MHR 523 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Secret Ballot, Resistance 3, Union Representative
2 Jul 2018
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Chapter 16: Labour Relations
Labour Relations Terms
●Labour relations: the study of employment relationships and issues between groups of
employees (usually in unions) and management; a.k.a union-management relations.
●Union: a group of workers recognized by law who who collectively bargain terms and
conditions of employment with their employer.
○ A union is an organization, external to and independent from the company
○Bargaining unit: group of people who speak on behalf of the union.
○ Government has final saw over ‘who’s in’ and who’s out of the bargaining unit.
●Collective Agreement: a written document outlining the terms and condition of
employment in a unionized workplace.
○ Different from ESA or individual employment contract.
What do Unions Do?
● Unions seek to adjust the power imbalance between employees and their employer.
○ Wages and benefits
○ Improved working conditions
○ Security
○ Dispute resolution
○ Employee Voice
○ Promote broader social justice (social unionism)
Union Density: a fraction that expresses union members as a percentage of the non-
agricultural labour force.
Steps in the Labour Relations Process
1. Employees desires collective representation.
● Why people join unions:
○ Dissonance-based reasons (unpleasant work environment, low pay)
○ Utility-based reasons (cost/benefit analysis)
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Document Summary
Labour relations: the study of employment relationships and issues between groups of employees (usually in unions) and management; a. k. a union-management relations. Union: a group of workers recognized by law who who collectively bargain terms and conditions of employment with their employer. A union is an organization, external to and independent from the company. Bargaining unit: group of people who speak on behalf of the union. Government has final saw over who"s in" and who"s out of the bargaining unit. Collective agreement: a written document outlining the terms and condition of employment in a unionized workplace. Different from esa or individual employment contract. Unions seek to adjust the power imbalance between employees and their employer. Union density: a fraction that expresses union members as a percentage of the non- agricultural labour force. Steps in the labour relations process: employees desires collective representation. Dissonance-based reasons (unpleasant work environment, low pay)
