ADMS 3422 Lecture 2: History of Industrial Relations
21 Jan 2019
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HRM 3422 – Lecture 2
Workplace Rights
- Today, as workers we have a lot of protection from different laws and legislation.
- This is because in Canada, we have progressive worker protection laws.
- If you are unionized, you are protected by the terms stated in the collective agreement.
- If you are not unionized, you’re protected by the employment standards act which lays
down the minimum requirements employers must provide their employees.
o Ex. If you feel your workplace is unsafe, you can refuse to work
o Ex. If you work overtime, you get overtime pay
o Ex. There is a minimum wage
o Ex. The right to enjoy freedom from discrimination
- People in the past didn’t have luxury to enjoy these freedoms because they weren’t
protected by the law.
Preunionization
- Before unionization, there was a
- Master-Servant Relationship:
o The employer made the rules that employees were required to follow
o Employees had few rights
o Unions, collective bargaining illegal (could be charged or go to jail)
o Little court protection
o Power imbalance, coercion
▪ Employees: Illegal to…
• Form a union
• Quit the Job
▪ Employers: Right to…
• Punish if employee left before work was completed
• Have workers charged if they refused to follow lawful orders
• Have workers charged if they didn’t report to work
The Movement to Unionization
The Early Years (Pre-1900)
- New Model Unionism
o Trade or craft-based union; all members performed the same trade or specialty
o Could restrict access to the trade through apprenticeship
o Gave the union control over the supply of labour
o Negotiated solutions rather than take strike action.
▪ Strikes were still illegal
- Nine-Hour Movement (pg.30)
o Hamilton workers, printers’ strike
o First unified protest movement
o Sought reduction in the length of the workday
▪ 12 hours to 9 hours
o Was unsuccessful and the length of workday did not change
o However it did lead to…
- Trade Union Act (1872) and Amendments to Criminal Law Amendment Act (1872)
o Changes brought in by government of John A. Macdonald – “working man’s
friend”
o Stated that it was no longer conspiracy or a crime to join a union
o Still penalties for striking, however…
o It was the foundation for the birth of a formalized Canadian labour movement
Early Labour Groups
- AFL (American Federation of Labour)
o Formed in 1886
o Only for skilled workers
o Founded on three core values: exclusive jurisdiction, business unionism, political
nonpartisanship
o These values have historically both united and divided labour movement
- Knights of Labor
o Formed in 1869
o For both skilled and unskilled workers (not exclusive)
o More radical in nature; sought one big union, believed in cooperatives owned by
union members, and opposed strikes
o Existed for a short period of time
American vs. Canadian Unionism
- United states: AFL
o Exclusive Jurisdiction:
▪ Unions should be craft (trade)-based only and represent only one craft
o Business Unionism:
▪ The union’s primary focus should be the economic well-being of the
membership
o Political Nonpartisanship:
▪ The union should not be aligned with one political party
- Canada: CLU (Canadian Labour Union)
o Open Jurisdiction:
▪ Unions for skilled and unskilled labourers
Document Summary
Today, as workers we have a lot of protection from different laws and legislation. This is because in canada, we have progressive worker protection laws. If you are unionized, you are protected by the terms stated in the collective agreement. If you are not unionized, you"re protected by the employment standards act which lays down the minimum requirements employers must provide their employees: ex. If you feel your workplace is unsafe, you can refuse to work: ex. If you work overtime, you get overtime pay: ex. People in the past didn"t have luxury to enjoy these freedoms because they weren"t protected by the law. Master-servant relationship: the employer made the rules that employees were required to follow. Unions, collective bargaining illegal (could be charged or go to jail) It was the foundation for the birth of a formalized canadian labour movement.
