Now and Tomorrow
Excellence in Everything We Do
Labour Organizations
in Canada 2015
LT-289-08-16E
Labour Organizations in Canada 2015
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Page2
Introduction
Everyyear,theWorkplaceInformationandResearchDivisionoftheLabourProgramundertakesasurveyof
alllabourorganizationsinCanadathatrepresentbargainingunitsof50ormoreworkers.1Theresultsfrom
the2015surveyarepresentedinthisreport,alongwithupdatesonunionmergersandchangestolegislation
affectingcollectivebargaininginCanadain2015.
ThenumberofunionizedworkersinCanadaincreasedfrom2014
Asreportedbylabourorganizations,thetotalnumberofworkerspayingduestoaunioninCanadawas4.83
millionattheendof2015,upfrom4.75millionattheendof2014.
Uniondues-payingworkerscomprised31.8%ofallemployeesinCanadain2015,anincreaseof0.3
percentagepointsfrom2014[Appendix1].Bycomparison,theshareofemployeescoveredbyacollective
bargainingagreement,ascalculatedbyStatisticsCanada,was30.6%in2015.2
Themajorityofunionizedworkerswererepresentedbynationalunions
InCanada,unionscanbedividedintofourmaintypes:(1)national;(2)international;(3)independentlocal
organization;and(4)directlycharteredlocal.3Astrongmajority(69.7%)ofdues-payingworkers(henceforth,
unionizedworkers)wereaffiliatedwithnationalunions(Chart1andAppendix3)in2015.International
unionsaccountedforalmost25%ofunionizedworkers,followedbyindependentlocalorganizations(3.9%)
anddirectlycharteredlocals(1.5%).Comparedto2014,therewaslittlechangeinrepresentationbytypeof
organization.
CHART1:Shareofunionizedworkers,byorganizationtype,2015
1Appendix8discussesthesurveymethodology.
2Source:LabourForceSurvey,StatisticsCanada,CANSIMtable282-0012.SeeAppendix8forfurtherinformationonthedifferencesin
methodologybetweenthetwoestimatesoftheunioncoveragerate.
3Appendix9containsthedefinitionofeachtypeofunion.Appendix2containsthebreakdownofunioncoveragebytypeof
organization.
Page3
CHART2:Shareofunions,byorganizationtype,2015
In2015,nationalandinternationalunionsrepresentedalmost95%ofunionizedworkers,butaccountedfor
30.5%ofthetotalnumberofunionsinCanada(Chart2andAppendix3).Directlycharteredlocalsand
independentlocalorganizationsmadeupthemajorityofunions(69.6%).
Eightlargeunionsrepresentedalmosthalfofunionizedworkers
In2015,thetotalnumberofunionsstoodat776.Eightofthoseunions–fiveofwhichwerenationaland
threeinternational–represented100,000ormoreworkerseach[Appendix4].Theeightcomprised45.1%of
allunionizedworkersinCanada.
The18unionswithbetween50,000and100,000workersrepresented25.9%ofallunionizedworkers.Just
1.9%ofunionizedworkersweremembersofthe282unionsrepresentinglessthan1,000workerseach.4
TheCanadianLabourCongressrepresentedmorethantwo-thirdsofunionized
workers
In2015,thevastmajorityofunionizedworkers(81%)wereaffiliatedwithalabourcongress.TheCanadian
LabourCongress(CLC)representedmorethantwo-thirdsofallunionizedworkers(69.0%),5followedbythe
Confédérationdessyndicatsnationaux(CSN),whichrepresented6.9%ofunionizedworkers(Chart3and
Appendix7).Almost19%ofunionizedworkerswerenotaffiliatedwithanylabourcongress.Thissituation
wasrelativelyunchangedfrom2014.WhileaffiliationwiththeCLCroseslightly(0.2percentagepoints),
therewasnochangefortheCSN.
4Appendix5containsthedetailedlistoflabourorganizationswith30,000ormoreworkers.
5SeeAppendix6fordetailsoftheCLC’scoveragebyaffiliation.
Page4
CHART3:Shareofunionizedworkers,bycongressaffiliation,2015
Unionmergers
In2015,twoindependentunionsjoinedalargerlabourorganization:theUniversityofNewBrunswick
EmployeesAssociationandits320membersmergedwithUnifortoformLocal4504;andtheNewFrontier
IndependentAssociation,with50members,mergedwiththeServiceEmployeesInternationalUniontoform
Local800.
Page5
Legislativechanges
In2015,therewereanumberoflegislativechangesaffectingunionsandcollectivebargaininginCanada.
