Norton, Brian B.

English

York University, Osgoode Hall Law School

Osgoode Hall Law JournalVolume 5, Number 2 (October 1967) Article 13Book Review: International Unionism: A Study inCanadian-American Relations, by John H. G.CrispoBrian B. NortonFollow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.osgoode.yorku.ca/ohljBook ReviewThis Book Review is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals at Osgoode Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion inOsgoode Hall Law Journal by an authorized editor of Osgoode Digital Commons.Citation InformationNorton, Brian B.. "Book Review: International Unionism: A Study in Canadian-American Relations, by John H. G. Crispo." OsgoodeHall Law Journal 5.2 (1967) : 321-323.http://digitalcommons.osgoode.yorku.ca/ohlj/vol5/iss2/13Book ReviewsIt should be noted that, except for the first three or four chapters,this is probably not a book that a lawyer can profitably curl up within the expectation of filling the gaps in his appreciation of the non-legal aspects of collective bargaining. It is too concise, too blandly writ-ten and somewhat too technical for that. However, as a reference workfor supplying non-legal background in specific areas, and to a lesserextent as a tool for sharpening one's understanding of Canadian labourlaw through the acquisition of some appreciation of its Americancounterpart, this book will be very useful indeed.BERNARD L. ADELL "'INTERNATIONAL UNIONISM: A study in Canadian-American re-lations. JOHN H. G. CRispo, McGraw-Hill Canada, 1967. pp. 324.($8.60)Three relatively recent occurrences, the S.I.U. trusteeship, theToronto newspaper strike, and the Canada-U.S. pact, have put thequestion of the desirability of Canadian participation in Americandominated unions into sharper perspective. Working against this back-ground, Professor Crispo undertook the writing of this book for theCanadian-American Committee, and, as the sub-title suggests, theemphasis is on the positions of Canadian and American unionistswithin their common organizations, rather than on an attempt toanalyze the workability of trade unionism on a world-wide scale.He gives as among his own personal reasons for taking up the projectthe desire to produce objectively determined facts, hopefully leadingto meaningful discussion rather than foundationless, yet uncontradict-able, statements of personal prejudice.The early chapters examine the historical development of theinternational union, including a discussion as to why the Canadianworker remains in these unions, (apathy plays a large part), and whyAmerican workers continue to support Canadian locals, (the pridein having an "international" status is not a small factor). ProfessorCrispo outlines also the development of Quebec's C.N.T.U. from apurely French, Church-dominated system of "company unions" to theradical, militant, secular and outward-looking organization it is today.Because this section is based on historical fact, and because the authorwisely makes no attempt to determine any single reason for theemergence of the North American international, the reader is leftto speculate as to why these unions flourished, and whether or notthey will continue to do so.Professor Crispo follows this with loosely co-ordinated observa-tions on the position of the Canadian membership within the various*Bernard L. Adell, B.A., LL.B. (Alberta), D.Phil. Oxon.), AssistantProfessor, Faculty of Law, Queen's University.19671OSGOODE HALL LAW JOURNALinternationals, interrupted by what seems to be an interminablecollection of the names of various unions following particular prac-tices (which would have been better relegated to footnotes). Fromthis it is possible to conclude that, although most union constitutionsmake little or no provision for a separate Canadian operation, inpractice many unions do have a distinct Canadian organization, itsstrength depending to a large extent on the quality of the personnelinvolved and on their support of headquarters.Next the author thoroughly documents the history of the Cana-dian Labour Congress and the relationship with its American counter-part, the A.F.L.-C.I.O. Especially interesting is the great influenceexerted by the A.F. of L. on the Canadian T.L.C. (craft union federa-tion) prior to the twin mergers on both sides of the border, and thesubsequently greater influence the Canadian industrial unions hadin the C.L.C. Contrasted with this is the A.F.L. dominance of theAmerican federation. Any examination of the position of the averageCanadian unionist must take place on two levels. He is very likelyto belong to an international within the A.F.L.-C.I.O., but he is alsolikely to be represented on the relative autonomous C.L.C. Thisdivided loyalty was never more in evidence than during the GreatLakes Shipping crisis in which the S.I.U. membership vigorouslyopposed the imposition of a Canadian government trusteeship anddefied the U.S. administration in boycotting Canadian freighters inChicago. The C.L.C., on the other hand, supported the trusteeshipand disaffiliated the S.I.U. Professor Crispo examines this crisis andother areas of conflict between the two nationally oriented federa-tions and leaves open the question as to whether or not they willcontinue to work in the harmony that is supposed to exist betweenthem.In his chapter on the influence of U.S. collective agreements onCanadian negotiations, and vice-versa (many unions being aware ofthe value of a Canadian precedent in undermining their U.S. positionas occurred with respect to diesel yard firemen following the C.P.R.dispute in 1957), the author discusses a recent study carried out byProfessor B. N. Downie of Queen's University. This section requiressome sophistication in the field of economics to be fully comprehended,but is nonetheless understandable to the average lawyer. The autopact has created great pressure for wage parity between U.S. andCanadian auto workers, and the advantages and disadvantages ofparity are discussed fully. It is in the area of collective bargainingthat the locals achieve their greatest degree of responsibility and itis here that the influence of the international is clearly greater thanthat of the C.L.C.However, outside this area Canadians have shown their deter-mination to chart their own course; for example, the C.L.C. has longadvocated recognition of Red China, and, contrary to American prac-tice, openly supports the N.D.P. which it helped to create.[VOL. 5:312322Book ReviewsTo answer those who maintained that international unions arein Canada mainly to "milk" the Canadian worker of his union dues,Professor Crispo shows that the picture is far from clear on this point,and that, in fact, many unions subsidize their Canadian operations,especially in the earlier organizational years.Contrary to popular belief, many employers, and especiallyCanadian subsidiaries of U.S. corporations, prefer dealing with theinternational union because of the moderating influence it exercises.A union will not readily consent to a strike with little chance ofsuccess if it promises to drain the international strike fund. Wherefriction has occurred, it is in cases where the alternative is a weakunion, no union at all or especially where union organization is takingplace for the first time.The book ends with an excellent summary of the advantages anddisadvantages, real or imagined, in the continued existence of inter-national unionism in Canada as seen by the worker, the employer,and the public.Throughout this book one cannot help but see a parallel betweenCanadian demands for more autonomy within their unions as a recog-nition of the differing needs occasioned by divergent economic andpolitical considerations in both countries, and the Quebec nationalists'cry for recognition of the "French fact" in Canada. Unfortunately,Professor Crispo has not swept away the cobwebs surrounding theinternational union controversy, and has demonstrated only that inter-national unionism is good or bad in particular situations dependingon one's particular point of view. What the reader does get is anoverall, although not sharply defined, picture of the internal workingsof the union.One or two minor complaints come to mind. Professor Crispohas obviously chosen not to mention by name any of the colourfulfigures who created the international union as it is today, and in sodoing has made the book far less enjoyable to read. He has alsochosen not to include an index, an unforgivable omission in a textthat apparently was intended to be a tool for further research.For those who do not wish to read this rather lengthy book, asynopsis is promised, entitled 'The Role of International Unionism inCanada'.BRIAN B. NORTON*"Brian B. Norton, B.Sc. (Carleton), is a member of the 1967 graduatingclass at Osgoode Hall Law School.19671

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