Globalization And Impacts Of Unions In Canada

Globalization and impacts of Unions in Canada
Over the last few decades, globalization has changed the rules and norms of the international global market. Given the statistics of job loss, theincreasing power of transnational corporations (TNCs) and the erosion of the union system, globalization “has had a much greater negative impact on unions and the middle class than politicians and otherexperts could have predicted.” Under this dynamic, TNCs have engaged in tactics to discredit and dissolve unions. The purpose of this essay is to examine the question: what is the impact ofglobalization on unions in Canada? In doing so, it will argue that globalization and corporate greed have diminished the influence and power of unions in Canada. To demonstrate this point, this paper is dividedinto three sections. In the first section, it will provide some background information about unions and the impact in the lives of workers. In the second section, it will analyze the downfallen ofunions in Canada and the reasons of why they have lost power and credibility. In the third section, it will explore the impact of globalization and corporate power, transforming trade, policies andregulations in Canada.
According to Joseph Devine, “A labor union, or trade union, is an organization of workers who have joined together to achieve goals in areas such as wages and working conditions. Theunion negotiates contracts and conditions with employers, keeping employee satisfaction high and protecting workers from unsafe or unfair working conditions. Most unions claim a right to exclusivityand reserve the right to admit or deny membership to potential union members based on factors such as worker status and their type of trade or skill”. Unions have existed since the middle Ages whenthe guild system in Europe was introduced in order to protect and improve standards and costs of goods and services. Even though Guild systems and Unions cannot be directly related and compared, both...