Bob Barnetson
Dr. Bob Barnetson is a professor of labour relations at Athabasca University. His research focuses on the political economy of workplace regulation in Alberta with specific attention to occupational injury, child labour and farm worker rights. Barnetson is the author of several Parkland Institute reports and blog posts. His recent books include Canada’s labour market training system (Athabasca U Press, 2018), Farm workers in Alberta (UAlberta Press, 2016), and Health and safety in Canadian workplaces (Athabasca U Press, 2016).
Twitter: @bobbarnetson
The essentials of Alberta's new essential services bill
blog | Mar 16, 2016The provincial government has introduced Bill 4, which gives most public sector workers the right to strike for the first time in decades. Athabasca University labour relations professor Bob Barnetson looks at what impact the legislation could have on labour relations with the province's workers.
Bill 6 will right a long-standing wrong
blog | Dec 08, 2015The Alberta government's Bill 6, the Enhanced Protection for Farm and Ranch Workers Act, has become the most contentious legislation of NDP government's short tenure. Athabasca University professor of labour relations Bob Barnetson looks at five of the main arguments against the bill.
Five ways Alberta can improve its regressive labour laws
blog | Nov 25, 2015Alberta’s regressive labour laws have played an important role in making Alberta the least unionized province in Canada. Athabasca University associate professor of labour relations Bob Barnetson outlines five potential changes that could ensure workers in the province can exercise their associational rights.
Illegal and Injurious: How Alberta Has Failed Teen Workers
research | Sep 08, 2015Most Albertans will hold a job at some point during their teen years. Yet teens employed in Alberta face widespread illegality and injury on the job, and Alberta does not effectively enforce the employment laws that are supposed to protect teen workers, including the Employment Standards Code and the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
A Dirty Business: The Exclusion of Alberta Farm Workers From Injury Compensation
research | Jan 15, 2015Alberta farm workers are excluded from workers' compensation protection, despite facing a high risk of workplace injury, including developing occupational cancer. This report examines why the Alberta government continues this exclusion.
On the Job: Why Unions Matter in Alberta
research | May 21, 2014By focusing on the impact of unions in the areas of wages, worker safety, and income inequality, this report documents the contributions of the labour movement to ensuring the well-being of all Albertans.
Making It Home: Alberta Workplace Injuries and the Union Safety Dividend
research | Sep 26, 2013This report highlights the true rates of workplace injury in Alberta and demonstrates how unions protect workers both from unsafe workplaces and a government keen to downplay the risks.