McQuarrie Chapter 3 - History of the Canadian Union Movement Flashcards
What are 3 layers of the economic system? Give examples of their respective industries.
- Primary industries, such as forestry, fishing, and mining
- Secondary industries, such as construction and steel
- Tertiary industries, such as service industries
What did industrial unionism focus on?
Strength in numbers. Attempted to maximize power by recruiting as many members as possible, regardless of occupation.
What was the first international industrial union to enter Canada?
Knights of Labour.
How many strikes were recorded in Atlantic Canada between 1901 and 1914?
441 strikes.
What was the Winnipeg General Strike?
The first extended, large-scale general strike involving workers from many different occupations and unions (about 30,000 workers walked off their jobs).
What did an emergency amendment, passed in response to the Winnipeg General Strike, allow?
It allowed the immediate deportation of immigrants, allowed police to arrest on the basis of only suspicion, and placed the burden of proof of innocence on the accused instead of the state.
What 3 basic rights did the U.S. Wagner Act introduce to U.S. union members?
- The right to organize
- The right of collective bargaining
- The right to strike without employer harassment
What did the Rand Formula introduce?
The idea that union dues would be automatically deducted from every worker’s pay cheque, but individuals would be allowed to opt out of union membership.
What was the Asbestos Strike?
It was an illegal strike, supported by Catholic churches and the Archbishop of Montreal. Strikers beat company officials, attacked police, attacked the mines, and dynamited company property.
What does CUPE stand for?
Canadian Union of Public Employees.
What were unions blamed for in the 1970s?
They were blamed for inflation and lower productivity.
How have some companies used NAFTA to benefit themselves?
Companies have used NAFTA to move to regions with lower labour costs and with non-unionized workers.
How does the future seem to bode poorly for unions?
Internationalization, the slow decline in unionization rates, and the weakening of unions’ political influence.
How does the future seem to bode well for unions?
Canadian unions are relatively strong compared to the U.S., and historically unions have adapted to changing circumstances.
