by Kenda Murphy LLB KMurphy Consulting and Mercedes Watson BFA MA CMed Thought Department Inc History of the Canadian Union Movement Chapter 3 Objectives At the end of this chapter you should be able to ID: 432750
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Slide1
Prepared
by
Kenda
Murphy,
LL.B -
KMurphy
Consulting and
Mercedes Watson, B.F.A., M.A.,
C.Med
-
Thought Department Inc.Slide2
History of the Canadian Union MovementSlide3
Chapter 3 ObjectivesAt the end of this chapter, you should be able to:Describe the geographic, cultural, economic, and political factors that are relevant to Canada
Identify the major events in Canadian labour history
Understand the role of craft and industrial unionism
in shaping Canadian union structure
Discuss how American unions have influenced Canadian unions
Identify some of the regional differences in
Canadian labour historySlide4
Characteristics that have shaped Canada’s labour history:Physical geographyCultural mixEconomic system
Primary industries (forestry, fishing, mining)
Secondary industries (construction and steel)
Tertiary industries (service industries)
Political structure
History of the
Canadian
Labour
MovementSlide5
Informal workers’ groups formed as early as 1827The period of local unionismEarliest attempts to organize followed the craft union
model which was localized and involved
small groups of workers
These unions sought to protect wages for skilled workers and thus to control
labour
marketsCanada's export activity increased the demand
for quality tradespeople’s work
Did not encourage non-skilled workers or non-trade occupations
Early Canadian
Unionism: the
1800sSlide6
An alternative organizing model emerged—industrial unionismFocused on “strength in numbers”Maximized power by recruiting as many members as possible, regardless of occupation
The expansion of the Canadian
labour
movement came through affiliations with
international unions (mainly US-based)
In the mid to late 1800s came the
continental movement
of American-based international unions entering central Canada Early Canadian
Unionism: the
1800sSlide7
Unions began to work on common goals—Nine-Hour Movement (1872)There was virtually no law in Canada governing industrial relations issues; British government used monopoly law
to try to curtail union growth
In 1871, Britain passed the
Trades Union Act
;
a Canadian version was later passed
Nine-Hour Movement
created inter-union networks inspired by the first federations of trade unions
Early Canadian
Unionism: the
1800sSlide8
Knights of Labor entered Canada in 1881—first international industrial union to do soTrades and Labour
Congress (TLC)
was formed in 1883; it effectively lobbied for legislative reform for all workers
Papal letter was issued in Quebec denouncing
Knights of Labor
Catholic Church in Quebec was accused of interfering with union organizing and membership
until bishops intervened
Early Canadian
Unionism: the
1800sSlide9
Work evolved from rural-based to urban, centralized factory-basedU.S. ownership of industries increased the distance between the employer and the Canadian workerFederal Conciliation Act
(1900) conferred the power to appoint third-party
intervenors
or commissions of inquiry to help resolve
labour
disputesThe railways saw union expansion which brought an increase in strikes
As a result of increased railway strikes the
Industrial Disputes Investigation Act passed in 1907
The Industrial Age:
t
he
Early 1900sSlide10
Significant strike activity in Atlantic Canada with 411 strikes recorded between 1901 and 1914By 1914 American-based unions accounted for about 80% of Canadian union membershipExtensive organizing by
Industrial Workers of
the World (IWW)
The Industrial Age:
the
Early 1900sSlide11
The industrial activity related to the war made unionization more attractive to Canadian workersWhile unionism was gaining favour, workers felt that their concerns were not being adequately addressed
Their ability to strike was limited by expanded powers
of the
Industrial Disputes Investigation Act
Controversy over conscription (forced enrolment
in
the military)
Death of Albert “Ginger” Goodwin labour organizer in B.C.
