SOLUTIONS MANUAL
LABOUR RELATIONS
6TH EDITION
CHAPTER 1: UNIONS: OBJECTIVES, PROCESSES, AND STRUCTURE
REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. What are some of the characteristics of Canadian union membership and what is the
significance of these features?
Union membership is more prevalent for full-time employees as opposed to part-time employees.
Union density for part-time employees is only 23 percent. The low union density amongst part-
time employees indicates a weakness of unions. Union membership is now equally divided
between males and females. The growth in female membership has increased the importance of
issues relating to harassment, childcare, and flexible hours.
Union density for younger employees (persons between 15 and 24) remains low.
Almost one quarter of union members have a university degree. These members are more likely
employed in professional areas including teaching and nursing. These groups may be interested
in issues in addition to money, including workload and a voice in policymaking.
2. What are examples of unions objectives and processes in today’s workplaces?
Union objectives and processes are summarized in Figure 1-6.
3. What are the key functions of a union local?
The functions of a union local are summarized in Figure 1-8.
4. What is a key distinguishing characteristic between national and international unions?
,Both national and international unions are composed of affiliated locals and have their own
officers. The distinguishing feature is that a national union such as the CAW only has members
in Canada, whereas an international union such as the UFCW has members in both Canada and
the United States.
5. What are two functions of a parent union in relations to their union locals?
The functions of national and international (parent) unions are summarized in Figure 1-9.
6. How is the Canadian Labour Congress different from a national or international
union?
The Canadian Labour Congress should be viewed as an association of unions instead of a union.
A national or international union assists local unions in connection with contract negotiation and
administration. The Canadian Labour Congress does not become involved in these day-to-day
union activities.
7. What is a labour federation? Name two key functions provided to its member unions.
Labour federations are “umbrella organizations” that represent their interests to governments and
to serve their membership on matters of importance. They typically lobbying provincial
governments on employment standards legislation, pursue provincial economic and social
policies, and support unions while on strike.
11. What is a labour council? How does it serve unions in its service area?
A labour council is an association of unions in a municipality or region. Labour Councils become
involved in political activity at the municipal or regional level, training and education of union
members, community and charity work, and assisting locals on strike.
,DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What is a key demographic trend you believe is influencing national or international
unions?
Students will identify a variety of trends depending on their discussions or online searches.
2. Labour congresses in Canada reach out to international union structures such as the
International Labour Organization on various issues. Why is such action relevant today?
The CLC also represents Canadian unions in international labour organizations regarding issues
on worker rights and social justice. The text cites the example of the Canada–Colombia Free
Trade Agreement (CCOFTA) has been criticized by unions in both countries over incidents
where employee expressing interest in joining a union were terminated. This is an example
where the CLC has lobbied the Canadian government to adopt social justice policies with a
foreign country.
WEB RESEARCH
Students should observe that Liuna is an International Union with affiliated Canadian unions.
They were also historically a craft union that is now more industrial in nature. Both the websites
should identify current socio-political issues facing workers in the current environment.
VIGNETTE
How Do Labour Relations and Human Resources Management Fit Together?
Labour relations is concerned with managing the relationship between employees and their
employer in a unionized environment. Labour relations is ultimately focused on employee
welfare— rights, working conditions, wages, and benefits. This would include the certification
process, negotiating a collective bargaining agreement, strikes, lockouts, and dispute resolution.
, Human resources management (HRM) involves managing the employee–employer relationship
cradle to grave—from when the employee joins the organization until they depart. HRM
professional responsibilities include labour planning, human capital strategy, employee
recruitment and selection, training and development, compensation, occupational health and
safety, employee relations, and labour relations.
Labour relations can be held within the HRM department or a separate department in other
organizations. While the HRM business partners include the employees, employer, government,
and the broader community, labour relations has an additional business partner of the union.
Some organizations work with one union; other organizations work with multiple unions.
Further, labour relations is tasked with ensuring a healthy and safe work environment,
discouraging unfair labour practices, and reducing labour disputes and disruptions, while HRM
ensures that the human capital is in place to achieve the organizational goals and objectives.
Importantly, labour relations and HRM share the responsibility of ensuring an inclusive, diverse,
and equitable work environment.
SOURCES
Davoran, Julie. “Labour Union vs. Human Resource Management Functions.” AZCentral (n.d.),
accessed February 2022, https://yourbusiness.azcentral.com/labor-union-vs-humanresource-
management-functions-12870.html
CASE INCIDENT: A RAISE IN PAY, BUT….
1. What are the different roles played by federations of labour and labour councils?
In this case, the labour federation called for a National Day of Action in protest of the actions of
the employer with some success. This is an effort to bring to the attention of legislators the need
to protect workers from unilateral actions of the employer when legislation is changes. The local
Labour Council arranged protest in Windsor where union representatives indicating that if a
union was in place steps would be taken to resolve their concerns. This is done to make
unionizing for these employees more attractive.
