HRMN 3841: Employee and Labour Relations
Students examine the different aspects of union management relations focusing on the Canadian experience. Topics include an introduction to industrial relations; theories of industrial relations; the history and structure of unions in Canada; union organizing; collective bargaining; strikes and lockouts; third-party interventions including conciliation, mediation and arbitration; grievance arbitration; changes to the union or employer; and future issues in Canadian unionism.
Learning outcomes
- Differentiate between labour and employee relations.
- Discuss the origins, functions and future of unions.
- Describe the history and structure of unions in Canada.
- Identify the reasons for unionism.
- Explain the steps in the union organizing process and the role of labour relations boards.
- Formulate collective agreement language that reflects the preferred positions of employers and unions in relation to key contractual terms.
- Critique the different models for negotiating a collective agreement.
- Apply methods for resolving contractual disputes including strikes and lockouts and third-party intervention techniques.
- Demonstrate the administration of a collective agreement through the grievance and arbitration process.
- Summarize successorship, the decertification process and the effect union mergers, workplace restructuring, and technology change have on the union-employer relationship.
Course topics
- Introduction to Industrial Relations
- Theories of Industrial Relations
- History and Structure of Unions in Canada
- Union Organizing and Recognition
- Collective Bargaining
- Strikes and Lockouts
- Third-party Interventions
- Grievance Arbitration
- Changes to the Union or the Employer
- Future Issues in Canadian Unionization
Required text and materials
McQuarrie, F. Industrial Relations in Canada. 4th edition. Toronto, Ontario, Canada: Wiley, (2015).
Type: Text: ISBN 978-1-118-87839-2
Additional requirements
Computer with Internet access required.
Assessments
Please be aware that should your course have a final exam, you are responsible for the fee to the online proctoring service, ProctorU, or to the in-person approved Testing Centre. Please contact exams@tru.ca with any questions about this.
To successfully complete this course, students must achieve a passing grade of 50% or higher on the overall course, and 50% or higher on the final mandatory exam.
| Assignment 1 | 10% |
| Assignment 2 | 16% |
| Assignment 3 | 18% |
| Journal Entries | 16% |
| Final Exam* | 40% |
| TOTAL | 100% |
* Mandatory
Open Learning Faculty Member Information
An Open Learning Faculty Member is available to assist students. Students will receive the necessary contact information at the start of the course.
