Industrial Relations (IDRL) 320
Labour Relations and the Law

Revision 2 closed March 25, 2004, replaced by current version.

Delivery mode: Individualized study
Credits: 3 - Applied Studies
Prerequisite: None. IDRL 312 is strongly recommended but not required.
Centre: School of Business
Challenge for Credit: IDRL 320 has a Challenge for Credit option

>> Overview | Outline | Evaluation | Course Materials | Course Fees | Course Availability


Overview

IDRL 320 is a specialized course that examines the legal framework of collective bargaining with particular reference to the private sector. The course is intended primarily for trade unionists and managers whose work requires a detailed understanding of the law governing collective bargaining. It will also be of interest to those who want to further their understanding of their collective agreement to more actively participate in their union and workplace.

Upon completion of IDRL 320, students will be able to explain the workings of their own provincial labour relations statute, analyse the main contemporary substantive and procedural issues in collective bargaining law, and critically evaluate the impact of the legal framework of collective bargaining on the respective power of unions and employees.

Outline

  • Unit 1 The Nature of Labour Law
  • Unit 2 The Scope of Collective Bargaining Legislation
  • Unit 3 Organizing: Unfair Labour Practices
  • Unit 4 Bargaining Rights
  • Unit 5 Transferring and Losing Bargaining Rights
  • Unit 6 The Collective Bargaining Process
  • Unit 7 The Union's Duty of Fair Representation
  • Unit 8 Industrial Conflict

Evaluation

To obtain credit in IDRL 320, students must achieve a composite course grade of at least a "D" (50 percent). The weighting of the composite course grade is as follows:

Assignment 1 Assignment 2 Assignment 3 Assignment 4 Assignment 5 Total
20% 20% 20% 20% 20% 100%

Course Materials

Textbooks

Arthurs, H. W., D. D. Carter, J. Fudge, and H. J. Glasbeek. 1984. Labour Law and Industrial Relations in Canada, 2d ed. Toronto: Butterworths.

Panitch, L., and Swartz, D. 1993. The Assault on Trade Union Freedoms. Toronto: Garamond.

Sack, Jeffrey, and Ethan Poskanzer. 1984. Labour Law Terms: A Dictionary of Canadian Labour Law. Toronto: Lancaster House.

Weiler, Paul. 1980. Reconcilable Differences: New Directions in Canadian Labour Law. Toronto: Carswell.

Other Material

The course materials include a study guide, a student manual, and a book of readings.

Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice.
Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized-study counterparts.

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This page was updated by G. Zahara