Work stoppages in the federal private sector : innovative solutions

Chapter 3: Causes of Work Stoppages and Their Economic Impacts

The Terms of Reference require the analysis of the variables that influence the risk, frequency and duration of work stoppages in the federal private sector, along with the identification of options acceptable to both labour and management that would reduce work stoppages. This chapter will focus on the first of these tasks, analyzing causes of work stoppages in the federal private sector, with an eye on the second task, providing acceptable options.

The chapter is divided into three Sections. Section I provides information gathered from stakeholders and others with expertise in work stoppages on the causes of work stoppages in the federal private sector. Section II analyses some of the conditions or determinants identified that give rise to work stoppages in the sector. These factors are also linked to options that might be available to manage them. Section III gives some consideration to the study's mandate of identifying the sectors and regions at greatest risk of increased work stoppages in the federal private sector. Section IV provides a brief review of some of the economic impacts of work stoppages.

  • I and its content Section I: Stakeholder and Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) Personnel Views on Causes of Work Stoppages
    • Solicitation of Information
    • FMCS Data
    • Views on Causes of Work Stoppages from Discussions with Stakeholders and Other Industrial Relations Experts
    • Views of Labour on Work Stoppages
    • Employers' Views on Work Stoppages
    • Conclusions
  • II and its content Section II: Analysis of Causes of Work Stoppages and the Collective Bargaining Processes
    • An Experiential Approach to Analysing Causes of Work Stoppages
      • Relationships and Attitudes of the Participants
      • Skills of Negotiators and Mediators
      • Mandate and Authority of Negotiators to Bind the Parties
      • Employers' mandate
      • Unions' mandate
      • Efficiency of the Bargaining Process
    • The Subject Matter of Negotiations
      • Rational/Economic Issues
        • Work Stoppages as "Mistakes"
        • Limited Access to Information
        • Differing or Incompatible Outcome Assessment Processes
        • Predicting Outcomes Based on Power Relationships
        • Economic Instability: Inflation Rates
        • Issues Arising from Cost Containment and Efficiency
      • "Strikes as Collective Voice"
      • Duration Issues: Outcome Re-assessments in the Course of a Work Stoppage
        • No Clear Explanation for Duration
        • Replacement Workers
    • Conclusions on Causes of Work Stoppages: Sections I and II
      • Organizational Change Driven by Employer Demands for Improvements in Productivity
      • Behavioural and Process Factors in Collective Bargaining
      • Intra-organizational Issues
      • Duration of Work Stoppages
  • III and its content Section III: Predicting Work Stoppages
  • IV and its content Section IV: Economic Impacts of Work Stoppages
    • Introduction
    • Work Stoppage Economic Impacts
    • An Option to Better Measure and Respond to Economic Impacts of Work Stoppages in the Federal Private Sector

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Date Modified:
2012-01-16