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Queen's IRC at LERA 2012: Comparing Employment Relations in Cross-Border Regions
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| Brendan Sweeney |
On Saturday January 7, 2012, IRC post-doctoral fellow Brendan Sweeney will present a portion of his dissertation research at the Labor and Employment Relations Association's (LERA) annual conference at the Palmer House Hilton Hotel in Chicago, Illinois.
Brendan's research addresses the lack of consensus amongst researchers regarding the processes and extent of cross-national convergence and divergence of employment relations in the global political economy.
According to Brendan, these studies are increasingly problematic, as economic activity is at the same time becoming increasingly cross-national and increasingly regionalized within specific nations. Drawing inspiration from the work of his former instructor and School of Policy Studies colleague, Tom Courchene, Brendan argues that comparing employment relations in cross-border regions is an apt and appropriate strategy considering the concomitantly international and regionalized nature of economic activity in North America and abroad.
>> Read the full article here
Mastering Fact-Finding and Investigation: Post-Program Perspectives
By Alison Hill
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In 2009, the IRC conducted a survey of LR professionals to glean their insights on the level of skills, knowledge, and abilities required for the profession.
The survey also explored the amount of time LR professionals were spending on certain LR tasks.
Based on this research, led by Anne Grant and Stephanie Noel, the IRC determined that Mastering Fact-Finding and Investigation is a critical skill that LR professionals must hone.
Accordingly, earlier this year, the IRC launched its inaugural Mastering Fact-Finding and Investigation program.
The program is part of the IRC's new Advanced Labour Relations certificate, which builds on the skills and knowledge acquired in the Labour Relations certificate series.
The Advanced Labour Relations certificate includes three programs: Mastering Fact-Finding and Investigation (launched in April 2011), Strategic Grievance Handling (launching in May 2012), and Optimizing the Labour-Management Relationship: Leadership Skills for LR professionals (launching in 2013).
I recently spoke with two participants from the April 2011 Mastering Fact-Finding and Investigation program. During our conversations, the participants were asked to reflect on their IRC experience and provide their honest feedback on the program, including not only the positive aspects of the program, but the ways in which the IRC can improve the program moving forward. This article provides a summary of my conversations with Larry Sparks and Lori Aselstine.
>> Read the full article here
Mastering Fact-Finding and Investigation
April 10-13, 2012- Toronto, ON
Upcoming Survey: An Inquiry into the State of Labour Relations (LR) in Canada
This Autumn, the IRC is conducting a survey entitled, "An Inquiry into the State of LR in Canada." The purpose of this study is to explore the current and changing state of labour relations in Canada, based on the perspectives of LR professionals. Look for the official launch of this online survey in the IRC's November Research Briefs. In the interim, we invite you to contact IRC Research Assistant, Tahreem Raza with any questions regarding this IRC research initiative.
Managing Unionized Environments: The Fort McMurray Experience
By Stephanie Noel
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| Stephanie Noel |
It is an exciting time at the IRC. Not only are we continuing to expand our programming options, we are also exploring new locations to hold our programs,
Most recently, the IRC's program team headed to Fort McMurray, delivering our Managing Unionized Environments program in October. As the IRC evolves our programming options to best meet the needs of HR, LR, and OD professionals, we also aim to offer programs in locations that are convenient for our participants and their sponsor organizations.
The resounding success of the October Managing Unionized Environments has encouraged the IRC to consider offering additional programming options in Fort McMurray during our 2012-2013 program season.
Having grown up in Sudbury, Ontario, a mining town, I felt very much at home in Fort McMurray. Conversations that I had with participants during the program were positive; it seems that Fort McMurray is a desirable location for IRC programs moving forward.
>> Read the full article here
Managing Unionized Environments
Nov. 15-17, 2011 - Kingston, ON
March 20-22, 2012 - Victoria, BC
April 24-26, 2012 - Toronto, ON
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