New Centre for Labour Relations Management at Ryerson University Opens

First in Canada to be Supported by Labour and Management

TORONTO, Sept. 16 /CNW/ - Union leaders, employers, government representatives and Ryerson University researchers and students gathered today at the grand opening celebration of the Centre for Labour Management Relations (CLMR) at the Ted Rogers School of Management at Ryerson University. It is the first and only labour management relations Centre in the country funded by both labour and management. The CLMR will offer a nonpartisan forum where leaders from organized labour, public and private sector employers, academia and government can jointly discuss issues, exchange ideas, undertake research and develop a network of professional contacts with a primary goal of assisting in reducing workplace conflict.

One of Canada's most prominent union leaders, Buzz Hargrove, and one of Canada's well-known labour relations academics, Maurice Mazerolle of the Ted Rogers School of Business Management, have been appointed Directors of the Centre.

"Given the challenges the private sector, public sector and unions are facing in the current economic environment, the timing of the creation of the Centre couldn't be better," said Hargrove, a Distinguished Visiting Professor at the Ted Rogers School of Management and former Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) president.

At a time when labour disputes are becoming more frequent, the Centre offers a necessary new approach to build a more viable, sustainable and competitive Canadian marketplace, which heavily relies on avoiding or at least reducing workplace conflict. Due to critical issues such as wage, benefit and pension cuts, lay offs and increased workloads for those employees who remain, focusing on reducing conflict and avoiding strikes by assisting unions and employers with materials and knowledge will benefit all.

Cynthia Morton, Deputy Minister of Labour, Province of Ontario, Liz Graham, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Groupe Aeroplan Inc., Ken Georgetti, President, Canadian Labour of Congress and John Farrell, Executive Director, Federally Regulated Employers - Transportation and Communications (FETCO) provided supportive remarks about the Centre at the official opening event.

While providing an overview of the Centre, Mazerolle said, "I think one of the most important issues to look at is job security and the dangers associated with crowd sourcing work in the new economy. The modern workplace has reshaped the way in which we define work to the extent that there are now challenges in understanding new roles and relationships.  Above all, it is critical to understand how to create engaging, inclusive workplaces that are centred around the idea of respect."

Areas of concentration for the CLMR may also include: alternative models for worker voice and representation; pensions sustainability in a time of economic instability; public sector labour relations; and mental health issues within the workplace to name a few.

Ryerson students will benefit with direct exposure to top labour and management leaders from around Canada and internationally, with the creation of special course-related engagements, workplace placements and internships.

For more information about the Centre for Labour Management Relations, please visit http://www.ryerson.ca/clmr.

Ryerson University is Canada's leader in innovative, career-oriented education and a university clearly on the move. With a mission to serve societal need, and a long-standing commitment to engaging its community, Ryerson offers close to 100 undergraduate and graduate programs. Distinctly urban, culturally diverse and inclusive, the university is home to 28,000 students, including 2,000 master's and PhD students, nearly 2,700 tenured and tenure-track faculty and staff, and more than 130,000 alumni worldwide. Research at Ryerson is on a trajectory of success and growth: externally funded research has doubled in the past four years. The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education is Canada's leading provider of university-based adult education. For more information, visit www.ryerson.ca.

Note to media: Photos are available upon request.

For further information:

Kathleen Powderley, Responsible Communications, 416-803-5597, [email protected] or Sarah Hayward, Responsible Communications, 416-505-0523, [email protected]