Industrial Relations Outlook 2004: Job Security versus Productivity

This year’s Industrial Relations Outlook examines key bargaining issues, such as wages, employment security, contracting out, and benefits. It also considers the demographic, economic and compensation outlooks and how each will shape union–management relations in 2004.

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What will the bargaining environment of 2004 look like? This year’s Industrial Relations Outlook answers that question. Much of the bargaining will take place in the public sector, with the education and health sector employees from almost all of Canada’s provinces, plus other general government employees at the bargaining table.

This publication examines the demographic, economic and compensation outlooks and how each will shape union–management relations in 2004. It also looks at the main issues that unions and management will be addressing, such as:

• compensation, a top-of-mind issue for employers;
• employment security, the top union priority;
• contracting out, a contentious issue in the public sector; and
• benefits, which is important to union members and management from both the public and private sectors.

The outlook also considers mergers and acquisitions, labour legislation, and the choices ahead for unions, in light of declining membership and their desire to remain a substantial force in Canadian society.