This file is part of IDEAS, which uses RePEc data


[ Papers | Articles | Software | Books | Chapters | Authors | Institutions | JEL Classification | NEP reports | Search | New papers by email | Author registration | Rankings | Volunteers | FAQ | Blog | Help! ]

Labour Unions, Workplace Rights and Canadian Public Policy

Author info | Abstract | Publisher info | Download info | Related research | Statistics
Author Info
John Godard
Abstract

This paper addresses the future of labour unions and of workplace rights as they pertain to Canadian public policy. I argue that the established policy regime has unduly limited the purview of unions and the rights and protections afforded workers, and that unions are becoming increasingly marginalized under it. After then considering various alternatives, I argue for a "good practice" paradigm, one that relies less on formal certification and collective bargaining rights and more on the provision of universal rights designed to ensure basic levels of dignity, fairness, and voice (i.e., good practice) at work. Under this paradigm, the role of unions would be less one of negotiating and enforcing rights where they are certified, and more one of ensuring the effective implementation and enforcement of state-mandated rights in all workplaces, regardless of whether they are certified for purposes of collective bargaining.

Download Info
To download:

If you experience problems downloading a file, check if you have the proper application to view it first. Information about this may be contained in the File-Format links below. In case of further problems read the IDEAS help page. Note that these files are not on the IDEAS site. Please be patient as the files may be large.

File URL: http://economics.ca/cgi/jab?journal=cpp&view=v29n4/CPPv29n4p449.pdf
File Format: application/pdf
File Function: Full text
Download Restriction: No access restriction except for the four most recent issues.

As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to look for a different version under "Related research" (further below) or search for a different version of it.

Publisher Info
Article provided by University of Toronto Press in its journal Canadian Public Policy.

Volume (Year): 29 (2003)
Issue (Month): 4 (December)
Pages: 449-467
Download reference. The following formats are available: HTML (with abstract), plain text (with abstract), BibTeX, RIS (EndNote, RefMan, ProCite), ReDIF
Handle: RePEc:cpp:issued:v:29:y:2003:i:4:p:449-467

Contact details of provider:
Postal: University of Toronto Press Journals Division 5201 Dufferin Street Toronto, Ontario, Canada M3H 5T8
Email:
Web page: http://economics.ca/cpp/

Order Information:
Email:
Web: http://www.utpjournals.com/cpp/

For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its listing, contact: (Prof. Werner Antweiler).

Related research
Keywords:

References listed on IDEAS
Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.:

  1. David Weil, 1999. "Are mandated health and safety committees substitutes for or supplements to labor unions?," Industrial and Labor Relations Review, ILR Review, ILR School, Cornell University, vol. 52(3), pages 339-360, April.
  2. Chris Riddell, 2001. "Union suppression and certification success," Canadian Journal of Economics, Canadian Economics Association, vol. 34(2), pages 396-410, May. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  3. Richard B. Freeman & James L. Medoff, 1980. "The Two Faces of Unionism," NBER Working Papers 0364, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  4. Paul Smith & Gary Morton, 2001. "New Labour's Reform of Britain's Employment Law: The Devil is not only in the Detail but in the Values and Policy Too," British Journal of Industrial Relations, Blackwell Publishers Ltd/London School of Economics, vol. 39(1), pages 119-138, 03. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  5. Garrett, Geoffrey, 1998. "Global Markets and National Politics: Collision Course or Virtuous Circle?," International Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 52(04), pages 787-824, October. [Downloadable!]
  6. Brown, Charles, 1999. "Minimum wages, employment, and the distribution of income," Handbook of Labor Economics, in: O. Ashenfelter & D. Card (ed.), Handbook of Labor Economics, edition 1, volume 3, chapter 32, pages 2101-2163 Elsevier. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  7. Kochan, Thomas A., 1996. "What works at work : overview and assessment," Working papers 3886-96., Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Sloan School of Management. [Downloadable!]
  8. Pencavel, John, 2003. "The Surprising Retreat of Union Britain," IZA Discussion Papers 818, Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA). [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  9. David E. Guest & Riccardo Peccei, 2001. "Partnership at Work: Mutuality and the Balance of Advantage," British Journal of Industrial Relations, Blackwell Publishers Ltd/London School of Economics, vol. 39(2), pages 207-236, 06. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  10. Richard J. Long, 1993. "The impact of unionization on employment growth of Canadian companies," Industrial and Labor Relations Review, ILR Review, ILR School, Cornell University, vol. 46(4), pages 691-703, July.
  11. Freeman, Richard B, 1976. "Individual Mobility and Union Voice in the Labor Market," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 66(2), pages 361-68, May. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  12. Barry T. Hirsch & Edward J. Schumacher, 2001. "Private Sector Union Density and the Wage Premium: Past, Present, and Future ," Journal of Labor Research, Transaction Publishers, vol. 22(3), pages 487-518, July. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
    Other versions:
  13. Daphne G. Taras, 2002. "Alternative Forms of Employee Representation and Labour Policy," Canadian Public Policy, University of Toronto Press, vol. 28(1), pages 105-116, March. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  14. Peter Cappelli & David Neumark, 2001. "Do "high-performance" work practices improve establishment-level outcomes?," Industrial and Labor Relations Review, ILR Review, ILR School, Cornell University, vol. 54(4), pages 737-775, July.
    Other versions:
  15. Thomas J. Courchene, 2002. "Human Capital in an Information Era," Canadian Public Policy, University of Toronto Press, vol. 28(1), pages 73-80, March. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  16. Garrett, Geoffrey, 1998. "Global Markets and National Politics: Collision Course or Virtuous Circle?," International Organization, MIT Press, vol. 52(4), pages 787-824, Autumn.
  17. Richard P. Chaykowski, 2002. "Globalization and the Modernization of Canadian Labour Policy," Canadian Public Policy, University of Toronto Press, vol. 28(1), pages 81-91, March. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
Full references

Statistics
Access and download statistics

Did you know? All the bibliographic data shown here has been contributed by volunteers, thereby helping to keep this service free.

This page was last updated on 2009-12-9.

This information is provided to you by IDEAS at the Department of Economics, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Connecticut using RePEc data on a server sponsored by the Society for Economic Dynamics.