Union leaders and the economic crisis: Responses to restructuring

The restructuring of the economy of Canada continued at a quick pace throughout the recession of the early 1990s. Challenges are faced by unions and their leaders as the workplace undergoes major reorganization as a result of recent economic policy, unrelenting global competition, and political uncertainty. Interviews were conducted with senior and upper middle-level leaders of 8 unions in Ontario in 1992. Interview data were supplemented with an examination of documents. All the union leaders argued that the basic roles of unions and their members' expectations of their unions have not changed despite transformations in the composition of the membership and changes in the structure of the workplace and the economy. Union leaders generally see the importance of the union's involvement in local affairs, but are cautious about their particular union's place in social movements. All leaders agreed that the present climate for labor-management negotiations is adversarial and increasingly contentious.