The World War EraSlide12
The World War EraThe Winnipeg General Strike (May 15,1919)
Was the first extended, large-scale general
strike involving workers from many different occupations and unions
30,000–35,000 unionized and non-unionized
workers walked off their jobs
A committee representing employers and all
three levels of government attempted to force
strikers back to workSlide13
The World War EraThe Winnipeg General Strike (1919) (cont’d)
Parliament passed emergency amendment to
the
Immigration Act
allowing for
immediate deportation of immigrants; police to arrest on basis of suspicion (and not evidence);
the burden of proof of innocence to be placed on the accused rather than the state
Strike ended June 25 with an agreement but it did not end well for unions Slide14
The World War EraIn Quebec, at the end of the decade, unions gained strength because of the influence of the Catholic ChurchIn 1921, so-called Catholic unions formed the
Confédération
des
travailleurs
catholiques
du Canada (CTCC)The CTCC was involved in several high profile
strikes, at least one of which (1949) ended
well for mineworkers
In 1961, it became the
Confédération
des
syndicats
nationaux
(CSN)/Confederation of National Trade Unions (CNTU)
, which still exists today Slide15
After the First World WarCanadian unions faced many difficulties after the First World War, including:Widespread unemployment and wage cuts
Disunity within the union movement
A poor agricultural market, the U.S. stock market crash (1929), and the subsequent Great Depression
Also experienced some positive developments:
Skilled workers were still needed and were able
to maintain unionization as craftspeople
“Industrial councils” were formed which included
less-skilled workersCommunities of ethnic immigrants within occupations created networks for support and informationSlide16
After the First World WarUnemployed workers formed associations to lobby for better support and to end government-run “relief camps”“On to Ottawa” trek demonstrated resistance
to “relief camps”
“Bloody Sunday” riot in Vancouver
Communist Party and radical politics influenced
Canadian unionsSlide17
After the First World WarSnider vs. Toronto Electrical CommissionThis 1925 ruling by the British Privy Council settled
the question of federal and provincial jurisdiction
over
labour
relations
Federal government’s jurisdiction over labour relations extended only to federally regulated industries
Ruling hampered development of Canadian unions
Established separate provincial and federal jurisdictions for labour lawSlide18
After the First World WarThe Wagner Act (1935)
U.S. laws introduced by President Franklin Roosevelt guaranteed
3
basic rights to U.S. union members
The right to organize
The right to collective bargaining
The right to strike without employer harassment
Employers were forced to recognize a union that had the support of the majority of workersBecame the model on which many Canadian labour
codes are basedSlide19
After the First World WarCongress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) formed in US in 1935Caused dissent among Canadian unions when
Trades and Labour Congress was forced to expel
CIO-affiliated unions
CIO opened Canadian office and organized many industries in Canada
Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (predecessor
to New Democratic Party) elected first members to Parliament in 1935Slide20
The Second World WarWW II saw employment increasing along with increased productionThe jurisdiction of the
Industrial Disputes Investigation Act
was expanded in 1939 to allow the government increased control over industrial relations
A strike vote was required to make any strike legal but in return the government introduced wage and price controls
Unionization rates increased significantly during the
war as did strike activitySlide21
The Second World WarCanadian Congress of Labour (CCL) formed in 1940 and gave Canada two national labour federations: CCL; and Trades and Labour Congress (TLC)
One of every three union members on strike by 1943
High level of strike activity led to demands for improved labour legislationSlide22
The Second World WarIn 1944, the federal government passed P.C. 1003It was
modelled
on the
Wagner Act
The significant features of
P.C. 1003 were compulsory bargaining and the right of employee representatives to be recognized as certified agents
Similar acts were passed by Quebec and B.C.Slide23
After the Second World WarAfter the war there were fears of an economic collapseBut there were more government safeguards
than after WW I
The
Rand Formula
was developed in 1945
Union dues would be automatically deducted from every worker’s pay cheque, but individuals would
