Labor Unions in Canada - Case Study Example

Labor Unions in Canada

Introduction

In the business world today, many of the workers are looking for ways through which they can increase their bargaining power at the workplaces. It is as a result of the poor working conditions that employees have been exposed to in the recent past. Human Resource Managers have not focused on ensuring that the needs if the workers are met regarding providing them with enough wages as well as conditions that are efficient and enhance the workers' productivity. Due to this reason, most of the workers have joined labor unions in an attempt to air their grievances on working conditions as well as wages. As a result, there has been an increase in the number of trade unions in Canada that aim at representing the workers to ensure that their grievances are met. After registering with a particular trade union, workers are expected to pay a fee that is used in the running of the union. In return, the workers can strike or boycott work in an attempt to get to an understanding with the employer concerning the form of compensation as well as the ways through which their conditions will be improved. In Canada, most of the workers that have been unionized are from the public sector. About 50% of all the public workers are in a union while 15% of those in the private sector have registered with at least one of the labor unions. The reduced number of workers in labor unions ignites questions of the effectiveness of labor unions in fighting for the rights of the employees. This paper will explore the effectiveness of labor unions in addressing the issues of the workers in Canada both in the public and private sector.

Effectiveness of Labor Unions

Unions in Canada play a significant role from the time they began to be formed in the early 20th century. The main aim of the unions was to ensure that the well-being of the employees was looked into as well as enhancing the compensation rates of the workers. It is a body that helps the workers bargain as a common unit since it can be hard to negotiate at an individual capacity. Moreover, it enhanced the protection of the employees whenever they boycott work or strike as a way of resisting the working conditions that are given to them. Since it is difficult for the industries to retrench all workers due to striking, it gives employees protection of their employment significantly (Lowe, & Rastin, 2000).

Linking Employer and Workers

Unions play a role as a link between the employees and the employers. They help the workers negotiate the working terms and conditions based on a collective bargaining act which state the number of hours that an employee is supposed to work, the compensation they are supposed to get as well as the additional amount of money they are supposed to earn for working overtime. Before unions were formed, workers were subjected to long working hours that were characterized by unsafe and unhealthy working conditions as well as low wages. Moreover, workers could be fired any time without any valid reason; hence, reducing the aspect of job security (Tufts, 1998). Workers were faced with a variety of challenges that they could not address in an individual capacity. After the employees began joining labor unions, things changed and the labor sector began recognizing the efforts of the employees and putting the interests of the workers at the core of the business. The unions were used as a bridge between the workers and the employers and they negotiated with the employer until they came into a common ground which was acceptable both to the employees as well as the company. Mostly, the collective agreements consisted of rates of pay, overtime rates, workday length, worker's safety and health length, job classifications, and work distribution (MacDowell, 2004). Moreover, there was the introduction of a procedure that could be used to settle disputes which favored both parties effectively. Such are great benefits that the unions have brought to the workers in Canada since they are now able to work under better conditions and at the same time being compensated substantially based on the amount of work being done. Besides, it has made it effective for the workers to air their grievances to the relevant authorities in case an issue arises without fear of being victimized.

Advisory Role to the Employees

Unions are also important to the employees because they advise them accordingly on the action to take so as to pressure the employer to listen to their demands. Since the first step is usually negotiation, the labor unions encourage the employees to continue working as the officials of the labor union present the grievances as well as demands to the relevant management (Riddell, 1993). When the negotiations are not fruitful, the labor unions' officials communicate to the employees directing them to boycott from work or form a strike in an attempt to pressure the employer to increase the stake on their side of the bargain. When the employees are not satisfied with the deals that are given by the employer, they might decide to have a ‘go slow' which is a way that the employees work for little productivity as compared to the productivity in the other days. The business processes are slowed down which has a detrimental effective on the service delivery as well as the satisfaction of the customers. If the employer does not act, the employees under the leadership of the union officials to boycott work and remain idle at the workstations as they wait for further instructions. Moreover, the workers can hold a demonstration and attract the media attention so that the management can give their plight a serious consideration. It is also a way of ensuring that other parties get involved in pressuring the management to address the grievances if at all they are logical and genuine (MacDowell, 2004). At the end of the day, the employees will have benefited from the unions because they job will still be protected despite engaging in a strike or boycotting work.

Enhancement of Social Welfare

Unions have also been beneficial in pushing for the social welfare of people in the society. Any employee works so as to improve their lives and at the same time enhance their social welfare. Therefore, employee demands and the social welfare go hand in hand; hence, it is critical to ensure that they are as well addressed. Labor unions have pushed for issues such as unemployment, universal medical cover, as well as safety and health legislation. Moreover, they have addressed issues that are beyond their main focus but related to workers which include environmental standards, equal pay for women, as well as human rights. Whenever labor unions are engaged in matters that affect the members of the society in such a manner, they help in advancing a society that is characterized by mutual respect as well as harmonious coexistence. It is also a way of giving back to the society anytime they have an interest in the social welfare of the people (MacDowell, 2004). Besides, the social issues that labor unions address affect even the employees that are represented by these unions. Therefore, it is an added advantage for them to continue supporting the efforts of the unions not only in protecting their interests but also in addressing the issues that affect the society as a whole. The contributions made do a variety of tasks in ensuring that the society is more or less an ideal place for existing. It is, therefore, evident that labor unions in Canada are very effective in addressing the issues of the employees as well as other concerns related to humanity.

