- Consider this statement:
“There are a number of articles or provisions in the Ontario Labour Relations Act that have the effect of encouraging union democracy and the consideration by unions of the interests and views of their bargaining unit members.”
Explain one of these provisions in detail. Then provide your opinion, backed up with clear reasoning based on material we have discussed in this course, as to whether or not your chosen provision actually does provide a sufficiently compelling incentive for a union to consider the interests of its members. (10 marks)
Assume that two different professors of Canadian labour relations are advising the government of Newfoundland about possible changes to labour and employment policy and legislation in that province. One professor’s fundamental theoretical belief is closely associated with what John Godard calls the “liberal reformist” theoretical perspective. The other professor is closely aligned with what John Godard calls the “orthodox pluralist” theoretical perspective (sometimes called the “institutionalist” perspective).
These professors will have differing policy prescriptions (or recommendations) that they would suggest in response to the issues raised by this labour dispute in Newfoundland. These policy prescriptions (or recommendations) would flow from their two different paradigms.
Express what each professor would likely recommend as to how labour and employment policy and legislation should be changed in order to deal better with the issues flowing from this labour dispute. Take care to contrast these likely recommendations and explore the differences between them. (10 marks)
Sample Solution