Mark Thompson: In Memoriam
It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Mark E. Thompson, a cherished friend, esteemed colleague, and Professor Emeritus at UBC Sauder School of Business. Mark was tragically killed in Mexico City on Thursday, July 24, after being struck by a motorcyclist. He did not suffer.
Mark was born on June 17, 1939 in Oakland, California. He earned an economics degree (cum laude) from the University of Notre Dame, followed by an M.S. and Ph.D. in collective bargaining, labour law, and labour movements from Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations. Upon completing his Ph.D., Mark was inducted into the U.S. Army where he attended infantry school at Fort Benning, Georgia. His younger peers called him “Doc”—a nod to both his academic credentials and calm leadership. He went on to work in counterintelligence for the Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence in Washington, D.C., where he met his future wife, Mary. They were married in 1968 and had three children.
After his time in the Army and two years at the International Labour Office in Geneva, Switzerland, Mark joined the University of British Columbia in 1971 and became a full professor at UBC Sauder in 1985, holding the prestigious William Hamilton Chair in Industrial Relations for much of his career. Mark held several important roles within UBC Sauder including serving as Division Chair and representing the faculty on Dean search committees. He was a dedicated, internationally respected and award-winning scholar, teaching various industrial relations courses until his retirement in 2002.
Mark was especially gifted at helping business school students understand how labour unions function and why they matter. Mark was always accessible to his students, and he enjoyed teaching and mentoring them. His support for his students extended beyond the classroom—he often invited students who were far from home to join his family in celebrating Canadian holidays. He kept in touch with many of his students after they graduated, attending many lunches, dinners, weddings and baby showers, and providing ongoing career advice throughout their lives. Similarly, Mark always found time to support his UBC colleagues, often over lunch or while watching a baseball game, mentoring or providing guidance on labour relations at UBC.
Mark led an academic life of integrity, inquiry and impact. As a scholar, Mark always endeavoured to gain a frontline understanding of industrial relations from the perspectives of managers, employees, and unions by spending time in the workplace and discussing issues directly with each party. His practical approach to research informed his academic articles and significantly enhanced his contributions to the field. He was recognized as a leading expert on Canadian industrial relations and public sector collective bargaining. His research in Mexico, and experience at the International Labor Organization deepened his interest in comparing industrial relations across national contexts long before others were interested in globalization. His articles on “Collective Bargaining in the Mexican Electrical Industry,” and “Unions and White-Collar Workers in Mexico” were the first studies to explain to readers in North America how unions operate in Mexico, and were especially prescient given the later impact of NAFTA, and the more recent increase in the globalization of business. Among his most influential publications was a study disproving the alleged “narcotic effect” of interest arbitration in public sector bargaining. Notably his findings showed instead the persistence of collective bargaining over decades. Likewise, a chapter in “Canadian Labour and Employment Relations” dispelled traditional assumptions about management practices in unionized firms. He was one of the few industrial relations scholars who was also a leading scholar in labour and employment law. The Supreme Court of Canada has cited his research, which is considered one of the highest forms of recognition for legal academic writing.
During his career, Mark published over 80 academic journal articles, book chapters, papers in edited proceedings, and edited books on various aspects of industrial relations, collective bargaining, and occupational health and safety. His research impact transcended academia by shaping Canadian labour policy, emphasising employment standards and farm safety in Canada. Mark is noted for his leading role in revising the B.C. Employment Standards Act in 1993. His report, "Rights and Responsibilities in a Changing Workplace: A Review of Employment Standards in British Columbia," made sweeping recommendations for employment law reform in the province, particularly for the most vulnerable groups within the workforce, most of which the government adopted. He also served as a neutral governor (1992-1996) on the Workers’ Compensation Board of B.C. Mark shared his expertise broadly, educating the public about industrial relations with frequent media appearances throughout his career.
Mark helped shape other labor reforms in British Columbia. From 1993 through 2005, he served as the Chair of the Farm and Ranch Safety and Health Association (FARSHA). FARSHA educated the farming community about the benefits of the occupational health and safety regulations for agriculture, which he helped write. From 1997-2007, he served as the Chair of Safety and Health in Arts Production and Entertainment (SHAPE). The arts production and entertainment workforce is unique in the flexibility of its employment relationships. SHAPE worked with producers and unions to design safety programs tailored to this work environment.
Mark was also influential in establishing collective bargaining rights for faculty at universities across Canada. He was instrumental in establishing the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT), which is dedicated to ensuring faculty collective bargaining rights across Canada. He served as a member of the collective bargaining committee for CAUT (1974-1982), Chairman of the collective bargaining committee (1979-1982), and Executive Board Member (1979-1982). These efforts have helped to develop strong working conditions in universities across Canada.
A highly respected arbitrator, Mark was admitted to the U.S. National Academy of Arbitrators in 1983, becoming at that time just the second B.C.-based arbitrator to receive that distinction. He adjudicated more than 200 labour-management cases, chosen by both unions and employers or appointed by government agencies. His arbitration work continued well into retirement.
After retiring, Mark continued his research, most notably co-authoring “Harvest of Shame,” a pivotal 2008 Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) study exposing the exploitation of migrant farmworkers in British Columbia. He continued advocating for faculty during his retirement as a member of the UBC Emeritus College, serving as President (2010-2011) of the earlier UBC Association of Professors Emeriti, and was the Sauder School of Business liaison to the College until his death. He also belonged to several special interest groups of the College, including the photo group, the travel group, and the Veterans, Military Affiliated, Emeriti and Academics group.
Mark received many awards for his scholarship and teaching, including the Canadian Industrial Relations Association’s Gérard Dion Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the Industrial Relations discipline; an honourary Doctorate of Social Sciences from Universit Laval; and the Isaac Walton Killam Award for Teaching Excellence at UBC. In 2018 he was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada for his service to labour-management relations and public policy guidance.
Though Mark’s life ended tragically in Mexico, it was a country he loved deeply. His doctoral dissertation, “The Development of Unionism Among Mexican Electrical Workers,” examined the mid-1960s evolution of organized labour in Mexico. His connection to Mexico did not end with his dissertation, though. He spent sabbatical time there, visited frequently, and had been planning an extended stay next year. As we mourn his sudden loss, we should also remember his enduring bond with Mexico.
Mark was a wonderful friend, colleague and mentor. His contributions to the University of British Columbia, the UBC Sauder School of Business, and to labour relations and employment standards will long be remembered and will endure. Mark was very much engaged outside of his academic life. He was a long time, loyal and active parishioner of Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish. Both he and his wife Mary supported many ministries of the Parish.
He is survived by his loving wife, Mary (née Carey), his children—James (and his wife Anne, and their daughters Kathryn, Caroline, and Mary Jane), Julie (and her partner Michael, and their children Cooper and Farley), and Drew (and his partner Kate). He is also survived by his sister, Peggy Desmond; numerous beloved nieces and nephews; and his granddoodle, Whistler.