Involvement in Policy Making

Labor unions in Canada are involved in the politics of the country and most of the times they are affiliated with particular political parties. Participation in politics is crucial for labor unions because it helps the union to have an increased bargaining power in matters to do with national politics. The most important aspect in affiliating themselves with different political parties is to ensure that whenever the government they support enters in power, the grievances of the workers will be addressed effectively (Roberts, 2005). It shows that in every action the labor unions undertake they have the interests of the employees at heart; hence, the contributions that the workers give towards the labor unions are not wasted. Moreover, the umbrella union that unites all the union which is referred to as Canadian Labor Congress is one of the prominent bodies in the country regarding enhancing the welfare of the employees. The organization lobbies for legislation to be enacted that will be used to govern the manner in which employees in the country are treated. Mostly, the organization is responsible for ensuring that legislation that defines the minimum working conditions standard as well as worker's compensation are set so that that law binds all the employers. In such cases, the employees will benefit greatly because their employers will not only be bound by the collective bargain agreement but also by the law of the land which is the superior form of law. Whenever such legislation is passed, the employees benefit since a definite set of compensation rates is adopted. Those working in the public sector benefit significantly because the employer is the government; hence, they focus much on the improving the conditions of public servants (MacDowell, 2004).

Advocating for Making of Various Legislations

Some legislation has been put in place to regulate the operations of the labor unions. It is not possible for an individual to wake up one day and think of forming a labor union to represent the grievances of a particular group of employees. These laws and regulation make it hard for the formation of labor unions which has been an effective measure in reducing the mushrooming of manner unions in the country. It also helps in ensuring that there is accountability of the unions especially in the use of the monthly contributions made by the members. For instance, before a union is allowed to represent a section of workers, it is supposed to apply to the government agency responsible for certifying unions. The provincial labor board conducts a survey to determine whether the union is fit to represent the workers or not. It can be done by carrying out a vote to show if the union has a backing from the majority of the employees. If a majority of the employees support the union, it is given the mandate to negotiate on behalf of the other employees. After that, the employees elect the executive of the union that will be advancing the grievances to the management. Such strict procedure in the formation of a union has been effective in ensuring that there are few cases of embezzlement of the funds contributed by the employees for the running of the union. Moreover, since it is an agreement of the employees to form a union that will represent and advance their grievances to the employers, they can ensure there is checks and balance that aim at enhancing the performance of the representatives. If the representatives are not effective in their duties, the workers can vote them out (Riddell, 1993).

Unions in Canada are democratic organizations; hence, the members of the union elect the people they are convinced will represent their grievances to the management. Moreover, the employees can decide to throw someone out of the executive body if they are viewed as individuals that are not effective in advancing the needs of the workers to the relevant authority. Therefore, the decision lies with the members of the union to determine the people that will head the union. As a result of such democracy, the leaders are kept on toes to deliver the promises they have given to the workers and try to ensure that there are not involved in scandals that might jeopardize their chances of being at the helm of the union. It would not be justifiable to say that unions are only after the people's money since power is bestowed on the members to determine who will manage the union. It is also a critical move because it makes the people elected answerable to the workers. For instance, if there is any loss of money, the members can demand an account on how the money was spent as well as who was responsible for the mismanagement of funds. The members can resolve to take legal action against the people involved; hence, getting back the finances that have been used inappropriately. Making unions become democratic institutions is an idea that makes unions effective in fighting for the rights of the people effectively (Lowe & Rastin, 2000).

There are different types of unions depending on the field of specialization of an individual. For instance, there is a labor union for nurses, teachers, business people, among other professionals. Specific labor unions have played a critical role in determining the effectiveness of the unions in addressing the issues affecting them (Roberts, 2005). Moreover, it is easy to manage a small group of workers since one can be able to tell the immediate needs that the employees are facing and as a result it becomes easy to prioritize the most pressing issues. It is also easy to hold a meeting with a small group of people as opposed to a large number of workers that are from various fields of specialization. When people of a particular profession form a union, their grievances are almost similar due to the commonalities in the duties they are allocated. Moreover, the grievances of a similar profession are likely to be the same across the country since the working conditions are similar. Therefore, having unions depending on one's profession has enhanced the effectiveness of the unions in advancing the grievances of the workers to the higher authorities.

The establishment of labor unions based on profession has also been critical in enhancing monitoring and evaluation of the success the unions have had in advocating for the well-being of the employees. It is easier for the employees to track the performance of the union after a particular period. If there is significant progress, the union is strengthened so as to increase its bargaining power. However, if there is no significant progress, the workers can decide to terminate the executive and elect other eligible people. Therefore, unions have become necessary machinery in ensuring that all the grievances of the workers are considered by the employer and addressed effectively.

Conclusion

Labor unions in Canada have played a critical role in addressing the issues that affect the workers, especially on issues to do with compensation and working conditions. Unions have helped workers greatly in ensuring that their grievances are addressed since they act as bridges between the employer and the workers. It has been effective in enhancing the relationship between the employer and the workers because they are bound by a collective bargaining agreement. The employers know what they are supposed to compensate the employees while the workers are aware of the conditions they are supposed to be exposed to when working.