Chapter 2 Labour History PDF

Chapter 2 Labour History Copyright © 2016 Nelson Education Ltd. Learning Objectives By the end of this chapter, you will be able to discuss: the preunionization work environment and the movement toward unionized relationships the relationship between the Canadian and American labour movem...

Chapter 2 Labour History Copyright © 2016 Nelson Education Ltd. Learning Objectives By the end of this chapter, you will be able to discuss: the preunionization work environment and the movement toward unionized relationships the relationship between the Canadian and American labour movements how exclusive jurisdiction, business unionism, and political nonpartisanship have divided the labour movement over time Continued…. 2-2 Learning Objectives (Continued) how significant events from the 1850s to the present day have shaped the history of workplace relations how current and past history may shape the future of labour in Canada. 2-3  2-3 R e f u Workplace Rights s e U YOU n YOUR GRANDPARENTS s a O v f e e ? r t i m e W M i o r n i m u m W k a g e Fr e e d o m fr o m D is c ri m in a ti o n. 2-4 Preunionization Master-Servant Relationship: The employer made the rules that employees were required to follow Employees had few rights Unions, collective bargaining illegal Little court protection Power imbalance, coercion. 2-5 Resulting Imbalance of Power Employees Employers : Illegal to… : Right to…. 2-6 The Movement to Unionization 2-7 The Early Years (Pre- 1900) New Model Unionism Most Canadians self-employed Worker organization shortly after War of 1812 to counteract harsh conditions Trade or craft-based shops; all members performed the same trade or specialty Could restrict access to the trade through apprenticeship Gave the craft control over the supply of labour Negotiated solutions rather than take strike action 2-8. The Early Years (Pre- 1900) ◦Craft shops expanded into sizeable factories ◦Employers built lumber mills, canneries and coal mines ◦Profits became all-important ◦Work was mechanized to control labour cost ◦Employers flooded the market with cheaper, less skilled labour ◦Workers formed craft unions ◦ Confederation increased industrialization ◦ Labour organizations grew ◦ Workers wanted issues of broad interest dealt with. Early Years Nine-Hour Movement (1872) Hamilton workers, printers’ strike First unified protest movement Sought reduction in the length of the workday Trade Union Act (1872) and Amendments to Criminal Law Amendment Act (1872) Changes brought in by government of John A. Macdonald – “working man’s friend” No longer conspiracy or a crime to join a union Penalties for striking Foundation for the birth of a formalized Canadian labour movement. 2-9  2-9 Early Labour Groups KNIGHTS OF AFL LABOR Formed in 1886 Formed in 1869 Skilled workers Skilled and unskilled Founded on three core workers values: exclusive More radical in jurisdiction, business nature; sought one unionism, political big union, believed in nonpartisanship cooperatives owned by These values have union members, and historically both united opposed strikes and divided labour Existed for a short movement. period of time 2-10  2-9 American vs. Canadian Unionism UNITED STATES: CANADA: CLU AFL Exclusive Jurisdiction: Open Jurisdiction: Unions should be craft Unions for skilled and (trade)-based only and unskilled labourers represent only one craft Social Unionism: Business Unionism: Priorities went beyond The union’s primary focus economic welfare and should be the economic promoted social change well-being of the (e.g., end of child labour) membership Agitated for Legislative Political Nonpartisanship: Change The union should not be aligned with one political 2-11. Unionization in Canada A HISTORICAL TIMELINE 2-12 The Years of Struggle 1890’s Factories became larger ◦ Supervision more strict under coercive drive ◦ American Federation of Labor organized Canadian workers into international unions ◦ Series of national labour federations to unionize workers on industry wide basis 1902 – The Berlin (now Kitchener) Convention Consistent with AFL Split in labour movement, prohibited dual unionism 1907 Coal strike led to Industrial Disputes Investigation Act, 1907 which required that certain industries had to submit dispute to a conciliation board This is a cornerstone of Canadian labour law 1900 - 1914 One of the most accelerated phases of economic development in Canadian history Many radical unions in Canada with more violent strikes 14 large, violent strikes; military/militia called in for 11 Period before WW1 marked by bitter. struggles 2-13  The Years of Struggle 1914 - 1918 World War I After World War I ◦ Rapid increase in union membership ◦ Rising prices ◦ Labour shortage ◦ Increased strike activity 1919 Winnipeg General Strike ◦ Winnipeg General Strike marked end of radical labour movement One Big Union and other socialist movements: A syndicalist trade union (i.e. overthrow capitalism and let workers gain control to change society) active primarily in the western part of the country; initiated formally in Calgary on June 4, 1919 but lost most of its members by 1922 and finally merged into the Canadian Labour Congress during 1956. Labour activists go on to win elected office 1925 ◦ As a result of Snider case, labour relations became the jurisdiction of the provinces. Decline and Resurrection 1930s and 1940s Great Depression: Significant economic downturn resulting from 1929 stock market crash Severe depression with massive layoffs, many led life of “riding rods” Labour’s postion weakened Wages fell and unemployment increased Rise of Catholic and Communist unionism Relief camps established in 1932 and Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) founded 1933: 32% of workers were unemployed. 