Roy J. Adams

The right to participate

A basic principle of democracy holds that all citizens have a right to participate in decisions that affect their personal interests, including decisions taken in the context of employment. Most industrialized, market economy democracies have created institutions to ensure that this right is effective. In North America, however, the right to participate in the making of critical employment decisions has not been secured, largely because of perverse, adversarial dynamics elicited by labor relations statutes. Universal, statutory participation via works councils is proposed as a means of making the right effective.

Industrial Relations in Europe and North America: Some Contemporary Themes

In North America as in Europe, the `Great Recession of the early 1980s has had an enduring impact on industrial relations. Despite superficial similarities, however, there have been important differences in the extent to which industrial relations institutions in the two continents have been able to accommodate the challenges. The author considers these differences with respect to four themes: Japanization, supranational economic integration, decentralization of collective bargaining and trade union decline. He concludes by discussing the implications for the academic study of industrial relations.

Collective Bargaining under Pressure: A Canada‐US Comparison

Similarities and differences between Canadian and US labour relations systems are explored. In the US, employers have, with government indulgence, retreated from their commitment to collective bargaining, whereas Canadian employers, under government pressure, have generally continued to respect theirs. The reasons for the divergence in systems are examined.