Andrew Wells 300104238 Buad 279 Assignment 1 Unions in Modern Canada Unions in Canada were first established in the

early 1800s. There are records of skilled tradesmen having a union organization during the war of 1812. Britain had strong ties in the development of unions in Canada. The skilled tradesmen who decided to call Canada home brought over their traditions of union power to increases employee standards and eliminate poor working conditions. Over time the United States unions eventually replaced Britains and created a framework for much of the current labor legislation (History of unions in Canada, 2004). The early 1900s saw a large increase in the number of unions, as workers demanded 8-hour days, union recognition and better wages. This trend continued for many years until the 1990s, since then the percentage of Canadian workers unionized has fallen steadily to roughly 30% today (Van Praet, 2008). In the modern business world, unions can be beneficial to their employees by creating a self governed body of workers to protect and advocate for employee rights while on the other hand the importance of unions significantly declined with the introduction of government legislations. Modern business in Canada is the driving force behind our prospering economy and the importance of unions has played a key role in maintaining a fair relationship between the employee and employer. Labor unions engage in collective bargaining agreements on issues such as wages, the terms and conditions of work, and job satisfaction. This has created a sense of security and unionized employees have shown this by supporting their unions. A Study by Richard Freeman suggested that 90% of union workers would vote to keep the union they are in (Freeman, 2007). Typically, satisfied employees develop a strong correlation on the success of

their business experiences, making unions an important part of modern business. The structures of 19th century unions are still in place today and many non-unionized companies and organizations have adopted similar effective methods of dealing with employee and employer relations. In recent decades, the power of unions in Canada has declined and the need for unions has decreased. All modern day workers in Canada are subject to multiple legislations both provincially and nationally. The employment standards legislation is an employment standards act or code that establishes minimum standards for working conditions in all workplaces (McQuarrie,2011, p. 17). Matters such as working hours, holiday time, and minimum wage are addressed and determined. Human rights and the charter of rights and freedoms are also in every Canadian jurisdiction, which protects one against discrimination and guarantees basic rights and freedoms. With these legislations in place the workers are not exposed to the same factors as the 18th or 19th century. This would make the importance of a union very low to some people. Many people dislike unions because they collect union dues and they havent actively accessed their resources resulting in failing to view the need for them. As Van Praet stated in his article in the National Post Among non- union workers, 77% said they had no interest in becoming unionized (Van Prate, 2008). This provides evidence that employees feel that government legislation protects their rights and eliminates their purpose. I think unions play an important role in todays modern business world. They have stood strong dating back over 200 years in Canada. An organization that has protected their members for a significant length of time plays a crucial partnership role in the business. Unions have fought for many of the things all Canadians have come accustomed to expecting including 8hour workdays, holidays off, weekends off, and workers compensation. Since the labor laws have been introduced non-unionized workers have forgotten the importance of the power of

unions. If unions were eliminated today, who would set boundaries, rules, and expectations for the future? I strongly think that especially with large corporations of thousands of employees, a union is a necessary framework for employees. It provides them with an outlet to voice suggestions and concerns. Employee support and strength are values needed to keep a large workforce bonded. Without unions in large corporations, employees may feel un-united, unheard, unsupported and at risk for being mistreated by their employer. I know that unions are always looking out and advocating for employee needs and I would be proud to be part of one in the future. In conclusion, there are both advantages and disadvantages of being unionized in the modern business world. The power of unions is not as relevant with current labor laws, but still holds significant value to employees themselves. With the framework that unions have set in place in the past centuries, all employees in Canada are now subject to equal and fair working conditions. If union morale remains high, a 200-year-old tradition in Canada can continue for the next 200 years.

References Freeman, R. (2007). Do workers still want unions? more then ever. EPI Briefing Paper, 182, February 22. Makarenko, J. Retrieved June 1st, 2004, from http://www.mapleleafweb.com/old/education/spotlight/issue_51/history.html McQuarrie, F. (2011). Industrial relations in canada (3rd ed.). Mississauga, Ont: John Wiley & Sons Canada, LTD. Van Praet, N. (2008, August 29). The deline of union power. National Post,