Social Problem Resolved
The
problem of unions and unionization in Canada had not reached a satisfactory
solution. Although factors which drove labourers to unionize such as dismal
working conditions and long working hours are no longer present, unions still
face many challenges. Progress has been made since the 1940's and World War
Two, partly due to the formation of the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation and
the New Democratic Party to fight for the working class in Parliament. However,
the past three decades have seen a stagnation and decrease in the political
power of unions in Canada and across the globe. This can be largely attributed
to the popularization of the image of unions as autocratic bosses which
"create rigid work forces where strict job classifications allow little
flexibility and seniority trumps skill and work accomplishments” and are no
longer relevant or necessary in today's world. Despite the vast amount of
improvements which have been made in the lives of the working class, this
progress is currently under threat and the social problem of unionization is
far from being resolved.
Canadian Postal Workers' Strike
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One historical example of progress achieved by unions is the Canadian Union of Postal Workers Strike. In the ten years between 1955 and 1965 the volume of mail had doubled while the amount of postal workers had remained nearly unchanged. Instead of hiring more employees companies forced workers to increase their speed and work extra hours without overtime pay. However, as civil servants, postal workers did not have the right to unionize or go on strike. In 1965 postal workers in more than thirty cities across Canada illegally went on strike. They were protesting for higher wages, better management and the right to collectively bargain. The strike lasted over two weeks and became the longest illegal strike staged by government workers in Canadian history. The strike resulted in the adoption of the Federal Public Service Staff Relations Act, a piece of legislation granting public servants the right to collectively bargain. This is an example of the increase in the power of unions in Post-War Canada.
This image shows postal workers protesting during the Canadian Postal Worker's Strike of 1965
Common Front Strikes, Quebec 1972
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Another example of progress in the field of unionization is the Common Front strikes of 1972 in Quebec. After years of unrest between the labour movement and the Quebec provincial government, three public service unions united in 1972 in the Common Front to negotiate with the government for higher wages and better working conditions. They requested a minimum wage of 100 dollars a month as well as eight percent salary increase. By the end of March the government still refused to consider the Common Front’s demands. As a result the three Quebecoise unions organized a twenty-four hour strike to prompt the government to negotiate. The government remained unresponsive. On April 11, 1972 Common Front leaders called for an indefinite strike of public sector workers. At its height the strike involved 250, 000 workers, making it the largest strike in North American history. By April 19th the government had arrested 13 hospital workers and passed legislation outlawing civil servants from striking and allowing the government the power to force a settlement on the labourers if not agreement was reached in two months’ time. Following a union vote on whether to continue the strike, leaders told the labourers to go back to work, thus ending the strike. On May the 9th, the government arrested strike leaders Yves Charbonneau, Marcel Pepin and Louis Laberge, causing fury amongst workers. Both public and private sector workers walked off the job; a general strike had begun. On May 20th the government caved in to the worker’s demands of the release of their leaders and the initiation of negotiations without the two month law. The labourers eventually received their requested 100 dollar minimum wage as well as a 5.5 percent wage increase instead of their requested 8 percent increase. The union victory improved worker’s rights and legal standing of unions in Canada.
Workers clash with police during the 1972 Common Front strike in Quebec.
Air Canada Strike, 2011
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However, in recent years unions have faced some setbacks. On October 13, 2011 6800 Air Canada flight attendants who were members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees planned to go on strike in order to protest against low wages. Federal Labour Minister Lisa Raitt prevented the flight attendants from striking by asking the Canada Industrial Relations Board to review stalled contract discussions at the airline and thus rendering the strike illegal. This controversial decision by the Harper government has led to dissent amongst flight attendants as well as others workers who believe that the government is launching an assault on their right to strike and by doing so is reversing fifty years of union progress. This incident is an example of how the anti-union stance of the government has done damage to workers and the lower classes.
Flight attendants protest for their right to strike in October 2011