AsignificantchangewasmadetothefederallabourrelationssystemwiththecomingintoforceofBillC-525,
theEmployees'VotingRightsAct,onJune16,2015.BillC-525modifiedtheunioncertificationandrevocation
ofcertification(decertification)rulesunderthreefederalrelationsstatutes:theCanadaLabourCode,
theParliamentaryEmploymentandStaffRelationsActandthePublicServiceLabourRelationsAct.OnJanuary
28,2016,theGovernmentofCanadatabledBillC-4(AnActtoamendtheCanadaLabourCode,the
ParliamentaryEmploymentandStaffRelationsAct,thePublicServiceLabourRelationsActandtheIncomeTax
Act)which,ifenacted,wouldreversethechangesmadebyBillC-525andrestorethecard-checkcertification
system.
InNovember2015,theGovernmentofSaskatchewanenactedTheSaskatchewanEmployment(Essential
Services)AmendmentAct,2015,whichobligespublicserviceemployersandunionstonegotiateessential
servicesagreementspriortoaworkstoppage.Intheeventanessentialserviceagreementsubstantially
interfereswiththerighttostrike,collectivebargainingimpassesmustberesolvedthroughbinding
mediation-arbitration.ThislegislationwasenactedinresponsetoaJanuary2015findingoftheSupreme
CourtofCanada(SCC)thattheprovince’sPublicServiceEssentialServicesActwasunconstitutionalfor,among
otherthings,allowingpublicsectoremployerstounilaterallydesignatewhichworkersareessential,thereby
substantiallyinterferingwithworkers’freedomofassociationandtheirrighttostrike.
AnumberofotherlegislativechangesaffectingunionsandlabourrelationsweremadethroughoutCanadain
2015.Forexample,Bill51inNewBrunswick(AnActtoAmendthePublicServiceLabourRelationsAct)
amendedtheprovincialPublicServiceLabourRelationsActtoincreasetheperiodwithinwhichnoticeto
bargaincollectively-whereacollectiveagreementorarbitralawardisinforce-maybegivenfromtwotosix
months.Bill51cameintoforceonJune5,2015.InAlberta,Bill6(EnhancedProtectionforFarmsandRanch
WorkersAct)receivedRoyalAssentonDecember11,2015.Bill6amendedanumberofprovincialActs,
includingamendingtheLabourRelationsCodetonolongerexcludecertainfarmandranchworkersfromits
application.Thisamendmentwillcomeintoforceonproclamation.
Page6
Appendix1:UnionizedworkersinCanada,1999–2015
Year
Unionizedworkersa
AllEmployeesb
(000s)
(000s)
Unionizedworkersasashareofallemployees
(%)
1999
4,058
11,961
33.9
2000
4,111
12,379
33.2
2001
4,174
12,654
33.0
2002
4,178
12,967
32.2
2003
4,261
13,249
32.2
2004
4,381
13,459
32.5
2005
4,441
13,607
32.6
2006
4,480
13,892
32.2
2007
4,592
14,171
32.4
2008
4,605
14,360
32.1
2009
4,645
14,035
33.1
2010
4,626
14,283
32.4
2011
4,664
14,559
32.0
2012
4,735
14,760
32.1
2013
4,710
14,961
31.5
2014
4,753
15,077
31.5
2015
4,828
15,187
31.8
a. Source:LabourProgram,ESDC
b. Source:LabourForceSurvey,StatisticsCanada,CANSIMTable282-0012
Page7
Appendix2:UnionAffiliation,2015
Unions
Locals
Unionizedworkers
Number
Distribution
(%)
196 10,652 3,364,739
National
CanadianLabourCongress(CLC)
7,105 2,167,858
44.9
107
1,294
721,703
15.0
Confédérationdessyndicatsnationaux(CSN)
17
1,742
329,335
6.8
CentraledessyndicatsduQuébec(CSQ)
14
429
130,427
2.7
ConfederationofCanadianUnions(CCU)
5
33
10,478
0.2
Centraledessyndicatsdémocratiques(CSD)
2
49
4,938
0.1
Independentnational
51
69.7
International
40
1,300 1,200,415
24.9
AmericanFederationofLaborandCongressof
IndustrialOrganizations(AFL-CIO)/CanadianLabour
Congress(CLC)
30
1,137
932,732
19.3
ChangetoWin(CtW)/CanadianLabourCongress
(CLC)
3
83
230,007
4.8
AmericanFederationofLaborandCongressof
IndustrialOrganizations(AFL-CIO)only
4
72
35,684
0.7
Independentinternational
3
8
1,992
0.0
Directlychartered
290
N/A
74,490
1.5
Centraledessyndicatsdémocratiques(CSD)
287
N/A
68,435
1.4
