Work on Trial: Canadian Labour Law Struggles

by Judy Fudge (Editor)

Work on Trial is a collection of studies of eleven major cases and events that have helped to shape the legal landscape of work in Canada. While most of the cases are well-known because of the impact they have had on collective bargaining, individual employment law, or human rights, less is known about the social and political contexts in which the cases arose, the backgrounds and personalities of the judges and the litigants, the legal manoeuvres that were employed, or the ultimate fate of all those who were involved. These studies, written by some of Canada's leading labour and legal historians, provide this context. Beginning with Toronto Electric Commissioners v. Snider , one of the earliest and most important cases involving the division of powers in the Canadian federation, to the events leading to the articulation of the "Rand Formula" in the immediate post Second World War period, and on to the struggles of women workers in the late 20th century in challenging the continu-ing employment practices based on hegemonic gender-based assumptions, each study tells a compelling story, rich in detail and full of perceptive insights into the complex relationship between law and work.

426 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2010

Reviews

[Brendan Sheehan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A complex but engaging collection of academic essays that attempt to go behind the curtain to discuss 11 pivotal labour and employment cases. The connection between these cases are not apparent until Harry Glasbeek brilliant epilogue about the fundamental role of the judiciary in the Wagner Act model. Not an easy read without a basic understanding of Canadian employment or labour law. I was rusty so it was more difficult than I’d like to admit!