International Unionism & Labourl Relations in Canada

The following is an essay and analysis on the topic of ‘International' trade unionism, and the respective impact this has on Canadian Industrial Relations. What will be examined in this paper, is the larger context of international labour trends, and in turn, the more pertinent trends within the United States. It will be argued that the broader notion of ‘international' in a Canadian context, has more implications when seen in terms of industry and in turn, labour within the U.S. economy. Examined in the following analysis, and within the scope of international unions, will be the consequences of the ‘decline' of unionism, and how this effects Canadian industrial relations. In short, the thesis of this paper, argues that as North American industries expand their ‘branch plant' economies into the underdeveloped nations, the bargaining strength and position of the unions in Canada become weakened. In turn, this effects Canadian industrial relations. Further, the impact of the movement away from manufacturing in Canada (which will be examined), similarly effects the relations between industry and workers in Canada.

1. International Unionism.

The following section will provide a summary and overview of industry world-wide. Although a broad topic, and quite obviously too large a subject to either generalise concerning, or to evaluate in a very comprehensive way in this forum, some facts can be ascertained which can be further implied to have an effect on Canadian Industrial relations. Concerning this, it can be said that ‘union' membership, and ‘union-shops' worldwide, has been on a steady decline. Thus, the ‘decline' of the unions will be examined in this chapter, and following by an analysis and examination of the effects of this decline on Canadian industrial relations.

The most significant trading partner with Canada, is the "United States" [Panitch, 1991: 89]. Thus, from an ‘international' perspective, and from the standpoint of examining unions world-wide, the most important and hence, influential unions on Canada, and outside of Canada, are those of the United States. Labour relations in the United States, and in particular, both the public perception of the practise of unionism, and in turn, the bargaining power of such unions, is arguably less than in Canada. Although their membership is larger, it is not larger on a per capita basis [Winterbottom, 1995: 34]. Further, there has been a fairly dubious, although debatable perception of the unions in the United States. By this, it is implied in the sense that public perception of unions, is marred with a history of "corruption"[Winterbottom, 1995: 44], and in some instances, public polls have indicated as low as "8 %" public support for unions outside of active members [Winterbottom, 1995: 46]. This is not