Ontario should do what the ILO is asking, and amend the laws to grant agricultural workers the right to collective bargaining and to strike?” What do you think?

Mediator in teachers dispute has no mediation experience

Posted by & filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 10 - Third-Party Intervention, Chapter 8 - The Collective Bargaining Process, Chapter 9 - Strikes and Lockouts.

Description: The government-appointed mediator in the B.C. teachers dispute has no mediation experience.

Source: The (Vancouver) Province

Date: 03/29/2012

Link: http://www.theprovince.com/news/Academic+asked+mediate+teachers+dispute+mediation+experience/6373806/story.html

Related links:

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?

A crisis for organized labour

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, Chapter 4 - The Structure of Canadian Unions.

Description: This is a “precarious moment for the labour movement,” say experts and labour leaders.

Source: The Globe and Mail

Date: 03/24/2012

Link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/the-sorry-state-of-our-unions/article2380055/singlepage/tgam.ca/politics

Related links:

Questions for discussion:

  • What does this article say about the state of organized labour in Canada today?
  • What reasons does this article give for this situation?
  • Why is this said to be a critical time for labour?
  • Do you agree with this analysis?
  • If you were a labour leader, what would you do to address the situation described in this article?

Why B.C. teachers prefer local bargaining

Posted by & filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 7 - Defining and Commencing Collective Bargaining, Chapter 9 - Strikes and Lockouts.

Description: Columnist Vaughn Palmer examines why the B.C. government opposes local bargaining for teachers.

Source: The Vancouver Sun

Date: 03/22/2012

Link: http://www.vancouversun.com/business/provincial+government+likely+teachers+have+whip+hand+ever+again/6341514/story.html

Related links:

Questions for discussion:

  • Explain how local bargaining works in this case.
  • Why do the B.C. teachers prefer local bargaining?
  • Why does the government oppose local bargaining?
  • Consult your text: what is whipsawing?
  • Which side do you most agree with in this dispute?

Glencore Acquiring Canadian Company Viterra

Posted by & filed under Global Management, Social Responsibility.

After the abortive takeover attempt by BHP Billiton of Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan, Glencore has a tough task to convince the Canadians on the net benefits of acquiring Viterra. Glencore explains what these benefits are.

Link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/investment-ideas/streetwise/glencore-explains-net-benefits-to-canada-in-viterra-deal/article2375052/

Questions:

  1. Do such global acquisitions need to benefit the Canadian economy? Can these acquisitions not be carried out with the sole intention to make Viterra more competitive in the global market place?
  2. Do you agree with Glencore’s assertion on the various benefits to Canada?
  3. Can you suggest other benefits that Glencore should undertake to secure the deal?
Source: Tim Kiladze, “Glencore explains ‘net benefits’ to Canada in Viterra deal” The Globe and Mail

McDonald’s growth

Posted by & filed under Change, Leadership, Management, Strategy.

McDonald’s new chief executive Don Thompson, who has taken over Mr. Jim Skinner, continues to emphasize on diversification despite the reduction in the compound annual growth rate of the firm’s overseas assets.

Link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/international-news/global-exchange/financial-times/mcdonalds-growth-supersize-me/article2379161/)

Questions:

  1. Do you think having an earlier CEO like Mr. Skinner has raised the bar for Mr. Thompson? How would we have thought differently if the company not had such an exceptional growth under Mr. Skinner?
  2. Do you think focus on diversification is the key to growth for McDonalds?
  3. Suggest some ways for McDonalds to grow. Use the SWOT analysis to support your suggestions.

Source: Associated Press, “McDonald’s growth: supersize me”, The Globe and Mail.