IDRL 308 Study Guide - Spring 2018, Comprehensive Midterm Notes - Collective Bargaining, New Zealand Labour Party, Canada
12 Oct 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
IDRL 308
MIDTERM EXAM
STUDY GUIDE
Fall 2018
Unit 1
How do we define labour (industrial) relations?
- the relationship between a union and the employer in a workplace
- the unions primary role in the workplace is to represent employees in
interactions with the employer
How does labour relations differ from human resource management?
- IDRL – deals primarily with employee-employer relationships in unionized
organizations
- is more focused, less general
- HRMT – generally applied to employment related issues
- the policies, practices, and systems that influence an employees behaviour,
attitude, and performance in the attainment of organizational goals
- either union or non-union workplaces
- deals with employer-employee relationships in all types of organizations
What are some of the reasons to study labour relations?
- Attaining a career may require joining a union
- Non-union members sometimes have to interact with union members
- Canadian law makes unionization an option for most
- The history of unionization in Canada helps to understand how the modern
workplace has reached its current form
- Knowledge of industrial relations is an asset for anyone looking at HRMT as a
career
- Opposing a union is easier if one has some knowledge about what a union is and
what can be done
What are the key pieces of legislation governing labour relations in Canada?
- Certification – a procedure to legally recognize the union as the workplace
representative for the employees
- A requirement that collective agreements between the union and the employer
have a minimum term
- The establishment of procedures that must be followed for a legal strike or
lockout to take place
- Grievance resolution procedures – the establishment of procedures that must be
followed to resolve disputes while a collective agreement is in effect
- The definition of legal behaviour by union and management in situations such
as a campaign for certification
find more resources at oneclass.com
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How do we define labour relations? Does it matter whether we define the term
narrowly or more broadly?
- Labour relations is a term most commonly used by governments, practitioners,
and scholars
- The narrow definition of labour relations is the relationship between a union and
the employer in a workplace; it is an attempt to create a clear line of separation
between union and non-union workplaces
- The relationship between a union and the employer
- Canadian provincial and federal law gives unions the power to negotiate
- The unions primary role in the workplace is to represent employees in
interactions with the employer
Does labour relations bring a different perspective to work than human resource
management?
- HRMT – applicable to both unionized and non-unionized workplaces, meaning
labour relations is more specific for unionized workplaces
- Unions and unionized relations play a fairly minor role in HRMT, it is mostly
non-union dynamics
- Labour relations emphasizes on unions and their impact on workplaces
- LBR is relevant to HRMT, but brings its own set of priorities and perspectives
- A broad definition of LBR includes an analysis of power at work
- LBR can bring a more analytical and critical perspective to our study of work,
drawing upon the tensions that are inherent in employment relationship
- HRM tends to be more practical and task-oriented in its approach, emphasizes
teaching skills to future HR professionals
- Labour studies is better equipped in asking why certain patterns and dynamics
occur
How would you describe the “average” unionized worker in Canada, given the
information provided in the reading?
- Women outnumber men in unions
- Service producing industries are more unionized than goods producing
industries
- Most highly unionized occupations in the country are in health care, education,
and government services, jobs that are mostly public sector and heavily
represented by female workers
- Union membership higher among older workers
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
How do we define labour (industrial) relations? the relationship between a union and the employer in a workplace the unions primary role in the workplace is to represent employees in interactions with the employer. Idrl deals primarily with employee-employer relationships in unionized organizations is more focused, less general. Hrmt generally applied to employment related issues the policies, practices, and systems that influence an employees behaviour, attitude, and performance in the attainment of organizational goals. Deals with employer-employee relationships in all types of organizations. Attaining a career may require joining a union. Non-union members sometimes have to interact with union members. Canadian law makes unionization an option for most. The history of unionization in canada helps to understand how the modern workplace has reached its current form. Knowledge of industrial relations is an asset for anyone looking at hrmt as a career.
