Industrial Relations-Lecture 4 Labour History

Video-As Friend and Foe

o How has unionism in Canada changed? (Philosophical and
structural)
o Now there is worker rights- basic living standards, worker
rights
o Started out as instruments of social justice-Now its about
bread and butter issues
o Small trade organization-Now we have large alialgmations
o Rapid industrialization-Mining industry built
o Government played a huge role, giving land and setting
immigration laws accordingly
o Idea to group through collective action
o 1920-Rise in the economy, 1929-great depression
o 1937-Strike against GM, won a contract (Won Union
recognition)
o 1944-The government acknowledged union recognition
o Kings ideas were very influential (Policy of intervention)
o 1975- Introduced Program of restraint
Prior to Unionization
o Master-Servant relationship
o Master-Servant Act
o Employment relationship in which employees have few
rights
o At this time the Common Law prevailed. It stated that
employees performed work and the employers paid wages
o Employees were forced into work conditions
o It was illegal for workers to quit or form a union
o Pre-1900s
o New model unionism (movement to trade/craft unions)
Craft based view
Trade unions-an apprenticeship in which trainees
learn a trade under supervision. Where membership
was limited and wages were controlled. Unions were
monopoly suppliers of labour
o 1872 Nine-Hour Movement, Trade Union Act
o Hamilton Ontario, 1500 workers who wanted a reduced
work day. They protested which lead to the Trade Union Act
created by Sir John A MacDonald
o Hamilton workers, printers strike
o First unified protest movement

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MacDonald working mans friend

No longer conspiracy or a crime to join a union
Penalties for striking
Birth of formal Canadian labour movement
This allowed employees to join union

o 1886-In the US, Samuel Gompers crated the AFL (American

Federation of Labour)
AFL had 3 principles
1. Exclusive jurisdiction-Single union represents
all workers of a trade/occupational grouping
2. Business unionisms- unions focusing in
improved wages and working conditions
3. Political Nonpartisanship-Belief that unions
should not align themselves with any political
party. Should remain neutral and develop
priorities and align themselves and vote for the
party that supports these priorities
o 1886-In Canada we formed the Trade+Labour Congress which
also included the Knights of Labour
o The Knights of Labour was a very radical group that
believed in one large union for the skilled and the
unskilled. In principle was opposed to strikes and included
women members.
o 1907 Canada- Industrial Disputes Investigations Act (Mackenzie
King)
o Identified the need for a third party intervention before a
strike, this was the concept of conciliation
o 1919 Canada Winnipeg General Strike
o General strike of all unions. No immediate worker gains
o Labour leaders won seats in the government giving more
power to unions
o 1929 Canada- Stock Market crash
o 1932 Canada- 32% unemployment
o 1935 US- The Wagner Act was passed. The National Labour
Relations Act
o Created a labour board that did a few things
Allowed employees to bargain collectively
Defined unfair labour practices
Remedied employer violations of the act
Only one union could represent one bargaining unit
o 1945-RAND Formula

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o Was about Union dues (unions could deduct fees weather

you belong to a union or not)
o Implemented because it was felt that unions needed
financial security
o Union dues is its main source of revenue
o Dues check off- term for checking off when dues are
deducted from your pay
1940s The Canadian Labour Movement
o Divided into Trades (skilled) workers and Industrial
(unskilled) workers
1956- Canada Labour Congress
o Merging of TLC (Trades and Labour Congress) and CCL
(Canadian Congressed Labour)
o CCL is the largest operating of Canadian labour today
1967-Public Service Staff Relations Act
o Allowed federal employees to bargain collectively
o This is unlike the US
1970-1980s NAFTA
o Labour opposed to NAFTA because of reduced wages and
job loss
1985- Canadian Auto Workers (CAW)
o They were derived from the United Auto Workers (AUW)
o Worked fairly independently from AUW. Set their own goals,
call their own strikes and have their own strike fund
1990s and onward
o Globalization has lead to more competition in NA, leading
to downsizing, restructuring and offshoring
o 2004-2008 -300,000 manufacturing jobs disappeared
o In the public sector, the government did a lot of restricting,
trying to go into debt reduction. Not only did they loose a
lot of workers but also went into privatization (LCBO). Thus
weakening public sector unions (ex. Back to work
legislation)