From Consent to Coercion
The Assault to Trade Union Freedoms

This third edition of this text examines the shift from consent towards coercion in the state's relationship to labour in Canada, and extends the analysis through the 1990s to the beginning of the 21st century.

This third edition of this text examines the shift from consent towards coercion in the state's relationship to labour in Canada, and extends the analysis through the 1990s to the beginning of the 21st century. It contains two new chapters, one on coercion in the Chretien era and another which advances a strategy for labour movements to confront the difficult challenges facing working poeple today. Lists of legislation and all tables have been completely updated.

Part one - from the era of consent to the era of coercion: introduction
the post-war era of free collective bargaining
permanent exceptionalism - the turn of coercion in the 1970s. Part two - the consolidation of coercion in the 1980s: the right to strike - freedom of association and the charter
the Mulroney years - freeing trade, coercing labour
consolidating coercion in the provinces
the labour movement in the new era. Part three - closing the century, social democracy, neoliberalism and beyond: the social contract - labour and the NDP
neoliberalism, labour and the Canadian state
towards a new strategy for labour. Appendices: tables on wages, strikes and union membership
legislative orders suspending the right to strike 1950-2002
legislation amending trade union rights - 1982-2002.