Confédérationdessyndicatsnationaux(CSN)
1
N/A
6,000
0.1
CanadianLabourCongress(CLC)
2
N/A
55
0.0
Independentlocal
250
275
188,609
3.9
Total
776 12,227 4,828,253
100.0
Source:LabourProgram,ESDC
Page8
Appendix3:Typeofunion,2015
Unions
Number
National
Unionizedworkers
Distribution Number
(%)
Distribution
(%)
196
25.3
3,364,739
69.7
40
5.2
1,200,415
24.9
Independentlocal
250
32.2
188,609
3.9
Directlychartered
290
37.4
74,490
1.5
Total
776
100.0 4,828,253
100.0
International
Source:LabourProgram,ESDC
(Percentagesmaynottotalto100%duetorounding)
Page9
Appendix4:UnionSizeandType,2015
Fewer
than1,000
National
Unions
Workers
International
Unions
Workers
Independentlocal
Unions
Total*
Workers
Unions
Workers
81
30,478
8
3,307
193
57,978
282
91,763
1,0009,999
70
263,352
14
58,501
56
120,631
140
442,484
10,00029,999
20
362,271
8
130,506
1
10,000
29
502,777
30,00049,999
8
320,162
1
38,000
9
358,162
18
1,181,730
8
2,176,847
50,00099,999
100,000
andmore
12
776,280
6
405,450
5 1,612,196
3
Source:LabourProgram,ESDC
564,651
*Directlycharteredunionsarenotincluded
Page10
Appendix5:Unionswith30,000ormoreunionizedworkers,2015
Name
Affiliation
Number
CanadianUnionofPublicWorkers
CLC
635,500
NationalUnionofPublicandGeneralWorkers
CLC
360,000
UNIFOR
CLC
300,152
UnitedFoodandCommercialWorkersCanada
AFL-CIO/CLC
247,543
UnitedSteel,PaperandForestry,Rubber,Manufacturing,Energy,AlliedIndustrial
andServiceWorkersInternationalUnion
AFL-CIO/CLC
190,452
PublicServiceAllianceofCanada
CLC
181,017
Fédérationdelasantéetdesservicessociaux
CSN
135,527
ServiceWorkersInternationalUnion
CtW/CLC
126,656
Labourers’InternationalUnionofNorthAmerica
AFL-CIO/CLC
97,000
TeamstersCanada
CtW/CLC
93,351
AlbertaUnionofProvincialWorkers
Independent
national
85,803
ElementaryTeachers’FederationofOntario
CLC
78,204
FTQConstruction
CLC
77,300
OntarioSecondarySchoolTeachers’Federation
CLC
73,311
FédérationinterprofessionnelledelasantéduQuébec
Independent
national
66,000
ChristianLabourAssociationofCanada
Independent
national
61,501
Fédérationdesemployéesetemployésdeservicespublicsinc.
CSN
60,700
OntarioNurses’Federation
CLC
60,000
Fédérationdessyndicatsdel'enseignement
CSQ
59,000
InternationalBrotherhoodofElectricalWorkers
AFL-CIO/CLC
57,130
UnitedAssociationofJourneymenandApprenticesofthePlumbingandPipe
FittingIndustryoftheUnitedStatesandCanada
AFL-CIO/CLC
55,643
ProfessionalInstituteofthePublicServiceofCanada
Independent
national
53,930
InternationalUnionofOperatingEngineers
AFL-CIO/CLC
52,326
CanadianUnionofPostalWorkers
CLC
50,531
InternationalAssociationofMachinistsandAerospaceWorkers
AFL-CIO/CLC
50,000
UnitedBrotherhoodofCarpentersandJoinersofAmerica
CLC
50,000
Page11
Appendix5:Unionswith30,000ormoreunionizedworkers,2015(continued)
OntarioEnglishCatholicTeachers’Association
CLC
48,545
BritishColumbiaNurses'Union
Independent
national
46,291
BritishColumbiaTeachers’Federation
CLC
43,563
AlbertaTeachers'Association
Independent
national
42,572
AmalgamatedTransitUnion
AFL-CIO/CLC
38,000
CanadianOfficeandProfessionalEmployeesUnion
CLC
36,287
SyndicatdelafonctionpubliqueetparapubliqueduQuébec
Independent
national
34,904
Fédérationautonomedel'enseignement
Independent
national
34,000
FédérationnationaledesenseignantesetdesenseignantsduQuébec
CSN
34,000
Affiliationslegend:
AFL-CIO-AmericanFederationofLaborandCongressofIndustrial
Organizations
• CLC–CanadianLabourCongress
• CSN-Confédérationdessyndicatsnationaux
• CSQ-CentraledessyndicatsduQuébec
• CtW-ChangetoWin
Source:LabourProgram,ESDC
•
Page12
Appendix6:AffiliationwiththeCanadianLabourCongress(CLC),2015
Unionizedworkers
Number
Distribution