2-15 Decline and Resurrection 1930s and 1940s United States Wagner Act (1935) passed also known as National Labor Relations Act Created an independent agency (NLRB) to enforce the rights of employees to bargain collectively rather than to mediate disputes Employers required to bargain collectively with certified unions Defined unfair labour standards and NLRB given ability to order remedies for employer violations of the NLRA 2-16. Decline and Resurrection 1930s and 1940s Committee of Industrial Organization (1935): CIO splits from AFL on craft/industrial CANADA : P.C. 1003 (1944) enacted Patterned on the United States Wagner Act Granted Canadian workers basic unionization rights Employers required to bargain Strikes for recognition illegal Created mechanism for workplace disputes during life of collective agreement Conciliation procedures prior. to a strike 2-17 Decline and Resurrection Rand Formula (1945): Supreme Court of Canada Justice Ivan Rand, the eponym of this law, introduced this formula in 1946 in an arbitration decision ending the Ford Strike of 1945 in Windsor, Ontario He settled the strike by creating what is now known as automatic dues check-off: ◦ Employees not required to join unions ◦ However, required to pay union dues ◦ Union dues to be deducted by the Employer at source and submitted to the Union ◦ Gave unions a solid financial base. Reconciliation and Expansion into the Public Sector 1950s Economic and political conservatism Decade of consolidation and stabilization Unions operated within fairly narrow bounds but made impressive gains at bargaining table Skilled and Unskilled Workers Reunite: Merger of Trades and Labour Congress (TLC) and Canadian Congress of Labour (CCL) to form Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) Tasked with formation of a political party which became the NDP Merger of American Labour Federation (ALF) and Congress of Industrial Organizations to form ALF-CIO – largest federation of American unions. 2-20 Reconciliation and Expansion into the Public Sector 1960s A decade of renewed radicalism Public sector unionization increased, 1964 Public Service Staff Relations Act (PSSRA) enacted in 1967 Contrary to United States, this law enabled federal government employees to bargain collectively Similar laws were passed in provincial jurisdictions Public sector forms a large percentage of unionized workforce Increased militancy in private-sector unions. Changing Relationships with Government and USA 1970s Public sector Canadian labour movement strongest in mid-1970s Energy crisis created high inflation and unemployment Public Economic and political agenda became conservative Wage-price controls introduced Anti-Inflation Board (AIB) and its 6&5 program restricted labour’s ability to seek wage increases. Changing Relationships with Government and USA 1980s Serious recession—12% unemployment Unions reluctant to press too hard Acceptance of two-tier wage systems Employers seeking (and getting) concessions Federal government push for free trade – starts NAFTA negotiations Major schisms within labour movement – CAW left the UAW in 1985 Unions organize unrelated industries. Increased Resistance 1990s Fundamental change in economic and political environment left labour weaker Wage freezes for public sector workers Mergers of unions into general or conglomerate unions Implementation of NAFTA (free trade agreement – US, Canada, Mexico Tensions between unions and NDP party Economic restructuring and global markets: Sectors of the economy that were traditionally union strongholds faced severe job losses – Manufacturing sector hardest hit Government restructuring: Privatization, Crown corporations created, layoffs Back-to-work legislation enacted: Strike action ceases, employees. return to work, terms and Implications for the Future of Unions New Millennium Many workers without regular workplace Workers may not know each other Harder to unionize Large scale business re-organizations Cannot insulate from world economic developments Three trends: Movement toward larger unions Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) and Communications, Energy and Paperworkers (CEP) join to form Unifor (2014) Social unionism Global labour movement. Summary A century of significant change during the 1900’s Initially employees had few rights Trade union focus shifts to industrial unions Rupture in labour movement Legislation permits bargaining 1940s, 1950s Growing government intervention 1980s, 1990s Canadian labour movement starts on its own path Job loss, union power declines globally The Canadian labour movement’s ability to maintain steady membership rates suggests that it possesses considerable resiliency.. 2-26