Accounting 1000 - Business in the 21 Century

Chapter 1 – Introduction Overview

Chapter Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

• use terms such as labour relations, human resources, employment relations, and industrial relations, and discuss their similarities and differences;
• describe a systems framework that can be used to assess and understand industrial relations issues;
• compare and contrast the differing views in the field of industrial relations; and
• explain how the textbook is structured to follow the industrial relations system framework.

Chapter Summary

Chapter 1 provides the foundation for the course and the textbook. The chapter starts with a discussion of the differences between industrial relations (IR) relative to similar disciplines such as human resources management (HRM) and labour relations (LR). This is followed by a review of the IR systems model used to ground the text as well as an overview of the perspectives or views of IR. The chapter concludes with an overview of how the text is structured.

Chapter 1 – Introduction Comments and Activities

A. Opening Element: Video

For a sample YouTube clip, view a segment on the 2011 Canada postal strike.

B. Important Industrial Relations Terms

Comparing and contrasting the field of IR from other similar fields is important to help students understand the focus of the course.

Briefly Review

• Industrial relations (IR)
• Labour relations (LR)
• Human resources management (HRM)
• Employee relations
• Employment relations

PPT Slides: 1-3, 1-4, 1-5, and 1-6.

C. Industrial Relations System – Dunlop`s Model

Actors

• Specialized governmental agencies
• Hierarchy of managers and representatives
• Hierarchy of workers (nonmanagement) and representatives

Define the key parties in an employment relationship.

Shared Ideology

PPT Slide 1-7: the key actors of Dunlop’s model and the idea of shared ideology. Who from the opening element represents each actor?

Contexts

• Market and budgetary
• Technical characteristics of the workplace
• Distribution of power in society

Web of Rules

• Procedures for establishing rules
• Substantive rules
• Procedural rules

Refer to the opening vignette: What outside factors can impact employment relationships and the relationships between the three actors?

PPT Slide 1-8: the contexts and the web of rules. Which contexts are present in the opening element?

Criticisms

• Descriptive classification system
• Underestimates power and conflict
• Static model
• Can’t explain decline of U.S. unions

PPT Slide 1-9:criticisms of the Dunlop Model.

D. Modified Systems Model

Actors

• First three are similar to Dunlop (Note: difference in names)
• Note addition of end-user

Environmental Inputs

• Legal
• Economic
• Ecological
• Political
• Sociocultural

Internal Inputs

• Goals
• Values
• Strategies
• Power

Conversion Mechanisms

• Collective bargaining
• Grievances
• Day to day relations
• Third party dispute resolution mechanisms
• Joint committees
• Strikes/Lockouts

Outputs

• Employer outcomes
• Labour outcomes
• Worker perception
• Conflict/Conflict resolution

PPT Slide 1-10: How does Craig add to Dunlop?

Refer to the IR system as presented in Figure 1.1 of the text (or PPT Slide 1-11).

PPT Slides 1-12, 1-13, 1-14, 1-15, and 1-16 highlight that the model expands on that of Dunlop – emphasizes differences relative to Dunlop.

E. Views of Industrial Relations

• Neoclassical Economic
• Pluralist/Institutional
• HRM/Strategic Choice
• Political Economy

Explore different views from YouTube. For example: Why Join a Union? or You Deserve Better – Join a Union for pluralist.

PPT Slides 1-17, 1-18, 1-19, 1-20, and 1-21: common views of IR.

F. Text Layout

Refer to the Table of Contents. Note that the course and textbook largely follow the IR system and that it is grounded in the pluralist/institutional view.

Chapter 2 – Labour History Overview

Chapter Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

• describe the preunionization work environment and the movement toward unionized relationships;
• explain the relationship between the Canadian and American labour movements;
• summarize how exclusive jurisdiction, business unionism, and political nonpartisanship have divided the labour movement over time; and
• assess how significant events from the 1850s to present day have shaped the history of workplace relations.

Chapter Summary

Chapter 2 outlines the history of industrial relations in Canada. The chapter starts with preunionization (master-servant relationships before the introduction of progressive worker protection laws) and moves, chronologically, from the 1850s to modern day. Particular emphasis is placed on the founding principles of the American Federation of Labor (AFL) and how these have both united and divided the labour movement, as well as the relationships between the Canadian and American labour movements.