Industrial Relations in Canada: Chapter 1

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Questions and Answers

Which of the following factors is NOT considered an internal input in the industrial relations system model?

Strategies

Profit (correct)

Values

Power

What was one of the main reasons for the Ontario College strike?

Improved campus facilities

Increased tuition fees

Expansion of courses offered

Job security (correct)

In the context of industrial relations, what does the term 'strike' refer to?

An informal negotiation process

A legal action taken by employers

A financial incentive provided to workers

A cessation of work duties by employees (correct)

What form of resolution was used to end the Ontario College strike?

Binding arbitration Signup and view all the answers

What is the maximum refund amount students could apply for due to the Ontario College strike?

$500 Signup and view all the answers

Precarious employment is characterized by which of the following?

Limited security and lower wages Signup and view all the answers

Which learning objective involves assessing and understanding industrial relations issues?

Describing a systems framework Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following terms is NOT synonymous with industrial relations?

Workplace dynamics Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of Human Resource Management?

Study of employment relationships between employers and individual employees Signup and view all the answers

Which area specifically deals with employment relationships in non-union settings?

Employee Relations Signup and view all the answers

What is the main concern of Labour Relations?

Group employment relationships usually in unions and management Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following defines Industrial Relations?

Study of employment relationships and issues in unionized workplaces Signup and view all the answers

Which term refers to the study of both employers and groups of employees, typically involving unions?

Labour Relations Signup and view all the answers

What is a key difference between Employee Relations and Human Resource Management?

One is focused on group relationships while the other is on individual relationships Signup and view all the answers

In which context would Industrial Relations be most relevant?

Managing group efforts in unionized environments Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT typically a focus of Labour Relations?

Individual employee grievances Signup and view all the answers

What is a key feature of Dunlop's Industrial Relations System Model that helps integrate the system?

Shared ideologies of actors Signup and view all the answers

What does the Shared Contexts feature in Dunlop's model refer to?

Environmental factors influencing actors Signup and view all the answers

What does the Shared Web of Rules outline in Dunlop's model?

Rights and responsibilities of the actors Signup and view all the answers

What is a common criticism of Dunlop's Industrial Relations Model?

It lacks the ability to predict outcomes. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of employment relationships does Dunlop’s model underestimate?

The significance of power and conflict Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT considered an external input in Craig's Industrial Relations System Model?

Values Signup and view all the answers

What is a defining characteristic of Craig's Industrial Relations System Model?

Focus on input-output processes Signup and view all the answers

In what context was Craig's Industrial Relations System Model developed?

The Canadian context Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a conversion mechanism in Craig's Industrial Relations System Model?

Collective bargaining Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is not a feature of the Dunlop model?

Dynamic outcome predictions Signup and view all the answers

Which actor is NOT represented in Craig’s Industrial Relations System Model?

Suppliers and their associations Signup and view all the answers

What output is concerned with the overall attitudes of workers toward their workplace?

Worker perceptions Signup and view all the answers

Which subsystem influences the legal aspects of industrial relations as per Craig's model?

Political subsystem Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of Craig's Industrial Relations Model focuses on organizational objectives and purposes?

Goals Signup and view all the answers

Which view of industrial relations sees unions as an obstacle to market efficiency?

Neoclassical economics view Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a field involved in the interdisciplinary nature of industrial relations?

Astrophysics Signup and view all the answers

What is the correct definition of a union?

A group of workers recognized by law who collectively bargain with their employer. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement correctly describes a collective agreement?

It's a written document detailing terms and conditions in a unionized workplace. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary process involved in collective bargaining?

Management and labour negotiate the terms of employment. Signup and view all the answers

What trend is often referred to as the 'gig' economy?

A trend of precarious employment with non-traditional roles. Signup and view all the answers

Which demographic has been reported to be the most impacted by precarious employment?

Women, representing about 60% of precariously employed Canadians. Signup and view all the answers

In Dunlop’s Industrial Relations System Model, which is a primary component?

A web of rules governing employment relationships. Signup and view all the answers

Which role does the context play in Dunlop’s model?

It influences the power dynamics between various actors. Signup and view all the answers

What factor contributed to the trend of precarious employment starting in the 1990s?

Low demand for labour and high unemployment during recessions. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of the pluralist and institutional view of industrial relations?

The importance of institutions and multiple actors Signup and view all the answers

How does the human resources/strategic choice perspective view unionization?

