Unit 2 Lesson 6

Question 1

The term “local” is used to indicate the fact that most workplace- level unions in Canada are smaller units of a larger union

Answer 1

The local union’s name will reflect this relationship with the larger union. For example, the local union representing workers at one Edmonton location of TELUS, the telecommunications company, is Local 208 of the Telecommunications Workers Union.

Question 2

A local union is created when workers at one or more work sites, often in the same occupation or working at different locations for the same employer or type of employer, come together to form a union.

Answer 2

At the point of formation, the workers can choose to form an independent union or to join an existing union. Usually, workers choose to join an established union, because of the expertise and resources that an existing union can offer new members who may be relatively inexperienced in such skills as negotiating or administering collective agreements.

Question 3

Explain how a local union is formed.

Answer 3

A local union is created when workers at one or more work sites, often in the same occupation or working at different locations for the same employer or type of employer, come together to form a union.

Question 4

One example of a new independent Canadian union was the one formed in 2001 by workers at a McDonald’s restaurant in downtown Montreal.

Answer 4

A Quebec labour federation assisted the restaurant workers in organizing the union, but the workers chose to create a new union: le Syndicat des travailleuses et travailleurs du McDo-CSN.1 (The name translates as “McDonald’s Workers’ Union”; the “CSN” indicates the new union’s affiliation with the Confédération des syndicats nationaux, the labour federation that assisted the workers.)

Question 5

Why do workers create independent unions?

Answer 5

The workers created an independent union because they believed that the working conditions in McDonald’s restaurants were not identical to those at other eating establishments, so an existing union might not be able to fully represent their specific interests (The union was successful in gaining certification at the Montreal location, but soon after the union was certified, the employer closed the business, blaming a rent increase.)

Question 6

A single local could contain

Answer 6

all the workers at a number of different workplaces, or all the workers who perform the same type of work; it could also contain all the workers at a single work- place regardless of their individual occupations.

Question 7

there is really no “typical” local size

Answer 7

because the size of a local depends on the specific characteristics of the employer and the employees

Question 8

The principles of democracy and collectivism are the guiding principles of the

Answer 8

Canadian labour movement. The application of these principles in union operations is demonstrated by the fact that many of the most important functions of unions take place at the local level. It is, essentially, the members of the locals who decide on the direction the union will take. Thus, the structure of the local union is designed to put the principles of participation and democracy into action

Question 9

Most local unions are governed by

Answer 9

an executive consisting of a president, one or more vice-presidents, a secretary, and a treasurer. There may be other positions on the executive, depending on the size of the local and the strategic interests of the membership.

Question 10

There are two other positions in the structure of many local unions

Answer 10

shop stewards and paid staff

Question 11

In addition to providing support to the union executive members, the business agent usually plays a significant role in important union activities

Answer 11

such as contract negotiations and grievance handling

Question 12

The local union carries out three major functions

Answer 12

dealing with workplace problems or grievances, collective bargaining, and coordinating political or social activity.

Question 13

the union is responsible for three types of bargaining-related activity

Answer 13

determining what outcomes the membership wants to achieve from the bargaining process
prioritizing the desired outcomes and determines bargaining strategy participating in bargaining sessions with the employer

Question 14

the local union usually participates in political or social activities outside the workplace

Answer 14

Examples of this sort of activity include making pre- sentations to local government bodies such as city councils, participating in events to support other unions or social organizations that are facing diffi- culties, and participating in charitable or fundraising activities.

Question 15

At the convention, delegates usually

Answer 15

They may also vote on issues such as altering the terms of the parent union’s constitution or adjusting the amount of dues that members of local unions pay. More general policies may also be presented to the delegates with a request for a formal motion of support; for example, a human rights organization may request that the convention pass a motion condemning the actions of a certain government or country. The delegates also decide upon the policies and directions that will guide the parent union in its operations. Some parent unions hold executive elections at their conventions as well

Question 16

What role can a regional, national, or international union play in forming a local union?

Answer 16

Parent unions help support the creation of local unions, often by providing the services of a trained organizer who will guide potential union members through the process of gaining legal recognition for the new local. Once a local is established, the parent union then supports the local’s ongoing activities. This support includes assisting the local union with workplace issues.

Question 17

As most labour councils across Canada have limited funds and no full-time staff, unpaid elected officers, with volunteers and other union members, usually carry out the labour council’s work.

Answer 17

This work is financed through dues from local union affiliates, usually calculated on a per capita basis. Each union affiliate is charged a membership rate based on how many members the affiliated union has.

Question 18

Affiliation with a labour council is voluntary for a local union, but all local unions are encouraged to join a labour council.

Answer 18

The constitution of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), the largest national labour federation in Canada, requires that local unions affiliated with the CLC be affiliated with a labour council in their region to maintain their standing as CLC members.

Question 19

What distinguishes the structure of a labour council from the structure of a local union?

Answer 19

A labour council is an organization composed of delegates from many different local unions. It is distinct from a labour federation in that it usually represents unions in a region within a province or territory, whereas labour federations in Canada are provincial or national in scope.

