Craftsmen involved in the metal and building trades did help set a positive image for their companies.
[12] Union leaders shared a form of populism that spoke to three key groups of people-- patriotic producers, wage earners, and guardians of basic rights.
[14] The result is an intense focus on the collective bargaining process, conducted according to rigid specifications.
Large federations felt it was crucial to appeal to all citizens in general who believed in "equal rights" and were held in jeopardy by corrupt administrators.
A consequence of this outlook is that instead of simply organizing and demanding power on the shop floor, workers follow a pre-determined system that does not allow major changes in the workplace.
[17] Business unions often attribute workers' issues to employer practices in resource distribution rather than systemic factors.
Business unionists generally aim to negotiate for fair distribution and address inequality within existing structures.
Business unions often seek cooperative approaches with management, viewing stable employer-employee relations as beneficial.
In 1982 a group of construction unions covering approximately 200000 members united to form a new Canadian Federation of Labour.
These unions had been suspended from the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) for nonpayment of per capita tax.