Exam (elaborations)
IDRL 215 INTRODUCTION TO LABOUR ASSIGNMENT 4 (Lakeside Packers Union Strike) ATHABASCA UNIVERSITY
- Course
- Institution
IDRL 215 INTRODUCTION TO LABOUR ASSIGNMENT 4 (Lakeside Packers Union Strike) ATHABASCA UNIVERSITY
[Show more]
Content preview
IDRL 215 INTRODUCTION TO LABOURASSIGNMENT 4 (Lakeside Packers Union
Strike) ATHABASCA UNIVERSITY
, 1
1. Why was the plant non-union and why did a series of organizing drives fail?
As Foster (2016) tells us, Lakeside Packers had been unionized in 1976 by the
Canadian Food and Allied Workers, who eventually became the United Food and
Commercial Workers (UFCW). In June 1984, a nationwide meatpacking strike caused
Lakeside to hire replacement workers at costs lower than the union wages, which
effectively broke the union, and in 1987 UFCW abandoned the strike making Lakeside
officially non-union (Foster, 2016).
Organizing drives failed after this as the company deployed tactics that reminded
the workers of what happened last time, telling them that joining the union means going
back on strike and losing benefits and suggesting that the union will abandon them
again (Foster, 2016). Additionally, every time the union votes would get close,
aggressive counter-campaigns included threats and intimidation (Foster, 2016).
Furthermore, the high turnover at the plant was working against the union as it made it
very difficult to nail down the percentage of votes needed for certification (Inkster, 2007),
making it nearly impossible to become unionized.
2. What were workers’ biggest concerns that led to the union drive?
The meatpacking plant had difficulties finding enough staff locally to work as
wages and working conditions deteriorated (Foster, 2016). After expanding their hiring
zone to Atlantic Canada and finding that they ran into the same issues as they had with
the local workers, employees leaving for better-paying jobs and improved working
conditions, Lakeside began recruiting recent immigrants and refugees (Foster, 2016).
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller AcademicAllure. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $15.99. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
75759 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy study notes for 14 years now