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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

unions canadian union labour canadian unions labour union workers war world industrial strike canada government early strikes formed federal

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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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