Question 20

The structure of provincial labour federations is very similar to the structure of regional, national, and international unions.

Answer 20

The members of the federation vote to elect executive officers who are in charge of carrying out the federation’s business; this election usually takes place at a convention that is attended by delegates from member unions. At the conventions, policies and action plans are developed and voted on. As well, delegates decide upon the directions and issues that the federation will pursue in the coming year. Throughout the year, the labour federation executive and staff meet with memberships and constituencies as needed to deal with issues of immediate concern.

Question 21

One of the most important functions of the CLC is to

Answer 21

provide services to its affiliates. The CLC assists its affiliates through union education and organization, communications, political education, research and legislation, and representation on international issues.

Question 22

The CLC’s services are financed through

Answer 22

per capita dues charged to each CLC affiliate.

Question 23

affiliates

Answer 23

A term used by the Canadian Labour

Congress to describe its member organizations.

Question 24

business agent

Answer 24

A staff member of a union who administers the union’s affairs

Question 25

business union

Answer 25

A type of unionism that focuses on protecting workers in a particular industry or occupation, or under a specific employer.

Question 26

Canadian Labour Congress (CLC)

Answer 26

The second Canadian national labour federation (after the Trades and Labour Congress), founded in 1940 from a merger of the All-Canadian Congress of Labour and the American-based Council of Industrial Organizations.

Question 27

Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ)

Answer 27

A Quebec labour federation with membership primarily in the public sector.

Question 28

Confédération des syndicats nationaux (CSN)

Answer 28

A Quebec labour federation with over 2,000 member locals in various industries.

Question 29

convention/congress

Answer 29

Regular meetings of union members or delegates where policies or a direction for the union are set through votes on motions.

Question 30

in good standing

Answer 30

A requirement that labour council officers be full members of their own union and follow that union’s rules and policies.

Question 31

International Labour Organization (ILO)

Answer 31

An agency of the United Nations that provides research and information about unions and working conditions worldwide.

Question 32

International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)

Answer 32

An international organization representing unions and federations throughout the world.

Question 33

iron law of oligarchy

Answer 33

A principle suggesting that leadership of any organization will eventually be controlled by an elite whose actions will primarily be focused on maintaining that control.

Question 34

justification

Answer 34

The legal responsibility for governance of an issue or area

Question 35

labour council

Answer 35

Organizations composed of representatives from unions in a specific geographic area

Question 36

local union

Answer 36

The “smallest” unit of a union, representing workers in a particular industry or workplace.

Question 37

parent unions

Answer 37

A regional, national, or international union composed of local unions.

Question 38

provincial labour federation

Answer 38

A federation representing unions and labour councils in a specific Canadian province or territory.

Question 39

Quebec Federation of Labour (FTQ)

Answer 39

A Canadian Labour Congress–affiliated federation of Quebec unions.

Question 40

shop stewards

Answer 40

A union member who acts as the union’s representative in the workplace.

Question 41

Trades Union Advisory Committee of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

Answer 41

An international committee of labour unions that provides information on labour-related issues to OECD members.

Question 42

union executive

Answer 42

A group of union members elected to run a local union.

Question 43

The organizing campaign is a very important part of the industrial relations system

Answer 43

because its success or failure ultimately determines whether employees will be represented by a union.

Question 44

It is important for unions to understand the reasons why workers would support a union

Answer 44

because unions can then address those reasons in their organizing campaigns. If unions know what influences motivate employees to support a union, they can tailor their organizing campaigns to address and build on those influences.

Question 45

an employer who wishes to resist a unionization drive would also find it useful to understand why workers reject unions.

Answer 45

The employer can then, within the guidelines of labour legislation, address those factors in its communications with employees. Additionally, an employer who understands why workers are dissatisfied enough to consider joining a union has the opportunity to address the causes of the dissatisfaction, and to create a workplace where employees feel they are treated fairly.

Question 46

Many different and potentially influential factors have been identified. It is important to note, however, that this research has not always distinguished between the three decision points that employees pass through in the organizing process.

Answer 46

Workers first must decide whether a union would be an asset for them in their workplace. Then they must decide whether to invite a union to undertake an organizing campaign among the employees. And finally, each individual worker must decide whether to cast a formal vote in favour of union representation.

Question 47

What are the main factors that lead workers to join unions?

Answer 47

personal factors, workplace factors, economic factors, and societal factors

Question 48

One study showed that individuals whose parents held positive attitudes toward unions or whose parents were active participants in unions tended to have

Answer 48

positive attitudes toward unions themselves.

Question 49

Personal Factors Affecting Union Support

Answer 49

Parental attitudes or union activity: If their parents were active in unions or held positive attitudes toward unions, workers may be more likely to support a union.
Socio-economic status: Low socio-economic status, low income, or minority group membership may make workers more likely to support a union.
Instrumentality: If a specific union is perceived as being able to achieve changes that the worker cannot achieve alone, the worker may be more likely to support that union.
Perception and identity: If the image the union presents does not fit workers’ self-perception, they may be less likely to support that union