Fighting for a Working Future: Emerging Models of Local Union Strategy in a New Era of Global Cornpetition Sean M. DiGiovanna A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Gnduate Department of Geography University of Toronto %; Copyright by Sean DiGiovanna 1997. National Library Bibliothéque nationale )*IofCanada du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliogaphic Services services bibliographiques 395 Wellington Street 395. nie Welliiglori Ottawa ON K1A ON4 Ottawa ON K1A ON4 Canada Canada The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accorde une licence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive permettant à 1û National Librw of Canada to Bibliothéque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, disîribute or sell reproduire, prêter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis in microform, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electronic formats. la forme de rnicrofiche/nlm, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriété du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantial extracts fiom it Ni la thèse ni des exbraits substantiels may be printed or otherwise de celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. Fighting for a Working Future: Emerging Models of Local Union Strategy in a New Era of Global Cornpetition Dissertation in Mfillrnent of PhD. degree requirernents in the Department of Geography, University of Toronto, 1997. by Sean M. DiGiovanna ABSTRACT The overarching goal of this dissertation is to examine and discuss ernerging models of local union strategy in what has been identified as a new era of global cornpetition. This study addresses two central concems within economic geography. First and forernos&this research examines the issue of the role of local unions in influencing the economic future of their communities in a period of intense industrial restnicturing. By focussing on unions as agents in economic change, it challenges the notion that firm strategy is the sole, or even deciding determinant of the geography of capitalisrn. Second, it contributes to our understanding of economic change at the local level. In investigating the expenence of two industrial communities undergoing substantial change in the face of global pressures. this study recognizes that the unique focal social relations evident in each community have had profound influence over the direction of local economic restructuring - particuIarly when one considers the level and character of interaction arnong local unions, local business and local govemment. This dissertation concludes that workers have transforrned their institutions frorn organizations focussed strictly on representing workers rights in the workplace to mechanisrns through which workers can enter into the active production (or reproduction) of space at the local level. This transformation is part and parce1 of the process by which stakeholders are responding to what some have called the "crisis of Fordism". In so doing, they are active participants in the subsequent rearticulation of local modes of social regdation. The transformation of local social relations produced (in part) by union activity calls into question the applicability of traditional class analysis with its static view of workers and their relationship CO the means of production. Furthemore, a cornparison of two Ontario communities - Sault Ste. Marie and St. Catharines - illustrates that there is a great deal of local specificity in both the manner in which workers (and their organizations) enter into the production of space and the desired outcorne of such transfomative activity. Acknowledgments The design and implementation of this study could not have happened without the help of a nurnber of individuals who tirelessly gave me guidance and support. First. 1 wish to acknowledge the assistance of Gabe McNally. President of the St. Catharines and District Labour Council. and Dan Lewis. President of the Sault Ste. Marie and District Labour Council. for their cooperation in the development and implementation of the postal survey. 1 would also like to thank the union and community leaders who took the tirne to answer my many questions and provide me with requested information. This project would not have been possible without the support of the staff at the Department of Geography - with a special mention to Zehra Al par who I shall always remember and admire for her strength and kindness. This dissertation has also required the support and understanding of my farnily and 1 would like to thank them for their patience and understanding. 1 would dso like to acknowledge my fellow students. Marc Arnold. Shauna Brail. Marc Despatie and Betsy Donald for their constant advice and support. 1 owe my ability to conduct this research to my excellent thesis cornmittee. who allowed me the freedom to take some risks and who gave freely of their timr and wisdom - thdsto Car1 Amrhein. John Brinon. Kim England. Jim Lemon and Sue Ruddick. Finally. 