Unions and Temporary Help Agency Employment

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.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.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...

Temporary agency workers as outsiders: an application of the established-outsider theory on the social relations between temporary agency and permanent workers

“…Power imbalances between TWA employees and their permanent colleagues constitute a first issue in the development of an established-outsider figuration. Compared to permanent workers, TWA employees often experience difficulties in standing up for their rights Padavic, 2005) and are less likely to have a say at their workplace, both individually (Hall, 2006;Kirkpatrick & Hoque, 2006;Winkler & Mahmood, 2015) or through union representation (Bartkiw, 2012;Byoung-Hoon & Frenkel, 2004). Second, there is evidence that permanent workers use stigmatisation practices because they sometimes perceive temporary agency workers as a threat to their own positions (Boyce et al, 2007;Crocker, Major, & Steele, 1998).…”

Syndication and trade union action in private employment agencies: ideas deduced from comparative experience

“…La penetración sindical en las agencias intermediarias de empleo constituye una tarea muy difícil y problemática en todos los sistemas de relaciones laborales 7 y la intermediación laboral complica considerablemente la acción sindical (Bartkiw, 2012). Los breves períodos a lo largo de los cuales los trabajadores son puestos disposición constituyen, desde luego, una dificultad no menor.…”

“…Y para poder presentar su candidatura se requieren seis meses de prestación de servicios. Por lo demás, la negociación colectiva aborda temas como la utilización del crédito de horas o el período máximo entre cesiones que no extingue el 13 Describiendo la experiencia canadiense, Bartkiw (2012), p. 471. mandato representativo de los trabajadores de estas agencias. Incluso se observa la posibilidad de que se utilicen horas de representación durante los períodos entre puestas a disposición.…”

The trade union response to agency labour in Sweden

“…Arrowsmith (), too, argues that union initiatives are important when it comes to drawing attention to temporary agency workers' conditions, for example via different measures aimed at facilitating union representation and via political campaigns. A Canadian qualitative study of union responses to the temporary agency industry found that little efforts were made to address the specific needs of temporary agency workers (Bartkiw, ). Rather, the unions' response was characterised as ‘incremental adjustments aimed at shoring up collective bargaining arrangements normalized by past practice, culture, and/or the legal regime’ (Bartkiw, : 471).…”

“…A Canadian qualitative study of union responses to the temporary agency industry found that little efforts were made to address the specific needs of temporary agency workers (Bartkiw, ). Rather, the unions' response was characterised as ‘incremental adjustments aimed at shoring up collective bargaining arrangements normalized by past practice, culture, and/or the legal regime’ (Bartkiw, : 471).…”