Title: Online Course Assignments: Module 2 Discussion and Assignment Workbook

Contents

Module 2 Discussion

Topic 1: The Canadian Labour Movement

Activity 1: Pressure on Unions

Read the three(s) case studies on pages 79–81 of the textbook below. In your reflective journal, provide answers to the following questions:

i. If you were the union representative charged with the responsibility of organizing new places of work in the first case study, would you pursue the certification of the hamburger chain? Why or why not?

ii. Were you sympathetic to the plight of the union in the second and third case studies? Were you surprised at your response?

 Gunderson, M.  Ponak, A., & Taras, D. (2005). Union-management relations in Canada (5th ed.). North York, Ontario, Canada: Pearson Canada

Number of words: 742

Topic 2: Employees

Activity 3: Norma Rae

Watch Norma Rae. In your reflective journal, answer the below questions:

          (a) Prior to the union came into the picture, were you sympathetic to Norma Rae and her co-employees? Could you recognize the issues                      that management was experiencing?

          (b) Were you surprised that Norma Rae took the promotion that necessitated her to supervise other people's work, including her father's

         (c) Given the working conditions at the factory, why were the employees so unwilling to listen to what the union organizer had to say?

         (d) Do you think it was fair that Norma Rae lost her job? Was it worth it?

Number of words: 381

 Activity 4: Why Employees Join Unions

Read pages 23–45 of the textbook by Gunderson, Ponak, & Taras, (2005). As you read, reflect on which rationales you think present the strongest argument for unionization. In your reflective journal, rank the rationales, with number one being the major reason why you think people join unions. If you are already in a union, why did you decide to join?

Number of words: 565

Activity 5: Duty of Fair Representation

Read about the duty of fair representation process at:

 http://www.lrb.bc.ca/guidelines/representation.htm

http://www.lrb.bc.ca/codeguide/chapter3.htm

As you read the process, imagine you are a unionized worker. You have been given more roles over a one-year period, but have not been awarded any extra compensation. The local shop steward has helped you to file a grievance. It has, however, gone through the process and been denied by the employer. You feel strongly about the issue. The union has, however, told you they will not pursue it to arbitration. After reading the information on the duty of fair representation, do you feel confident that you understand your rights in this regard? Do you have a legitimate complaint against your union?

Number of words: 359

Topic 3: The Employer

Activity 6: Union vs. Non-Union Comparison

Read about how British Columbia's Employment Standards Act applies to union workers at: http://www.labour.gov.bc.ca/esb/. As you read, think about if you think it is fair that unionized workers might obtain terms of employment that are lower than the minimums established in the Act.

Number of words: 256

Activity 7: Labour Relations Management Strategies

Read pages 113–125 of the text by Gunderson, Ponak, & Taras (2005). Answer the following questions in your reflective journal:

         (a) Which strategy do you think is the most productive?

         (b) Do you believe that the Union Removal strategy is worth the risks?

         (c) If each organization practiced the Union Substitution/Avoidance strategy, would there be a need for unions? Is this realistic?

Number of words: 551

Topic 4: The Government

Activity 8: Canada’s Constitution

In your reflective journal, discuss if you think a provincial government is capable of having a compulsory retirement policy for its public servants that indicates that every employee should retire at the age of 65, or if this would be a violation of the Charter. Which sections of the Charter would be at issue?

Number of words: 142

Total Number of Words for the Module 2 Discussion/activities: 2,996 (10 pages)

Module 2 Assignment

Part A: Duty of Fair Representation

Look for an actual duty of fair representation case, using one of the following methods:

(i) Evaluate a summary of the key Section 12 (duty of fair representation) cases in British Columbia at http://www.lrb.bc.ca/guidelines/representation.htm

(ii) The majority of provincial Labour Relations Board Web sites will have a means to search for decisions of the Board. Search any provincial labour relations board website for a duty of fair representation case.

The case chosen is that of James W.D. Judd (Judd), Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada, local 2000 (the Union), and Kelowna Daily Courier, a division of Thomson Canada Limited (the Employer)

Write a summary of the case. Include your comments on if the decision made was fair and reasonable. Make sure that your answer includes a short description of duty of fair representation and the way it is evaluated legally (that is, what are the criteria used by Labor Relations Boards?)

Number of words: 1,165

Part B: Rationale for Joining Unions

Examine your feelings about the motivations for employees to join unions today. You may wish to consider the following:

In Topic 2, you watched the movie Norma Rae. Do you feel that the same reasons exist today for joining unions as in Norma Rae, or do you feel that unions are not needed as much anymore?

(i) Can you think of a personal example in which you feel a union may have helped you or another person at the place of work? What was the main motivation for joining the union?

(ii) Which of the rationales for joining unions that you read about in the “Why Employees Join Unions” Activity in Topic 2 do you think are the strongest? The weakest?

Number of words: 600

 Part C: Provincial Employment Statutes

In the “Canada’s Constitution” activity in Topic 4, you learned about where the provincial and federal governments get their power to make employment and labour laws. Compare the provisions of two provincial employment statutes with regard to a specific topic.

The topic chosen is: Compare Saskatchewan's human rights legislation with British Columbia's human rights legislation with regard to how they protect a worker against discrimination in hiring.

Number of words: 776

 Part D: Major Module Assignment

Write a 250-word summary for each of the following:

(1) Assume you are in charge of a union's bargaining team. You have surveyed your members about the issues they desire the union to pursue in bargaining. One third of the employees is made up of women. Their key objective is to get a complete top-up on their wages (over and above Employment Insurance) while on maternity leave. This benefit would cost the employer $1 million. There is another faction of your bargaining unit that are approaching retirement age. They have been very vocal about telling the union that they anticipate the employer to provide increased retirement packages for long service employees. This benefit would also cost the employer $1 million. From your research, it is unlikely that the employer will afford both benefits. How would you approach this issue at bargaining and with your members? In the “Pressures on Unions” activity in Topic 1, you considered three case studies. Do you feel more sympathy for the union's position in the above situation or in the third case study? Why?

(2) Jane is a union member in an industrial plant. She makes $20 per hour and has full medical, dental, and pension benefits. Her regular shift is from 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.; nonetheless, because of the section of the plant that she is in and the fact that this department is at all times short-staffed, Jane is frequently asked to work overtime. As a matter, it is not uncommon for her to work fourteen-hour days. The collective agreement states that workers are paid at their regular rate of pay for all hours worked up to 12 hours; at the twelve-hour mark, double time should be paid for all remaining time. Jane establishes that the Employment Standards Act states that all time worked in excess of eight(8) hours should be paid at one and a half(1.5) times the regular rate, with double time being paid at the twelve-hour mark. She is upset that she does not get paid one and a half times her rate for hours in excess of eight, but less than twelve(12). Assume that you represent management. How would you deal with this situation when it is brought to your attention? Think in terms of the labour relations management strategies you read about in the “Labour Relations Management Strategies” activity in Topic 3. Determine if the employer has breached the Employment Standards Act, according to the reading that you completed in the “Union vs. Non-Union Comparison” activity in Topic 3.

Number of words: 1,387

Total Number of Words for Module Assignment 1: 3, 928 (13 pages)

Total Number of Words for Module 2 Discussion and Assignment: 6,924 (23 pages)