1. Labour Studies 1C03 Nov 11
Unions

2. Key themes “Managers of discontent” What do unions do?
Types of unionism
The union advantage
History of trade unionism in Canada
The myth of the passive woman worker
Problems in unions
Strikes: past, present and future

3. What do unions do? “Managers of discontent” Business unionism
Social unionism
“Big labour”

4. The Union Advantage 10% wage premium Benefits and pensions
Paid vacations
Productivity
Lower turnover
Better management
Reduced training cost

5. History of Trade Unionism
1872 Trade Unions Act legalized union activity
Craft unionism
Industrial unionism
Rand formula 1945
Public Service Staff Relations Act 1967
American influence

6. Trends in Union Membership 1981-2004
∆Men= -11.7%
∆Women = -.6%
∆Both Sexes = -7.0%
Source: Morissette, R., Schellenberg, G., and Johnson, A "Diverging Trends in Unionization." Perspectives on Labour and Income. Vol 6, No. 4. April 2005.

7. Who’s in a union?
Source: Krahn, H. and G. Lowe Work, Industry and Canadian Society. Scarborough: Thomson Nelson. 5th Edition.

8. Who’s in a union?
Source: Krahn, H. and G. Lowe Work, Industry and Canadian Society. Scarborough: Thomson Nelson. 5th Edition.

9. Problems in unions
Gender
Race
Employment status
Union democracy

10. Strikes
Definition
The Winnipeg General Strike 1919
Wild Cat strikes

12. Current trends
“concession bargaining”
Social unionism

13. Unions and Social Technologies

14. Virtual Organizing

15. The Future of Strikes?