Labour Unions

PROBLEM: Superstore has been understaffed lately and the company is having a hard time finding employees. The brunt of the situation has fallen on its workers. They are having to work longer hours, and during days they have specified as “unavailable”. Worker’s also feel that for the amount of work they do, and the amount of time they put in, they should receive bonuses, or at least a pay increase. Tired and frustrated, what could these employees do reduce their hours and increase their pay without risking loosing their job?

Collective Bargaining Workers organize LABOUR UNIONS to represent their needs to employers (can have more power and say as a group) Makes COLLECTIVE BARGAINING possible (group negotiations) Allows Unions (employees/workers) to put pressure on EMPLOYERS for better wages, working hours, and workplace safety Workers in unions have known to go on strike, or refuse to work until their demands have been made.

Why did Unions become necessary in the beginnings of Capitalism? Workers were taken advantage of Employers and business owners were making all the money while EXPLOITING their workers Unsafe conditions/long hours/minimal pay so owners could make a better profit How is this concept a step away from traditional “free market” ideas? It is a step toward regulating parts of the economy Company owners are less free to do as they wish

Unions in Canada Today Transportation (city transit) Education (ATA) Health care (AB Health) Forestry (Provincial) Construction Manufacturing Public service (CUPE)

Canada had been against unions at one point, but now the Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects the right to collective bargaining. (Under Fundamental Freedoms – Section 2 Freedom of Association