Abstracts
Abstract
Temporary help agency employment (THAE) is a peculiar and often precarious employment form that has become increasingly salient in Canada in recent decades. Seeking to advance both the literatures on precarious work and union renewal, this article examines the effects of the expansion of this unique employment form upon labour unions, and union responses to this phenomenon.
The study employed a qualitative exploratory method, involving twenty-four interviews with key informants from fourteen large labour unions, two union federations, and the Toronto-based workers’ centre known as the “Workers’ Action Centre.” Various effects of the expansion of THAE on unions were identified and categorized as relating to either union organizing or representation activities, and a range of union responses to the phenomenon are also discussed.
Overall, it is suggested that THAE growth carries the potential to constrain organizing and representation activities in multiple ways, although its effects are highly mediated by other contextual factors. Union responses have thus far been largely limited to incremental adjustments aimed at shoring up traditional organizing and collective bargaining practices.
Keywords:
- unions,
- temporary help agencies,
- temporary agency employment
Résumé
L’emploi temporaire via des agences de placement est une forme d’emploi singulière et souvent précaire qui est devenue de plus en plus répandue au Canada au cours des dernières décennies. Dans le but de faire progresser les écrits sur l’emploi précaire et le renouveau syndical, cet article étudie les effets de la croissance de cette forme unique d’emploi sur les syndicats et les réponses de ces derniers à ce phénomène.
L’étude a recours à une méthodologie exploratoire qualitative comprenant vingt-quatre entrevues avec des informateurs-clés en provenance de quatorze grands syndicats ainsi que deux fédérations syndicales et un centre de travailleurs basé à Toronto (Workers’ Action Centre). Divers effets de la croissance du travail temporaire sur les syndicats sont identifiés et catégorisés selon qu’ils concernent les activités d’organisation syndicale ou les activités de représentation syndicale et un éventail de réponses syndicales au phénomène sont discutées.
Globalement, il est suggéré que la croissance du travail temporaire présente un potentiel réel pour contraindre les activités d’organisation et de représentation syndicales de multiples façons, bien que ses effets soient hautement médiatisés par d’autres facteurs contextuels. Aussi, à ce jour, la réponse des syndicats s’est largement limitée à des ajustements progressifs visant à renforcer les pratiques traditionnelles de représentation et de négociation collective.
Mots-clés :
- syndicats,
- agences de placement temporaire,
- travail intérimaire
Resumen
El empleo de agencia de ayuda temporal (EAAT) es una forma de empleo peculiar y a menudo precario que se ha vuelto cada vez más importante en Canadá en las últimas décadas. Tratando de contribuir a los estudios sobre el trabajo precario y la renovación sindical, este artículo examina los efectos de la expansión de esta forma única de empleo sobre los sindicatos y sobre las respuestas sindicales a este fenómeno.
El estudio empleó un método cualitativo exploratorio, implicando veinticuatro entrevistas con informadores claves de catorce grandes sindicatos laborales, dos federaciones sindicales y del centro de trabajadores de Toronto conocido como el “Centro de acción de los trabajadores”. Diversos efectos de la expansión del EAAT en los sindicatos fueron identificados y categorizados como vinculados a la organización sindical o a las actividades de representación; una gama de respuestas al fenómeno son también discutidas.
En general, se sugiere que el crecimiento del EAAT tiene el potencial de restringir las actividades de organización et de representación de múltiples maneras, aunque sus efectos son fuertemente mediados por otros factores contextuales. Las respuestas sindicales han estado hasta ahora limitadas a ajustes graduales orientadas a reforzar las prácticas tradicionales de organización y de negociación colectiva.
Palabras clave:
- sindicatos,
- agencias de empleo temporal,
- empleo de agencia temporal
Appendices
References
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