But we’re still far behind internationally.
Industrial disputes are on the decline, but Canada still has one of the highest rates of work stoppages due to lockouts and strikes in the world.
A recent report by Statistics Canada shows that over the last 20 years there have been significantly fewer workdays lost to labour disputes and a significant drop in the number of labour disputes overall. According to the report, the average annual number of work stoppages due to strikes and lockouts in the 1980s (754) was almost double that of the 1990s (394). In terms of workdays lost, there were 5.5 million annually in the 1980s, compared to 2.6 million in the 1990s.
There were 90 strikes and lockouts during the first five months of 2001, compared to 207 at the same time last year. However, in the same period this year, there were 855,000 workdays lost, compared to 827,000 the same time last year.
According to the Statistics Canada report, in 1999 Canada lost 203 workdays per 1,000 employees because of strikes and lockouts. In comparison to other industrialized countries, that rate is almost seven times more than the international average of 30 days per 1,000 employees. And, we’re fairing a lot worse compared to our neighbours to the south: in the U.S., there were 16 days lost per 1,000 due to strikes and lockouts in 1999.
While there’s more calm on the labour front, the effects of work stoppages and disputes is still very real.
“Such time losses have several ramifications; they tend to reduce overall economic output, as well as corporate and government revenues; they tend to reduce the earnings, and hence spending power, of workers directly or even indirectly involved in the dispute; and can also lead to social unrest,” writes Statistics Canada researcher Ernest Akyeampong.
Union membership has also been on the increase. In the first half of this year, union membership grew from 3.7 million to 3.8 million. However, since the number of employees grew proportionally more, union density actually fell from 30.4 per cent to 30 per cent.
In Ontario, unions are having success at organizing workplaces.
According to research from the Mississauga-based research firm HROI, unions have reversed a downward trend with a recent rise in union certifications in Ontario. This despite recent changes to the province’s labour legislation making certification a more difficult process.
“The sheer energy of the recent push by unions has been the most likely factor in union certification. Unions have made a tremendous effort to organize and have diverted money and resources to the cause,” states the HROI report.
A recent report by Statistics Canada shows that over the last 20 years there have been significantly fewer workdays lost to labour disputes and a significant drop in the number of labour disputes overall. According to the report, the average annual number of work stoppages due to strikes and lockouts in the 1980s (754) was almost double that of the 1990s (394). In terms of workdays lost, there were 5.5 million annually in the 1980s, compared to 2.6 million in the 1990s.
There were 90 strikes and lockouts during the first five months of 2001, compared to 207 at the same time last year. However, in the same period this year, there were 855,000 workdays lost, compared to 827,000 the same time last year.
According to the Statistics Canada report, in 1999 Canada lost 203 workdays per 1,000 employees because of strikes and lockouts. In comparison to other industrialized countries, that rate is almost seven times more than the international average of 30 days per 1,000 employees. And, we’re fairing a lot worse compared to our neighbours to the south: in the U.S., there were 16 days lost per 1,000 due to strikes and lockouts in 1999.
While there’s more calm on the labour front, the effects of work stoppages and disputes is still very real.
“Such time losses have several ramifications; they tend to reduce overall economic output, as well as corporate and government revenues; they tend to reduce the earnings, and hence spending power, of workers directly or even indirectly involved in the dispute; and can also lead to social unrest,” writes Statistics Canada researcher Ernest Akyeampong.
Union membership has also been on the increase. In the first half of this year, union membership grew from 3.7 million to 3.8 million. However, since the number of employees grew proportionally more, union density actually fell from 30.4 per cent to 30 per cent.
In Ontario, unions are having success at organizing workplaces.
According to research from the Mississauga-based research firm HROI, unions have reversed a downward trend with a recent rise in union certifications in Ontario. This despite recent changes to the province’s labour legislation making certification a more difficult process.
“The sheer energy of the recent push by unions has been the most likely factor in union certification. Unions have made a tremendous effort to organize and have diverted money and resources to the cause,” states the HROI report.
