Employee Relations: An International Journal

Blyton, Paul; Goodman, John

1990 Employee Relations: An International Journal

doi: 10.1108/01425459010138791

A brief summary of the Canadian industrial relations system is presented. Some of the main social, political and economic dimensions of the system are outlined.

Miller, Kenneth

1990 Employee Relations: An International Journal

doi: 10.1108/01425459010003547

Canadian labour legislation is not simply a paleimitation of that of the United States. In fact,Canadas labour laws possess a number of uniqueand original features which distinguishes them fromthose stipulated by the United States Labor RelationsAct. These basic features are examined andtheir origins traced, with particular emphasis onthe provisions laid out by the Ontario LabourRelations Act, the Labour Code for Canadaslargest province.

Haiven, Larry

1990 Employee Relations: An International Journal

doi: 10.1108/EUM0000000001022

Approaches to industrial conflict resolution inCanada and Britain are examined. The Canadianpolicy to regulate industrial conflict through adiscrete interventionist formula, as opposed toBritish governments handsoff approach indealing with industrial disputes, would suggest amuch greater volume in strike activity andincidence of strikes in Britain than in Canada. Butthis is not the case the reverse is true. A politicsof production approach, concentrating on threekey loci of workplace struggle betweenmanagement and labour in the two countries, ispresented, concentrating on areas of discipline,regulation of the internal labour market and jobcontrol. It is argued that rather than reducingindustrial conflict, the Canadian policy may actuallybe a major cause.

Calvert, John R.

1990 Employee Relations: An International Journal

doi: 10.1108/EUM0000000001023

Public sector bargaining in Canadian labourrelations, placed in the wider context of the federalpolitical system, is examined. The developmentof public sector trade unionism over the past twodecades is discussed and its impact on the widerlabour movements is assessed. It is argued thatthe prospects for public sector unionism lookbleak, as both provincial and federal governmentsare expected to establish a more favourableinvestment climate for the private sector, thuscurtailing public spending, restraining wages ofpublic employees and rights of public sectorunions.

Rutherford, Tod

1990 Employee Relations: An International Journal

doi: 10.1108/EUM0000000001024

The 1980s have witnessed a marked divergencein the economic and industrial relationsdevelopment in the North American autoindustry.It is argued that important links exist betweenindustrial relations and the wider patterns ofuneven development in the North American autoindustry.The development of industrial relationsin this sector has been and will continue to be amajor factor in determining the form of workorganisation, particularly as pressures to movetowards more Japanese or flexible workingpractices grow.

Adams, Roy J.

1990 Employee Relations: An International Journal

doi: 10.1108/EUM0000000001025

Similarities and differences between Canadian andUS labour relations systems are explored. In theUS, employers have, with government indulgence,retreated from their commitment to collectivebargaining, whereas Canadian employers, undergovernment pressure, have generally continuedto respect theirs. The reasons for the divergencein systems are examined.