It connects human resources strategies to business strategy. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following characterizes the political economy view of industrial relations?

It stresses the inherent conflict between labor and management. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of industrial relations, what is the role of labour unions according to the pluralist view?

To act as a counterbalance to employers' interests. Signup and view all the answers

What does 'human resources/strategic choice' primarily advocate?

Emphasis on non-unionized employment relationships. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the underlying principle of political economy in industrial relations?

The influence of social forces on labor markets. Signup and view all the answers

What is one potential outcome of the movement towards human resources/strategic choice in business?

Enhanced cooperation between employees and employers. Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect is NOT typically emphasized in the pluralist view of industrial relations?

The inherent conflicts between various actors. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

PowerPoint Presentation for Industrial Relations in Canada

The presentation is for a fourth edition of a textbook on Industrial Relations in Canada
The textbook adapts information by Bui Petersen at Memorial University of Newfoundland
The book is published by Hebdon, Brown, and Walsworth

Chapter 1: Introduction

The chapter provides an introduction to industrial relations
There is a poll question on internal inputs of the industrial relations system model, asking which of the following is NOT one of these: Values, Profit, Strategies, or Power

Learning Objectives

The learning objectives include identifying similarities and differences in terms like labour relations, human resources, employment relations, and industrial relations
Describing a systems framework for assessing and understanding industrial relations issues is also a learning objective.
Discussing differing views within the field of industrial relations is another learning objective.
Understanding the structure of the textbook to follow the industrial relations system framework is also an objective

Ontario College Strike

Faculty at Ontario colleges were on strike for five weeks
The strike was due to issues like pay, job security, and part-time employment
The strike ended with back-to-work legislation, with remaining issues to be resolved by arbitration
Students were offered refunds (up to $500) for expenses related to the strike if they left their program and could provide documentation related to those costs.

Key Terminology

A section covering essential terms in industrial relations is included

Important Terms in Industrial Relations

Strike: An action by workers where they cease to perform work duties and do not report to work
Precarious Employment: Employment with limited security, lower wages, and less protection
Human Resources Management: A study of the employment relationship between employers and individual employees
Employee Relations: The study of the employment relationship between employers and individual employees (typically in non-union settings)
Industrial Relations: The study of employment relationships and issues, often in unionized workplaces
Labour Relations: The study of employment relationships and issues between employee groups (like unions) and management, also called union-management relations
Union: A group of workers recognized by law who collectively bargain terms and conditions of employment with their employer
Collective Agreement: A written document outlining the terms and conditions of employment in a unionized workplace.
Collective Bargaining: The process by which management and labour negotiate employment terms and conditions

IR Today 1.2

The trend of precarious employment started during economic recessions in the 1990s, caused by low demand and high unemployment
Initially, this trend was concentrated in less-skilled occupations
Over 20% of Canadian professionals experience precarious employment; about 60% are women.
This trend is often referred to as the "gig" economy
Sources show many employers plan to increase non-traditional employment

Systems Models

Discusses the Dunlop and Craig models
Explains the Dunlop Model framework with Actors, Contexts (including environmental factors, market/budgetary constraints, workplace and community constraints, and distribution of power), Shared Ideology, and Web of Rules.
Outlining the four key components of Dunlop's model (Actors, Shared Ideology, Contexts, and Web of Rules)
Explains common criticisms of the Dunlop model
Introduces the Craig model, which is a system model with inputs, processes, outputs, and a feedback loop.
Details the Craig's Industrial Relations System Model with its external and internal inputs, conversion mechanisms, and outputs.

Views of Industrial Relations

Presents different perspectives on industrial relations:
- Neoclassical Economics View: Unions are artificial barriers to the free market
- Pluralist and Institutional View: IR stresses the importance of institutions and multiple actors, such as unions, to balance employer/employee interests, traditionally predominant
- Human Resources/Strategic Choice View: Moves away from unionization towards non-unionized relationships. Links human resource strategies to business strategies, fostering cooperation
- Political Economy View: Basis in sociology and political science, with a focus on inherent conflict between labour and management

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Description

This quiz covers the introduction to industrial relations as outlined in the fourth edition textbook on the subject. It focuses on key concepts such as labour relations, human resources, and the systems framework for understanding industrial relations issues. Test your knowledge on internal inputs of the industrial relations system model.