One of the most extensive working conditions surveys of industrial workers
and probably the largest study of auto assembly plant workers.
Joint study by CAW-Canada and McMaster University, Labour Studies. The study had two objectives:
1) to assess the impact of managerial initiatives such as lean production on working conditions, and;
2) to provide a balance to the increased use of competitive benchmarking studies which approach workplaces from a very narrow perspective of efficiency and productivity.
McMaster University Labour Studies was asked to join the study to provide methodological expertise and statistical analysis.
STUDY SCOPE:
One of the most extensive working conditions surveys of industrial workers
and probably the largest study of auto assembly plant workers.
Surveyed workers in 9 assembly plants in Canada operated by GM, Ford, Chrysler & CAMI (late fall 1995).
Benchmark study provides a snapshot of working conditions
at a plant, company and sectoral level.
Provides plant by plant, company
by company comparisons.
STUDY METHODOLOGY (see Appendix 1 of Study Report)
46 question survey, confidential individual responses
large sample size with high return rate (57 per cent)
over 2,400 completed surveys from 9
plants
data processing & statistical analysis by McMaster University
STUDY FOCUS:
answers grouped into 6 Working Conditions Indexes:
workload
change in workload
physical risks
stress risks
autonomy/control
relations with management
STUDY RESULTS: Workers Report Inadequate Working Conditions!
Autoworkers are insecure(72 per cent). Too many report that they are working in physically awkward
positions (51 per cent) and in pain for too much of the time (55 per cent).
They are working either too fast or too overloaded with not enough time
or not enough people to do the work (75 per cent). They are tired (69 per
cent) and tense (64 per cent). They often have little energy for their
families (77 per cent). And they doubt whether they can keep the pace of
their work until they are 60, never mind 65 (78 per cent).
Conditions Are Getting Worse!
Compared to a couple of years ago, people are more tired
(62 per cent) and more tense (53 per cent). Their workload has increased
(73 per cent) and they are monitored more closely by management (63 per
cent).
General Motors Tops The List Of Worst Plants:
Out of the six working conditions indexes, General Motors ranks the worst on five -- workload, workload change, physical risks, stress risks, autonomy/control.
On the
sixth (relations with management) they are edged out of the worst spot
by CAMI (GM-Suzuki joint venture) but on a plant basis, it is GM, Oshawa
#1.
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