Bringing “Globalization” Down to Earth: Restructuring and Labour in Rural Communities
Author(s)
Leach, Belinda; Winson, Anthony
Abstract
The forces of contemporary capitalism are radically altering the structure of business enterprise, the organization of labour, the quality of life on and off the job and the role of the state in shaping these in Canadian society. The study reported on here attempts to expand upon our knowledge of this transformation through empirical research, in particular research that is situated in a rural community context. We situate our study within the broad debate around the implications for labour, and ultimately the wider society, of economic restructuring in Canada. We then examine three case studies of corporate restructuring in rural communities of Southern Ontario. The survey we conducted of the former plant labour forces points to some common and disturbing outcomes of the restructuring process. We interpret these in light of the theoretical debate around the directions of contemporary Canadian capitalism.