(%)
CLCaffiliationonly
2,167,858
65.1
CLCandinternationalaffiliation
1,162,739
34.9
AFL-CIO/CLC
932,732
28.0
CtW/CLC
230,007
6.9
55
0.0
3,330,891
100.0
CLCdirectlychartered
TotalaffiliationwiththeCLC
Source:LabourProgram,ESDC
Page13
Appendix7:Unioncoverage,bycongressaffiliation,2015
Unionizedworkers
Number
CanadianLabourCongress(CLC)
AmericanFederationofLaborandCongressofIndustrialOrganizations
(AFL-CIO)/CanadianLabourCongress(CLC)
Distribution
(%)
932,732
19.3
2,167,858
44.9
230,007
4.8
55
0.0
3,330,652
69.0
329,335
6.8
6,000
0.1
335,335
6.9
130,427
2.7
4,938
0.1
Directlychartered
68,435
1.4
Total
73,373
1.5
10,478
0.2
35,684
0.7
1,992
0.0
Independentlocal
188,609
3.9
Independentnational
721,703
14.9
Total
912,304
18.9
4,828,253
100.0
CanadianLabourCongress(CLC)only
ChangetoWin(CtW)/CanadianLabourCongress(CLC)
Directlychartered
Total
Confédérationdessyndicatsnationaux(CSN)
Federation
Directlychartered
Total
CentraledessyndicatsduQuébec(CSQ)
Total
Centraledessyndicatsdémocratiques(CSD)
Federation
ConfederationofCanadianUnions(CCU)
Total
AmericanFederationofLaborandCongressofIndustrial
Organizations(AFL-CIO)only
Total
Unaffiliatedunions
Independentinternational
GrandTotal
Source:LabourProgram,ESDC
Page14
Appendix8:Methodology
TheLabourProgram’sdataiscollecteddirectlyfromlabourorganizationsusingaself-reportingsurvey.Small
labourorganizations(i.e.fewerthan50workers)arenotpartofthesamplingframeforthesurvey,sincethe
LabourProgramdoesnothaveasystematiccountofthem.
Foreachlabourorganization,thesurveyasksaboutthenumberofuniondues-payingworkers,thenumberof
localsrepresented,andtheunion’saffiliationwiththelabourcongresses.Theinformationisrequestedasof
December31ofthereportingyear.Thesurveyissentoutinmid-Decemberwithresponsesrequestedbythe
endofJanuarythefollowingyear.Whenlabourorganizationsdonotrespondtothesurveybythetimethe
resultsareconsolidated,figuresfromthemostrecentyearavailableareusedinstead.
TheLabourProgram’ssurveyoflabourorganizationsandStatisticsCanada’sLabourForceSurvey(LFS)
providedifferentestimatesoftheunioncoveragerate.Thenumeratoroftheratesdifferbecauseofhowthe
dataiscollected(i.e.theLFSisasurveyofhouseholds,anditisamonthlysurvey)andwhatismeasured(i.e.
theLFSaskspersonswhohavepaidemploymentwhethertheyarecoveredbyacollectivebargaining
agreementaswellaswhethertheyaremembersofaunion).Thedenominatorusedtocalculatethecoverage
ratesisthesame,thenumberofemployeesinCanada,asreportedintheLFS.
Page15
Appendix9:Definitions
Union:Labourorganizationthatorganizesandcharterslocals,setsgeneralpolicyforitslocals,assiststhemin
theconductoftheiraffairs,andisthemediumforco-ordinatingtheiractivities.
Labourcongress:Anumbrellaorganizationofunionsthatprovidesassistanceandsupporttoitsmembers.
Unionizedworkers:Allworkersthatarepayingunionsduestoalabourorganization.
Unioncoverage:UnionizedworkersasashareofallemployeesinCanada.
Local:Thebasicunitoflabourorganizationsformedinaparticularplantorestablishment.Themembers
participatedirectlyintheaffairsoftheirlocal,includingtheelectionofofficers,financialandotherbusiness
matters,andrelationsbetweentheirorganizationandtheemployer,andtheypayduestothelocal.
Nationalunion:AunionthatrepresentsitsmembersinCanadaonly.
Internationalunion:AunionthatrepresentsitsmembersinCanadaandtheUnitedStates.InLabour
Program’ssurvey,onlyworkersinCanadaarereported.
Independentlocalorganization:Aunionthatisnotformallyaffiliatedwithanyotherlabourorganization.
Directlycharteredlocal:Aunionthatisorganizedandreceivesitscharterfromalabourcongress.Itpaysper
capitaduestothecongressandreceivesservicesfromthecongress.
Page16