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Industrial Relations (IDRL) 312
Industrial Relations: A Critical Introduction (Revision 4)

Revision 4 closed, replaced by current version.

View previous syllabus.

Delivery mode: Individualized study online or
grouped study**

Credits: 3 - Applied Studies (Business and Administrative Studies). IDRL 312 can also be used to fulfill the Social Science area of study (credential students only).

Prerequisite: None. ADMN 233, ENGL 255, or PHIL 252 are recommended prerequisite courses for students new to university education or returning to it after a prolonged absence.

Precluded course: IDRL 311. IDRL 312 may not be taken for credit if credit has already been obtained for IDRL 311.

Centre: School of Business

IDRL 312 has a Challenge for Credit option.

**Note: Students registering in grouped study, or grouped study international mode are advised that there may be some differences in the evaluation and course materials information indicated below. To obtain the most up-to-date information, contact the School of Business Call Centre at 1-800-468-6531.

Overview

IDRL 312 provides an overview of industrial relations, and takes a critical look at the following issues:

  • nature of the employment relationship and its legal framework
  • nature of collective bargaining and the politics of collective agreements
  • management of industrial relations
  • trade unions and the logic of collective actions
  • influence of the state on employment relations.

The thread linking these issues is the interconnection between workplace control, collective bargaining, and the broader economic and political context of work organizations. These interconnections are illustrated by reference to contemporary influences on industrial relations, including

  • privatization of the public sector
  • “total quality” management and “re-engineering”
  • free trade
  • impact of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and other political developments.

IDRL 312 is designed for people working in

  • unionized and non-unionized situations
  • public and private sectors
  • managerial and non-managerial environments.

Outline

IDRL 312 consists of 13 lessons, as outlined below:

Lesson 1: The Labour Market and the Labour Process

Lesson 2: Industrial Relations Theory

Lesson 3: A Closer Look at Industrial Relations Theory

Lesson 4: The Nature of the Employment Relationship

Lesson 5: The Rules of the Game in Legislation

Lesson 6: The Raison d’être of Trade Unionism

Lesson 7: Trade Unions as Organizations

Lesson 8: Collective Bargaining and Collective Agreement

Lesson 9: An Overview of Management

Lesson 10: The Origins of Modern Management

Lesson 11: Human Resource Management

Lesson 12: Restructuring and Globalization

Lesson 13: The New Management of Work

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Evaluation

To receive credit in IDRL 312, you must complete three assignments, participate in at least four of the five end-of-unit class discussions, pass a written final examination, and receive an overall course grade of at least a D. The passing grade for the final examination is a “D” (50 percent). The weighting of each component is as follows:

Assign 1 Assign 2 Assign 3 Online Discussion Final Exam Total
10% 20% 20% 20% 30% 100%

To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.

Course Materials

Textbook

Gunderson, M., Ponak, A., & Taras, D. G. (2005). Union-management relations in Canada (5th ed.). Toronto, ON: Pearson Education Canada Inc. ISBN 0-321-18918-

Other Materials

The course materials also include a book of readings. Students will access all other course materials online.

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