B.C. teachers plan ‘day of action’

Posted by & 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

Link: http://www.ctvbc.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20120227/bc_teachers_federation_day_of_action_120227/20120227/?hub=BritishColumbiaHome

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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?

Ontario Zellers workers ratify contract

Posted by & filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 12 - Changes to the Union or the Employer, Chapter 13 - Future Issues.

Description: Unionized workers at Ontario Zellers stores have ratified a three-year contract that provides increased severance pay as the company’s stores are sold to non-union retailers from the U.S.

Source: CBC

Date: 02/20/2012

Link: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2012/02/20/toronto-ontario-zellers-workers-union.html

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Questions for discussion:

  • Why is severance pay an important part of this contract?
  • What is successorship? (Consult your textbook.)
  • Does it apply in this case?
  • Why or why not?
  • What do you think will likely happen to the workers at Zellers’ Canadian stores?

Full Retirement – A Distant Dream

Posted by & filed under Change, Environment, Individual Behavior.

In a recent survey, more than 66% of the Canadians mentioned that they will continue to work beyond the age of 66. Sun Life Financial—Canada’s third largest insurance company—attributes these results to current economic volatility, increasing consumer debts, rising health case cots, longer life expectancy and lack of planning. Governments are also encouraging late retirements as governments across the world are increasing retirement age.

Questions:

  1. What will be the impact for the Canadian economy as people retire late?
  2. What in your view is the most important reason for people wanting to retire late?
  3. Which business sectors do you feel will benefit from this changing trend?

Source: The Canadian Press, “Most expect to work beyond age 66: poll”, retrieved from http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/personal-finance/retirement-rrsps/most-expect-to-work-beyond-age-66-poll/article2345908/

A PR Boost for the Oil Companies

Posted by & filed under Communication, Environment, Social Responsibility.

A recent scientific report finds that burning billions of barrels of oil sands crude actually has only a modest impact on climate. The report, published in the journal ‘Nature’, clarifies that when it comes to global warming, the oil sands are far from the world’s chief villain. This report helps to boost the image of the oil sand proponents who can now claim that the oil sands aren’t as dirty as some have made them out to be.

Questions:

  1. Do you feel the report will boost the image of oil sand companies?
  2. Do you feel global warming is a hype or it’s something that companies need to consider strongly?
  3. Think of possible PR strategies (in light of this new report) that companies working in the Alberta oil sands can develop to improve their image?

Source: Nathan Vanderklippe, “Oil sands proponents get a PR boost”, published Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012. Retrieved from http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/industry-news/energy-and-resources/oil-sands-proponents-get-a-pr-boost/article2345543/page2/

Air Canada, pilots agree to mediation

Posted by & filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 10 - Third-Party Intervention, Chapter 13 - Future Issues, Chapter 8 - The Collective Bargaining Process, Chapter 9 - Strikes and Lockouts.

Description: Air Canada and the Air Canada Pilots Association have agreed to a six-month mediation process after the pilots voted overwhelmingly to approve strike action.

Source: The Financial Post

Date: 02/15/2012

Link: http://business.financialpost.com/2012/02/15/air-canada-union-agree-to-extend-mediation-process/

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Questions for discussion:

  • Refer to your text and briefly describe the conciliation process.
  • Does mediation prevent a strike or lockout?
  • Will the recommendations of the co-mediators be binding?
  • How long have the two sides been trying to achieve a new collective agreement?
  • Given the government’s actions in recent disputes, what do you think would happen if the pilots did strike?

Alberta hospital workers walk off job

Posted by & filed under Chapter 1 - Introduction, Chapter 10 - Third-Party Intervention, Chapter 9 - Strikes and Lockouts.

Description: The Alberta health authority and the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees have agreed to binding arbitration after a one-day illegal walkout by hospital support staff.

Source: The Edmonton Journal

Date: 02/17/2012

Link: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/health/Hospital+support+workers+return+work+Thursday+evening+Calgary+after/6167433/story.html

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Questions for discussion:

  • Why was this strike illegal?
  • What are the issues in this negotiation?
  • What is a wildcat strike?
  • How did this strike begin?
  • What is binding arbitration?
  • How does it differ from the third-party intervention that has already occurred in these negotiations?

Bombardier Inc.’s Showcase Project in South Africa

Posted by & filed under Environment, Ethics, Global Management, Social Responsibility, Strategy.

Bombardier Inc.’s $3.7 billion Gautrain project in South Africa was launched in 2010 during World cup soccer. Gautrain, which runs on an 80 km route covering two cities and an airport, is now facing several problems such as limited train schedules, technical issues, limited bus service connectivity to the train stations and lower than projected passengers. It seems now that this showcase project was installed for political and prestige reasons rather than to benefit masses.

Questions:

  1. Do a SWOT analysis for the Bombardier Gautrain project. Suggest reasons if it should continue.  
  2. Suggest a few ways to promote ridership on the train?
  3. Was it necessary for the South African government to fund this project when there is a great need to use this money to meet the basic needs of its people?

SOURCE: GEOFFREY YORK, “Bombardier’s South African showcase coming off the rails” The Globe and Mail (Retrievable online http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/international-news/global-exchange/globe-correspondents/bombardiers-south-african-showcase-coming-off-the-rails/article2329163/)

Helping Consumers to Complain

Posted by & filed under Communication, Conflict, Entrepreneurship, Social Responsibility, Technology.

Dave Carroll, a Halifax based musician and song writer, started “Gripevine”—a company that gave consumers a platform to complain about firms and also gave firms an opportunity to respond to these complaints and resolve them. It started when Mr. Carol’s guitar was broken by United Airlines baggage handlers, and he posted a complaint video on you-tube. The video has received 11.5 million hits till now.

Questions:

  1. What other modes can consumers use to reach the firms/ brands?
  2. Would you suggest this way of reaching the brands is effective for the firms? And does getting back personally to consumers help?
  3. Suggest the role of social media in promoting brand image?

SOURCE: MARK EVANS, “Broken guitar leads to startup consumer gripe site”, The Globe and Mail (Retrievable online at http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/small-business/starting-out/broken-guitar-leads-to-startup-consumer-gripe-site/article2332674/)

Air Canada, mechanics reach tentative deal

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

Description: Air Canada and the union representing mechanics and ground crews have reached a tentative settlement that the union says includes the retention of a defined-benefit pension plan.

Source: Canada.com

Date: 02/10/2012

Link: http://www.canada.com/business/Canada+gets+tentative+deal+with+mechanics+ground+crew/6133341/story.html

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Questions for discussion:

  • What were the issues in the negotiations between Air Canada and District 140?
  • How was the question of pensions resolved?
  • In what way is the pension solution a compromise?
  • Review the related links. What form of third-party intervention was used in these negotiations?
  • Why is the pilots’ union taking a strike vote?

Government hints at legislated end to B.C. teachers’ dispute

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

Description: B.C. Education Minister George Abbott says B.C. teachers and their employer are “oceans apart” and suggests the dispute won’t be “settled happily.”

Source: The Victoria Times-Colonist

Date: 02/10/2012

Link: http://www.timescolonist.com/business/Teachers+bosses+ocean+apart/6132362/story.html

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Questions for discussion:

  • What is the role of the government fact finder in this dispute?
  • What are the B.C. teachers asking for?
  • What is the government’s position?
  • Which do you think is more reasonable?
  • Why?