Industrial Relations Outlook 2011: From Conflict to Cooperation?

The extent of cooperation between labour and management was the dominant theme to emerge at this year’s annual industrial relations roundtable. This, in combination with the limited growth prospects and wage restraints facing Canadian labour next year, suggests a relatively quiet front in labour relations terms through 2011—although this does not preclude the possibility for conflict, particularly in the public sector broadly, and in the manufacturing industry specifically. Looking beyond 2011, concerns pertaining to demographic shortages and productivity growth may broaden the terrain on which labour and management are presently finding common ground.