Early Labour Movement and the Role of the Federal and Provincial Governments in the Workplace

The twentieth century was a time of rapid chan e! The rapid rise of industry and new technolo ies brou ht our world closer to ether in some ways and further apart in others! Throu hout this period of chan e" overnments and the courts took on an increasin ly reater role in the lives of individuals and society as a whole! Labour and the Early Industrial Period in Canada #y the mid$nineteenth century" %anada felt the effects of the &ndustrial Revolution that transformed Great #ritain in the previous century! The &ndustrial Revolution created many political" social" and economic chan es that would drastically re$shape %anada! Lar e factories opened up across the country and people flocked from rural to urban areas with the hope of obtainin 'obs! The advent of machines chan ed the way people worked in these new industrial 'obs! (ew machines threatened many skilled craft workers" but at the same time provided 'obs for lar e numbers of unskilled workers! The work in these new industries demanded lon hours" and offered dan erous workin conditions and poor wa es! )trict rules and re ulations *with harsh punishments for any infraction of these rules+ often became the norm for workers! The factories often employed women and even very youn children for wa es far below those of the avera e male worker! Families who needed the wa es had little say over the hardships of factory life" as they sou ht to survive in the rapidly chan in industrial world! Workers often found themselves at the mercy of their employers and worldwide economic fluctuations! ,urin ood economic times" workers usually e-perienced better wa es *or at least steady wa es+ and decent livin conditions! .owever" durin times of economic decline" workers stru led to survive! They often faced 'oblessness or drastically cut wa es! Employers had total control over the workplace! (o protection for workers e-isted and employers had the ri ht to hire and fire workers on a whim! There were always unemployed men and women" desperate for a wa e" ready to take the place of a worker who was ill" or who attempted to rally fellow workers a ainst the employer in order to ain better pay or workin conditions! )killed workers sou ht to protect their 'obs and improve workin conditions and wa es! Trade associations and uilds provided members with some benefits" such as helpin the family of an in'ured worker" but they did not act as bar ainin units with employers! ,urin the early /012s" skilled workers in particular" be an to form local or ani3ations" but unionscontinued to be ille al in %anada until the passa e of the Trade Union Act in /014! The Role of the Government in the Workplace The overnment5s role in the workplace has e-panded rapidly over the last century! Today the workplace is overned by a series of rules and re ulations set forth in various employment standards le islation! While federal employees" %rown corporations" inter$provincial" or international industries are under the 'urisdiction of the %anada Labour %ode" most employees are covered by their provincial Employment )tandards 6ct! 6n overview of the key areas covered by employment standards le islation for 7ntario can be found at 8our Guide to the Employment )tandards 6ct *E)6+! &t is important to remember that the Employment )tandards 6ct outlines the minimum employment re ulations re9uired by law! The Ministry of Labour in each province investi ates possible violations of the E)6" if workers lod e complaints! &t also works to resolve any of the problems cited by employees! &n 7ntario" workers can use a self$help kit available online to help resolve their own problem" or they can file a complaint

with the Ministry of Labour! #esides the Employment )tandards 6ct" safety in the workplace is also re ulated by the overnment! &n 7ntario" it is the 7ccupational .ealth and )afety 6ct which protects workers from 'ob ha3ards! &t outlines the safe use of ha3ardous materials and enforces the laws! The Guide to the 7ccupational .ealth and )afety 6ct outlines what every employer and employee needs to know about the 6ct! Fines can be levied a ainst employers who fail to protect the safety of workers! For workers who are in'ured on the 'ob" claims for compensation can be submitted to their provincial workers5 compensation board! &n 7ntario" the Workplace )afety and &nsurance #oard *W)&#+" is entirely funded by employer premiums! Premiums are based on the risks of the industry and the rate of in'ury! This encoura es employers to protect workers and reduce in'ury" in order to reduce premiums! 6 fourth piece of le islation that ensures that the ri hts of workers are protected is the .uman Ri hts %ode! While the federal overnment protects these ri hts under the %anadian .uman Ri hts %ode for employees overned by federal le islation" each province simultaneously has its own human ri hts le islation! This prohibits discrimination based on ender" reli ion" race" a e" handicap" ethnic ori in" se-ual orientation" marital status" citi3enship" or family status! While some cases of discrimination can be transparent" it often tends to be more subtle in nature! &f workers feel they are discriminated a ainst" either in the hirin process or on the 'ob" they can file a complaint with the .uman Ri hts %ommission! 1.Using the Internet, research the events surrounding the death of Sean Kells. How did this tragedy promote change in the workplace? 4! he !mployment Standards "ct is constantly undergoing changes. #eview two recent changes and comment on whether these changes $enefit workers or employers. %e sure to &ustify your answer. '.Historically, $usinesses have felt threatened $y the la$our movement. "re unions still viewed as a threat today? Using the internet, investigate the position of the $usiness community on unioni(ation, in particular the attitudes of $ig $o) stores, such as *al+ ,art towards unioni(ation. -.In light of the various federal and provincial legislation, do you think unions are still needed today? .ustify your answer.