Daphne Taras

Biography

Dr. Taras has a B.A. (Hons) from York University, and an M.A. from Duke University, both in political science. Her M.B.A. in new ventures and entrepreneurship and Ph.D. in labour relations are from the University of Calgary, and she has an LL.M in Labour and Employment Law from Osgoode Hall. Prior to her move to Saskatoon in 2010, she was a professor at the University of Calgary’s Haskayne School of Business and was Associate Dean (Research) and Director of the PhD Program. She has also held a Professorship in Public Policy. Dr. Taras has published over 50 journal articles and book chapters, seven books and edited many important journal symposia. She has mediated labour disputes, facilitated union-management committees, and provided training in conflict resolution. Dr. Taras has been active at the intersection of labour relations, public policy and law. Her particular interest is in bringing multiple disciplines together on important labour market and workplace issues. She received many research awards from the University of Calgary, and two teaching awards from the PhD students. She was expert advisor to the Federal Labour Standards Commission from 2004 to 2006. In 2006 she was awarded the US-based Labor and Employment Relations Association’s Excellence in Education Award. In 2008 she gave the H.D. Woods lecture to her academic association. She was named a Top 100 Woman of Distinction for Canada and a Top 10 Woman of Influence in Saskatchewan, both in 2012.

Research Interest

I am working on two SSHRC grants. First, I am examining the "micro-politics" of justice, involving intensive field research into major Supreme Court cases in labour and employment. I am most interested in how individuals find their way to the Supreme Court. What convergence of factors is necessary before a litigant can sustain such a legal battle? Second, I am examining whether the personality of adjudicators can explain time delay in justice. With particular focus on labour arbitrators, I am working with Dr. Piers Steel and Dr. Allen Ponak to gather information on thousands of Canadian labour arbitration cases and triangulating the time delay gathered from a content analysis with a web-based survey of the arbitrators themselves. We have over a 70% response rate and are poised to write up our findings.