There is a belief by some commentators that collective bargaining has become a system opposed to change, a brake on much needed industrial restructuring. Unions are accused of being the new conservatives, resisting change and seeking to preserve the status quo. This viewpoint may be due to institutionalized unemployment which has made the labour market a buyers' market, and to the economic restructuring which has led to a reduction in the overall number of jobs in many workplaces.
Unions reflect and represent the concerns of their members.
The loss of benefits and potentially, the loss of work, frequently put unions into a defensive posture. What is probably more significant is that employers are now using collective bargaining to achieve industrial change. The demands of employers rather than the demands of unions are now increasingly the focus of negotiations. Beneath all the buzz words is the fact that restructuring has led to a reduction in the numbers of managers in many Canadian businesses. These fewer people now have increased responsibilities, and there is a need for new, and often more collegial ways of getting work done.