COMM 203 - Final - Ch.9 Questions
and All Correct Answers.
Union (definition) - Answer Organizations formed to represent their members' interests in
dealing with employers.
Labour relations (definition) - Answer A field that emphasizes shills managers and unions
leaders can use to minimize costly forms of conflict (e.g. strikes) and seek win-win solutions to
disagreements.
3 levels of decisions in labour relations - Answer 1. Labour relations strategy: management
decides how to handle unions or maintain non-union operations. Unions decide to resist/adapt
to new labour management relationships.
2. Negotiating collective agreements: issues like pay, job security, work rules, and safety,
impacting workers and employers for the agreement's duration)
3. Administering collective agreements: disputes between union members and management are
resolved through a formal grievance process
2 private sector unions in Canada - Answer - United Food and Commercial Workers Canada
(UFCW Canada)
- Unifor
Unions are either CRAFT (based on skills) or INDUSTRIAL (based on industry) unions.
2 public sector unions in Canada - Answer - Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)
- Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) - federal/government departments
Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) (definition) - Answer The umbrella organization for affiliated
Canadian and international unions, as well as provincial federations of labour and regional
labour councils.
Local union (definition) - Answer Basic unit of union organization; consists of unionized
workers from a particular department, location, industry, or sector that are covered by a specific
collective agreement.
Local unions handle negotiations on their location-specific work rules and other issues.
Union steward (definition) - Answer An employee elected by union members to represent
them in ensuring that the terms of the agreement are adhered to.
, History of Union Membership - Answer - First labour organization (precursor to the Canadian
Labour Congress) was established in 1873.
- Winnipeg General Strike of 1919.
- Collective bargaining was officially recognized in 1937.
- 1967: government workers gained collective bargaining rights through federal legislation.
- Advocating for workplace safety and paid maternity leave in the 1960s and 1970s.
Trends in Union Membership - Answer - Gradual decline in union membership since 1994
- More unionization in public sector than private
- Unionization of young people is dropped
Reasons for decline in union membership - Answer - Structural changes in the economy (job
growth in the service sector, while unions are usually for "blue-collar" workers)
- Pressure to control costs because of global competition
- Competition for human resources --> employers offer more than unions
- Government regulations on workplace safety and human rights are already good--little for a
union to fill
Social unionism (definition) - Answer Union activities that involve both engagement with
social justice struggles and methods beyond the collective bargaining process.
Rand formula (definition) - Answer A union security provision that makes payment of labour
union dues mandatory, even if a worker is not a member of the union.
Checkoff provision (definition) - Answer Allows the employer to automatically deduct union
dues from employees' paychecks and remit them to the union.
Closed shop (definition) - Answer Require union membership before hiring.
Union shop (definition) - Answer Mandate joining the union within a certain time frame after
starting employment.
2 key contract provisions for unions - Answer These two key contract provisions are critical
to the union's security and validity:
1. Checkoff provision
2. Union membership provision
and All Correct Answers.
Union (definition) - Answer Organizations formed to represent their members' interests in
dealing with employers.
Labour relations (definition) - Answer A field that emphasizes shills managers and unions
leaders can use to minimize costly forms of conflict (e.g. strikes) and seek win-win solutions to
disagreements.
3 levels of decisions in labour relations - Answer 1. Labour relations strategy: management
decides how to handle unions or maintain non-union operations. Unions decide to resist/adapt
to new labour management relationships.
2. Negotiating collective agreements: issues like pay, job security, work rules, and safety,
impacting workers and employers for the agreement's duration)
3. Administering collective agreements: disputes between union members and management are
resolved through a formal grievance process
2 private sector unions in Canada - Answer - United Food and Commercial Workers Canada
(UFCW Canada)
- Unifor
Unions are either CRAFT (based on skills) or INDUSTRIAL (based on industry) unions.
2 public sector unions in Canada - Answer - Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)
- Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) - federal/government departments
Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) (definition) - Answer The umbrella organization for affiliated
Canadian and international unions, as well as provincial federations of labour and regional
labour councils.
Local union (definition) - Answer Basic unit of union organization; consists of unionized
workers from a particular department, location, industry, or sector that are covered by a specific
collective agreement.
Local unions handle negotiations on their location-specific work rules and other issues.
Union steward (definition) - Answer An employee elected by union members to represent
them in ensuring that the terms of the agreement are adhered to.
, History of Union Membership - Answer - First labour organization (precursor to the Canadian
Labour Congress) was established in 1873.
- Winnipeg General Strike of 1919.
- Collective bargaining was officially recognized in 1937.
- 1967: government workers gained collective bargaining rights through federal legislation.
- Advocating for workplace safety and paid maternity leave in the 1960s and 1970s.
Trends in Union Membership - Answer - Gradual decline in union membership since 1994
- More unionization in public sector than private
- Unionization of young people is dropped
Reasons for decline in union membership - Answer - Structural changes in the economy (job
growth in the service sector, while unions are usually for "blue-collar" workers)
- Pressure to control costs because of global competition
- Competition for human resources --> employers offer more than unions
- Government regulations on workplace safety and human rights are already good--little for a
union to fill
Social unionism (definition) - Answer Union activities that involve both engagement with
social justice struggles and methods beyond the collective bargaining process.
Rand formula (definition) - Answer A union security provision that makes payment of labour
union dues mandatory, even if a worker is not a member of the union.
Checkoff provision (definition) - Answer Allows the employer to automatically deduct union
dues from employees' paychecks and remit them to the union.
Closed shop (definition) - Answer Require union membership before hiring.
Union shop (definition) - Answer Mandate joining the union within a certain time frame after
starting employment.
2 key contract provisions for unions - Answer These two key contract provisions are critical
to the union's security and validity:
1. Checkoff provision
2. Union membership provision
