TY - JOUR

T1 - Understanding the dynamics of inequity in collective bargaining

T2 - evidence from Australia, Canada, Denmark and France

AU - Barton, Ruth

AU - Béthoux, Élodie

AU - Dupuy, Camille

AU - Ilsøe, Anna

AU - Jalette, Patrice

AU - Laroche, Mélanie

AU - Navrbjerg, Steen Erik

AU - Larsen, Trine Pernille

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - Unions and collective bargaining are generally considered to be the main vehicles for ensuring equity at work. This article questions this assertion by examining distinct forms of inequity between workers in unionised workplaces and, more specifically, the role of collective bargaining in creating, maintaining, reducing or avoiding them. Based on a study conducted in Australia, Canada (Québec), Denmark and France, the situations of inequity examined are related to employment and working conditions, and favour one group of workers over another group of workers performing the same tasks in the same workplace. To better apprehend these dynamics and distinguish between different situations, we develop an analytical framework to capture them. Then, we focus on one example observable in each country: two examples of inequity based on date of hiring (Canada and Australia) and two based on employment status (France and Denmark), showing how the four ideal-type processes interact in each national context. Based on an analysis of these examples, we demonstrate the segmentation between core and non-core employees, along the lines of segmentation theory, but also within groups of insiders or core employees and the key factors that explain how the collective bargaining process can lead to inequity: time, balance of power, and workplace institutions.

AB - Unions and collective bargaining are generally considered to be the main vehicles for ensuring equity at work. This article questions this assertion by examining distinct forms of inequity between workers in unionised workplaces and, more specifically, the role of collective bargaining in creating, maintaining, reducing or avoiding them. Based on a study conducted in Australia, Canada (Québec), Denmark and France, the situations of inequity examined are related to employment and working conditions, and favour one group of workers over another group of workers performing the same tasks in the same workplace. To better apprehend these dynamics and distinguish between different situations, we develop an analytical framework to capture them. Then, we focus on one example observable in each country: two examples of inequity based on date of hiring (Canada and Australia) and two based on employment status (France and Denmark), showing how the four ideal-type processes interact in each national context. Based on an analysis of these examples, we demonstrate the segmentation between core and non-core employees, along the lines of segmentation theory, but also within groups of insiders or core employees and the key factors that explain how the collective bargaining process can lead to inequity: time, balance of power, and workplace institutions.

KW - Faculty of Social Sciences

KW - Collective bargaining

KW - equity

KW - industrial relations

KW - inequity

KW - union

KW - international study

KW - segmentation

U2 - 10.1177/1024258920981827

DO - 10.1177/1024258920981827

M3 - Journal article

VL - 27

SP - 113

EP - 128

JO - Transfer

JF - Transfer

SN - 1024-2589

IS - 1

ER -