Labour Studies
University of Windsor
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Careers in the field of Labour Studies

There are a wide range of careers in labour relations and human resources which can be pursued in a variety of different workplace contexts. This web page outlines the available options.

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Job Context:
Careers with Union and Employee Associations
Government Ministries, Departments, Agencies, Boards and Tribunals
Private Corporations and Public Service Organizations
Practicing Labour and Employment Law
Private Consultant Firms, Labour and Employment Service Firms, Dispute Resolution
Independent Think Tanks and Research Centres
Social and Community Action Groups
Organizations specific to Occupational Health and Safety
Universities and Colleges

Specific Work Sites:
Relevant Government Agencies, Boards, Commissions and Tribunals
Independent Think Tanks and Research Institutes

Examples of Specific Job Titles in Labour Studies/Relations Area:
Government Jobs
Union Jobs
Management Jobs

A. Job Context

1) Careers with Union and Employee Associations

Two kinds of organizations:

i) certified unions, including —industrial (e.g. CAW/Canadian Autoworkers, USWA/United Steelworkers), office (e.g. CUPE/Canadian Union of Public Employees) and professional (e.g. OSSTF/Ontario Secondary Teachers Federation

ii) employee and professional associations (e.g. Ontario Medical Association, Ontario Registered Nurses Association, Canadian Association of University Teachers)

Industrial unions tend to hire from among their own membership; white collar and professional unions are more likely to hire outside the membership placing more emphasis on university education as well as union experience large number of non-union organizations which represent specific employee or professional groups in voluntary negotiations with employers (e.g. Ontario Medical Association) are also much more likely to hire externally with an emphasis on university graduates Union careers can involve specialized and general do it all jobs. Some frequent job titles are: Research officers, Communications officers, Grievance officers, Negotiators, Organizers, Health and Safety and Injury and Disease Compensation officers, Government Relations officers
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2) Government Ministries, Departments, Agencies, Boards and Tribunals — Federal, Provincial, Municipal

Two kinds of government organizations:
i) direct government departments or ministries such as Ontario Ministry of Labour

ii) quasi independent agencies, boards, and tribunals such as the Ontario Labour Relations Board

* wide range of jobs in government departments and ministries including researchers, policy analysts, program officers and managers, employment counselling, and inspectors and enforcement officers
* similar jobs in Boards, Agencies and Tribunals along with case managers or officers, conciliation officers, appeal commissioners, arbitration panelists or co-chairs related to dispute investigation and resolution.
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3) Private Corporations and Public Service Organizations (Human Resources/Personnel/Labour Relations Departments and Health and Safety Departments, Line Supervision)

* specialist and generalist positions

* grievances, collective bargaining, benefits management, training, hiring and promotions, compensation and health and safety programming and policy development, human resource policy development, performance assessment, counseling.

* entry level positions often require only a BA, but MA or MBA will enhance chances of being hired and promoted; additional certification (e.g. WHMIS) can also help along with any direct practical union or work experience.
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4) Practicing Labour and Employment Law (Government and Private Practice)

* represents union or employer clients in arbitrations, etc. and/or represent individual clients in civil suits, or work for government or companies in permanent full time advisory and representation capacity.

* requires a law degree
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5) Private Consultant Firms, Labour and Employment Service Firms, Dispute Resolution

* range of employment possibilities in organizations which provide various services to the government and private corporations, as well as sometimes directly to workers.

* includes organizational, HR and labour relations consultancy firms, career training, counseling and placement firms, ergonomics and industrial hygiene firms, compensation specialists and dispute resolution firms (private arbitration and/or mediation services)

* note that “labour relations consultants” are often union avoidance or union busting specialists

* some of these jobs may require an MA in Labour Studies or Industrial Relations or an MBA; others will require more specialized training or experience; many arbitrators are lawyers but no formal requirement.
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6) Independent Think Tanks and Research Centres

* research and policy analysis jobs

* requires a higher graduate degree at the MA and often Ph.D level
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7) Social and Community Action Groups (e.g. Injured Workers Alliance, Ontario Public Interest Research Group, Amnesty International, Ontario Coalition Against Poverty

* variety of jobs as organizers, researchers, community development

*often contract temporary jobs but good entry level jobs to gain experience

* do not require graduate degrees
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8) Organizations specific to Occupational Health and Safety (Workers Health and Safety Centre, Industrial Health and Safety Association, Mine and Aggregates Health and Safety Association, Windsor Occupational Health Information Service)

* training, auditing services, ergonomic assessments and some research positions

* often require work experience plus B.A. or M.A./M.Sc degree; specific degrees in Ergonomics
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9) Universities and Colleges

* teaching and research jobs

* full time permanent jobs require a Ph.D.; temporary jobs require a MA.
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B. Specific Work Sites

Relevant Government Agencies, Boards, Commissions and Tribunals

Ontario Labour Relations Board
Workplace Safety and Insurance Board
Workplace Safety and Insurance Appeals Tribunal
Ontario Office of the Employer Adviser and Worker Adviser
(for WSIB Claims)
Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers (OHCOW)
Ontario Human Rights Commission/Human Rights Tribunal of
Ontario
Pay Equity Commission of Ontario
Ontario Police Arbitration Commission
Canadian Industrial Relations Board
Public Service Labour Relations Board
Public Service Staffing Tribunal
Public Service Grievance Board
Canadian Forces Grievance Board
Federal Labour Standards Review Commission
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety
Canadian Human Rights Commission
Canadian Employment Insurance Board of Referees
International Labour Organization (UN)
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Independent Think Tanks and Research Institutes

Canadian Labour and Business Centre
Work and Learning Knowledge Centre
Work Research Foundation
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
Canadian Policy Research Network (one area of focus is work)
Institute for Research on Public Policy
International Institute for Labour Studies (ILO)
International Research Group on Employment
Institute for the Study of Labor
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C. Examples of Specific Job Titles in Labour Studies/Relations Area

Government Jobs
Employment Counsellors
Policy Analysts
Labour Lawyers
Mediators
Arbitrators
Policy Analysts/Advisers
Ergonomists
Industrial Hygienists
HR Managers
Case managers
Adjudicators
Hiring Specialists
Employment Equity Coordinators/Specialists
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Union Jobs
Union Staff/Service Representatives (Range of Duties)
Researchers
Organizers
Grievance Officers
Job Security Officer
Negotiators/Collective Bargaining
Communications/Media Officers
Labour Lawyer
Labour Economists
Ergonomists
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists Workers’ Compensation Specialists
Communications Specialists
Education Coordinators/Trainers/Instructors
Industrial Hygienists
Political Relations/Lobbying
Education/Training Officer
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Management Jobs
Human Resources Manager/Adviser
Compensation Specialists
Hiring Specialists
Health and Safety Manager
Labour/Industrial Relations Specialists
Labour Lawyer
Employee Assistance and Benefits Managers
Training and Education Managers
Employment Equity Coordinator
Staff Development Coordinator
Ergonomists
Industrial Hygienists
Employment Equity Coordinators/Specialists
Organizational Analyst/Consultant
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