be allowed to opt out of union membership
The Rand Formula was being used by 90 percent of Canadian unions by 1950
By 1950, nearly every province had a
labour
codeSlide24
After the Second World WarThe Asbestos Strike (1949)An illegal strike, supported by Catholic churches and the Archbishop of Montreal
Quebec Premier
Duplessis
sent armed police to community of Asbestos; strikers responded by beating company officials and dynamiting company property
After company hired replacement workers,
strikers attacked the mines and the police; over 200 were arrestedSlide25
After the Second World WarThe Asbestos Strike (cont’d)A settlement was negotiated
Served notice to the world that the Catholic unions were no less militant than their secular counterparts
Marked the end of the formal relationship between
the Catholic Church and the Quebec union movementSlide26
The 1950s and 1960sPeriod of growth and development for unions, remarkably free from labour conflict
The TLC and CCL merged in 1956 to create the
Canadian
Labour
Congress
(CLC)The predominantly international unions became increasingly bureaucratized and centralized
Some high-profile and bitter strikes
Early 1960s saw extensive public sector union organizingFederal government passed the Public Service Staff Relations Act
in 1965Slide27
The 1950s and 1960sDuring the same period, para-public sector
workers also organized on a large scale
Some joined existing public-sector unions, but others joined the
Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)
Also during this period, changing technology affected workplaces and reduced or eliminated occupationsSlide28
The 1970s and 1980sIn the early 1970s unemployment and inflation rose, and markets outside North America became more importantUnions were blamed for inflation and lower productivity
1975 saw wage and price controls imposed for 3 years, which resulted in increased strike activity
In 1982, the federal government suspended public servants’ bargaining rights for 2 yearsSlide29
The 1970s and 1980sEarly 1980s saw:Increased interest rates to fight inflationHigh unemployment
Restricted social programs
Cutbacks in powers of public sector unions
Charter of Rights and Freedoms
passed in 1982
Conservative federal government in 1984 created a hostile atmosphere for unions
Several high-profile private sector strikesSlide30
The 1970s and 1980sLabour movement also saw internal dissent:The
Confederation of Canadian Unions
(CCU) formed as alternative to the CLC
Other unions formed the Canadian Federation of
Labour
(CFL) (1982–1997)In 1985 Canadian locals of the United Auto Workers split from U.S. parent union to form the Canadian
Auto Workers
Trend toward Canadian control of Canadian unionsSlide31
Into the 21st CenturyLiberalized international trade was the major event of the 1990s
North American Free Trade Agreement
(NAFTA) (1992)
General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs
(GATT) (1994)
Some employers have used NAFTA to move to regions with lower
labour
costs and non-unionized workersPolitically, the NDP has had limited clout to advocate
for
labour
issues across CanadaSlide32
Into the 21st CenturySeveral large-scale labour disputes in last few years
NHL lockout in 2004–2005 and 2012-2013
Several strikes at post-secondary institutions
Several civic workers’ strikes
Several public sector workers’ strikes
Several strikes at large private sector employersSlide33
Into the 21st CenturyOther major structural shifts in Canadian industrial
relations
2004, two of Canada’s largest unions United Steelworkers of America and the International
Wood and Allied Workers of America merged
(Unites Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and
Service Workers International Union)
2013, the National Automobile, Aerospace, Transportation and General Workers Union of
Canada (Canadian Auto Workers Union) and Communications, Energy and Paperworkers
Union merged to create
UniforSlide34
Into the 21st CenturyChanges to labour’s relationship with governmentFederal and provincial governments more willing to use back-to-work legislationAlberta Federation of Labour was one of the most active participants in 2014 campaign to change federal Temporary Worker Program.Slide35
SummaryThe future can be viewed negatively or positively for unions
Negative perspective:
Internationalization, the slow decline in unionization rates, and the weakening
of unions’ political influence could further erode
unions’ power
Positive Perspective:
The relative strength of Canadian unions (compared to the U.S.) and the
history of adaptability suggest that Canadian unions could continue to thrive Slide36
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