LABOUR RELATIONS
6TH EDITION
CHAPTER 1: UNIONS: OBJECTIVES, PROCESSES, AND STRUCTURE
REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. What are some of the characteristics of Canadian union membership and what is the
significance of these features?
Union membership is more prevalent for full-time employees as opposed to part-time employees.
Union density for part-time employees is only 23 percent. The low union density amongst part-
time employees indicates a weakness of unions. Union membership is now equally divided
between males and females. The growth in female membership has increased the importance of
issues relating to harassment, childcare, and flexible hours.
Union density for younger employees (persons between 15 and 24) remains low.
Almost one quarter of union members have a university degree. These members are more likely
employed in professional areas including teaching and nursing. These groups may be interested
in issues in addition to money, including workload and a voice in policymaking.
2. What are examples of unions objectives and processes in today’s workplaces?
Union objectives and processes are summarized in Figure 1-6.
3. What are the key functions of a union local?
The functions of a union local are summarized in Figure 1-8.
4. What is a key distinguishing characteristic between national and international unions?
,Both national and international unions are composed of affiliated locals and have their own
officers. The distinguishing feature is that a national union such as the CAW only has members
in Canada, whereas an international union such as the UFCW has members in both Canada and
the United States.
5. What are two functions of a parent union in relations to their union locals?
The functions of national and international (parent) unions are summarized in Figure 1-9.
6. How is the Canadian Labour Congress different from a national or international
union?
The Canadian Labour Congress should be viewed as an association of unions instead of a union.
A national or international union assists local unions in connection with contract negotiation and
administration. The Canadian Labour Congress does not become involved in these day-to-day
union activities.
7. What is a labour federation? Name two key functions provided to its member unions.
Labour federations are “umbrella organizations” that represent their interests to governments and
to serve their membership on matters of importance. They typically lobbying provincial
governments on employment standards legislation, pursue provincial economic and social
policies, and support unions while on strike.
11. What is a labour council? How does it serve unions in its service area?
A labour council is an association of unions in a municipality or region. Labour Councils become
involved in political activity at the municipal or regional level, training and education of union
members, community and charity work, and assisting locals on strike.
,DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What is a key demographic trend you believe is influencing national or international
unions?
Students will identify a variety of trends depending on their discussions or online searches.
2. Labour congresses in Canada reach out to international union structures such as the
International Labour Organization on various issues. Why is such action relevant today?
The CLC also represents Canadian unions in international labour organizations regarding issues
on worker rights and social justice. The text cites the example of the Canada–Colombia Free
Trade Agreement (CCOFTA) has been criticized by unions in both countries over incidents
where employee expressing interest in joining a union were terminated. This is an example
where the CLC has lobbied the Canadian government to adopt social justice policies with a
foreign country.
WEB RESEARCH
Students should observe that Liuna is an International Union with affiliated Canadian unions.
They were also historically a craft union that is now more industrial in nature. Both the websites
should identify current socio-political issues facing workers in the current environment.
VIGNETTE
How Do Labour Relations and Human Resources Management Fit Together?
Labour relations is concerned with managing the relationship between employees and their
employer in a unionized environment. Labour relations is ultimately focused on employee
welfare— rights, working conditions, wages, and benefits. This would include the certification
process, negotiating a collective bargaining agreement, strikes, lockouts, and dispute resolution.
, Human resources management (HRM) involves managing the employee–employer relationship
cradle to grave—from when the employee joins the organization until they depart. HRM
professional responsibilities include labour planning, human capital strategy, employee
recruitment and selection, training and development, compensation, occupational health and
safety, employee relations, and labour relations.
Labour relations can be held within the HRM department or a separate department in other
organizations. While the HRM business partners include the employees, employer, government,
and the broader community, labour relations has an additional business partner of the union.
Some organizations work with one union; other organizations work with multiple unions.
Further, labour relations is tasked with ensuring a healthy and safe work environment,
discouraging unfair labour practices, and reducing labour disputes and disruptions, while HRM
ensures that the human capital is in place to achieve the organizational goals and objectives.
Importantly, labour relations and HRM share the responsibility of ensuring an inclusive, diverse,
and equitable work environment.
SOURCES
Davoran, Julie. “Labour Union vs. Human Resource Management Functions.” AZCentral (n.d.),
accessed February 2022, https://yourbusiness.azcentral.com/labor-union-vs-humanresource-
management-functions-12870.html
CASE INCIDENT: A RAISE IN PAY, BUT….
1. What are the different roles played by federations of labour and labour councils?
In this case, the labour federation called for a National Day of Action in protest of the actions of
the employer with some success. This is an effort to bring to the attention of legislators the need
to protect workers from unilateral actions of the employer when legislation is changes. The local
Labour Council arranged protest in Windsor where union representatives indicating that if a
union was in place steps would be taken to resolve their concerns. This is done to make
unionizing for these employees more attractive.