1 wish to thank my supervisor. Ment C-der. Seldom have 1 had the pleasure to work with such an intelligent. compassionate and inspiring human being. Without his tireless assistance and unwavering support. this study would not have been possible. Thank you. This study is dedicated to the working people of St. Catharines and Sault Ste. Marie. Table of Contents Chapter 1 : Introduction 1.1 Research Questions and Findings 1.2 The Focus of Inquiry in Economic Geography 1.3 Outline of Dissertation Chapter 2: Workers. Firms and Communities in Crisis: A Regdation Approach to Local Economic Change and the Character of Class Struggle 2.0 Introduction 17 2.1 Global Economic Restructuring and Regional Change 18 2.2 A Theoretical Frarnework for Local Economic Transformation 32 2.3 Contributions of the Study to the Advancement of Geography 46 Chapter 3 : Background and Methodology 3 .O Introduction 3.1 Research Methods Utilized 3.2 Limitations of the Research Conducted 3.3 Sault Ste. Marie and St. Catharines Chapter 4: Manifestations of Unique Worker Experience in Sault Ste. Marie and St. Catharines 4.0 Introduction 69 4.1 Geography Matters: The Importance of Relative Location 70 4.2 Defining Experiences in the Development of Worker Identity 74 4.3 Postai Survey of Local Union Leadership 82 4.4 Conclusions 94 Chapter 5: An Examination of Local Union Strategy in Sault Ste. Marie and St. Catharines 5 .O Introduction 5.1 A Place at the Table: Local Unions and Workplace Restructuring 5.2 Local Unions and Formal Economic Development Activities 5 -3 Informai Economic Deveiopment 5 -4 Emerging Models of Union Activity 5.5 Conclusions Chapter 6: Explaining Local Di fferences Observed: A regulation Approach 6.0 Introduction 6.1 Spatial and Temporal Specificities as Institutional Forrns 6.2 Exarnining the Wage Labour Nexus 6.3 The Labour-State Accord 6.4 Institutionai Foms and the Perception of the Current Crisis 6.5 Conclusions Chapter 7: Epilogue and Conclusions 7.0 Introduction 7.1 Implications for the Study of Class Analysis 7.2 Ontario Workers and the Harris Goverment 7.3 Findings 7.4 Condusion Appendices Sources C ited List of Tables Table Page Location Quotients for Labour Force Activity: Sault Ste. Marie Location Quotients for Labour Force Activity: St. Catharines Ten Largest Industrial Employers in Sault Ste. Marie. 1994 Ten Largest Industrial Employers in St. Catharines. 1994 Population Growth Rates for Sault Ste. Marie. St. Catharines and Ontario Questions for Part 1 of Survey Local Govenunent Agencies Identified by Local Unions Provincial Govemment Agencies Identified by Local Unions Summary of Local Differences in Institutional Forms Dynamics of the Development of Union strate^ List of Figures Figure Page Schematic View of Decision-Making in a Local Union 43 Location of Sautt Ste. Marie and St. Catharines 55 Comparative Average Wage Rates for Production Workers 57 Industrial Structure of Sault Ste. Marie by Establishments and Employment 58 Industrial Structure of St. Catharines by Establishments and Employment 59 Unemployment Rates for St. Catharines. Sault Ste. Marie and Ontario 62 Percentage of Workers in Foreign and Domestic Firms. St. Catharines 64 Percentage of Workers in Foreign and Domestic Fims. Sault Ste. Marie 64 Average Level of Agreement with Survey Questions in Part 1 85 Perception of Governrnents by Union Activists: St. Catharines v. Sault Ste. Marie 87 Perception of Govemments by Union Activists: Public v. Private Sector 88 Importance Assigned to Causes of Local Economic Decline 90 Importance Assigned to Potential Solutions 92 Importance Assigned to Potential Union Activities 93 The Structure of Algoma Steel's Labour-Management Partnership 101 Canada's Share of North Arnerican Auto Production, 1950- 1985 134 Percentage of Organized Canadian Workers in Canadian Unions. 1945- 1988 137 Industrial Employment Indices for Canada and The U.S.. 1968-1988 139 Union Membership as a Percentage of Non-agricultural Production Workers 140 Representation of Lean Production 146 Percentage of Voters Who Supported the NDP in Ontario Provincial Elections 155 List of Appendices Appendix Appendix A: Survey of Local Union Leadership Appendix 8: List of Interviewees Appendix C: Sample Interview Schedule Chapter 1 Introduction 1.1 Research Questions and Findings The overarching goal of this dissertation is to examine and discuss ernerging models of local union strategy. through documenting and analysing the recent experiences of local unions in Sault Ste. Marie and St. Catharines. Ontario. in what has been identified as a new era of global cornpetition.' Worken and their institutions act with a degree of geographic variation. contributing to differences in local economic outcornes. Thus. in order to hlly understand local economic change. one must examine the causes of local specificity in union behaviour. The main thesis of this dissertation is that geographical variation in local union strategy can only be understood by examining the institutionalized compromises which constitute the local mode of social regulation (MSR).