UNIT 4 IDRL 215 EXAM PREP

UNIT 4 IDRL 215 EXAM PREP  Has globalization caused what is characterized as a "race to the bottom," a downward convergence of national labour standards, social policies, and regulations in order to better compete in the global marketplace?  Globalization has caused a race to the bottom.  The "race to the bottom" is a term describing a competitive situation where entities lower their standards, regulations, or wages to attract businesses, often resulting in adverse social or environmental outcomes.  Develops countries are trading/competing with manufacturers in under developed countries that provide cheap labor w/ little concern regarding worker safety.  Is globalization a result of the "invisible hand" and, therefore, an unavoidable, self-regulating process? Or is the inevitability of globalization a myth propagated and legitimized by those who stand to reap the rewards and those who wish to obscure the political agendas behind it?  The Invisible Hand - describe the self-regulating nature of the marketplace, where individuals pursuing their self- interest unintentionally contribute to the overall economic well-being of society.  The appeal and ease in which it can now happen is what made globalization unavoidable and uncontrollable.  This was done on purpose, especially when we consider the creation of NAFTA and WTO.  It was legitimized by those who would benefit and they succeeded in obscuring the political agenda from the public.  How has economic globalization affected Canadian workers?  Higher rate of outsourcing means less jobs for Canadians.  A reduction in corporate taxation by jurisdictions contributes to the race to the bottom.  There is less money to invest in Canadian infrastructures, social and environmental issues.  Globalization has also increased employer mobility which is used as a threat against workers.  Workers more reluctant to stand up against capital.  Do you agree that globalization is simply another strategy by capital to maximize profitability at the expense of workers? Why or why not?  It is agreed upon that globalization is a strategy by capital to maximize profits.  Due to the rise in neoliberal policies, profit has become more important than workers rights and globalization causes a rise in neoliberalism on an international level.  What are the key demographic changes that have affected the workforce?  Women - increased rights regarding education and employment, more have entered the workforce.  Minorities - a rise in immigration and a change in the source countries of immigration.  Older workers - are retiring later due to economic needs.  How do changing work arrangements and organizational structures pose challenges to the practice of labour relations?  Gov't regulation and union strategies are based on the standard top-down organization with workers who work full time at the work site.  As work arrangements and organizational structures change, union strategies will have to evolve so they can effectively unionize non-standard workers and include them in the collective agreement.  Legislation will need to expand and adapt to these changes and include more regulation of non-standard workers.  What is precarious employment and why is it increasing?

 Non-standard employment.  Temporary, casual, part-time, contract.  Increasing - attractive to employers due to lower pay, no benefits, less chance of unionization & easier to dismiss.  How have unions been responding to the emerging challenges of the twenty-first century?  Unions have been slow to react to changes.  Organizing strategies are still heavily based on strategies used to organize middle aged blue collar working men.  There are many non-standard industries with high growth rates that have not been unionized, though unions have started to slowly attempt this.  The public sector still leads in union density however growth remains stronger in the private sector.  Lobbying has been done on an international level but with very little success.  Are workplaces becoming more or less equitable in Canada? Why or why not?  Workplaces in Canada are becoming more and less equitable in different ways  More:  Employers are required to active eliminate barriers that exist against groups that have been historically discriminated against.  Less:  Neoliberal policies put profit over equitability.  Globalization increases and barriers for Canadians and workers in other countries increase.  Why might precarious work be the most significant challenge to labour relations in Canada?  Precarious work often pays less, has increased job insecurity, lack of benefits.  Results in a further power imbalance in labor relations.  More work needs to be done to combat the power imbalance.  What are the key forces driving current trends in union density?  Restructuring of organizations due to rise in neoliberalism and globalization.  Organizational mobility.  Privatization and downsizing of the public sector.  Increase in nonstandard jobs.  Unions political affiliations.  Demographic changes.  Decline in manufacturing jobs.  How will private sector and public sector prospects differ in the future?  Unions will need to focus their attention on the private sector as this is where job growth is occurring.  Unions will need to learn how to organize science, tech and knowledge-based industries.  If unions fail at both, the private and public sector union rates will dramatically be reduced.  This may result in further wages reductions and job losses.  What are some of the ways in which unions are responding to twenty-first century challenges?  Attempting to organize non-traditional industries  Merging with other unions to increase power and finances and broader coverage over different industries.  Addressing issues of inequality and taking social action.  Working with community unions.  Further educating members.  Increasing democracy within union to ensure equal representation.