If the two sides cannot reach an agreement, Quebec is more than 650,000 teachers are likely to continue their strike until Christmas. Last week, nearly 570,000 workers in the province went on strike. These collective actions come on the heels of recent "summer strikes," which include strikes by Hollywood writers and actors, strikes by the National Auto Workers, and strikes by several Starbucks. In Canada, port workers in British Columbia, employees of the Ontario Public Broadcaster, and city workers in the city of St. John's also went on strike.
The increase in strikes appears to be related to the growing popularity and concern of trade unions. A recent Gallup poll showed that 71 percent of Americans support unions, the highest level since 1965. A recent survey by Angus Reid found that three-fifths of Canadians believe unions have a positive impact on workers. Why this support has reached new heights. Some believe that this is the result of deteriorating working conditions, wage levels not keeping pace with inflation, and the widespread use of artificial intelligence in various industries, all of which have contributed to an increase in collective action by workers.
The importance of perception.
However, that's only part of the puzzle. More important than these conditions is the attitude of the workers towards them. The increase in support for trade unions can be better understood as people being aware of the disadvantage they are in and react negatively to it. Research has shown that acknowledging one's own weaknesses and accompanying emotional responses is an important factor in engaging in collective action. This is true even when objective disadvantages such as social class, income, and education are taken into account.
Regarding support for trade unions, a 1991 study found that when it comes to support trade unions, people's feelings about their perceived social status are more important than their actual social status, which is influenced by factors such as income, education, and class. In short, people's perceptions determine how much they support unions. This argument also clarifies why union support does not necessarily increase during periods of deterioration in working conditions. Take, for example, the years following the 2008 recession, when there were a number of labour challenges, such as widespread unemployment, declining household incomes, and an increase in temporary and precarious employment.
The role of the coronavirus disease 2019 epidemic.
However, during this time, American support for unions reached an all-time low. While there are no specific statistics on what is happening in Canada, there are signs that the country's unions have similarly lacked popularity in the wake of the Great Recession. The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has dramatically changed the way we think about life. Recent research shows that people are now more aware of the inequalities that exist in society and are more likely to take action than they were before the pandemic. Recognizing the influence of an unjust system on our behavior is identified as a prerequisite for inspiring collective action anger. In fact, the more we perceive injustice, the more likely we are to engage in collective efforts.
This is confirmed that the peak of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic coincided with the trend of various union strikes. Take, for example, the 2020 Newfoundland Dominion grocery workers' strike. These strikes were motivated by a growing awareness of the gap between management and frontline workers. During the pandemic, management earned millions of dollars, while frontline workers' wages grew little or nothing. While this gap has persisted for years, the pandemic has highlighted the problem. The statement issued by the union during the strike stressed that the problems faced by the workers were caused by the pandemic, not by the workers.
What employers should do.
The pandemic has created an environment where workers are vulnerable to feeling disadvantaged and angry. Unless there is a change in public perception and awareness of inequality, it is likely that we will continue to witness an increase in strikes and other collective actions. In this case, the employer has a key role to play. If they want to prevent employees from turning against them en masse, they should show support for employees by addressing their concerns. Maintaining a balance between work and personal life, providing mental health support, and fostering diversity and inclusion are all top concerns for employees.
When employees' needs are met, they are less likely to be aware of workplace disadvantages and will feel dissatisfied with their jobs. A recent study found that employees who felt they were fairly compensated for their positive behavior in the workplace were less likely to complain or hold grudges against those they felt were in an advantageous position. Effective employee communication, promoting participatory leadership, and encouraging collaboration among employees have also been shown to reduce anger when employees make negative comparisons.
These methods are effective because they promote an attitude of positive problem solving for employees. Overall, there is a strong link between how individuals perceive their lives and their support for unions, highlighting the critical importance of employers considering the needs of their employees.
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