Now and TomorrowExcellence in Everything We Do

Labour Organizations in Canada 2015

LT-289-08-16E

Page2

Labour Organizations in Canada 2015

This publication is available for download at canada.ca/publicentre-ESDC. It is also available upon request in multiple formats (large print, Braille, audio cassette, audio CD, e-text diskette, e-text CD, or DAISY), by contacting 1 800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232). By teletypewriter (TTY), call 1-800-926-9105.

© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, 2016

For information regarding reproduction rights: droitdauteur.copyright@HRSDC-RHDCC.gc.ca

PDF Cat. No.: Em5-7E-PDF ISSN: 1929-2236

ESDC Cat. No.: LT-289-08-16E

Page3

Introduction

Everyyear,theWorkplaceInformationandResearchDivisionoftheLabourProgramundertakesasurveyofalllabourorganizationsinCanadathatrepresentbargainingunitsof50ormoreworkers.1Theresultsfromthe2015surveyarepresentedinthisreport,alongwithupdatesonunionmergersandchangestolegislationaffectingcollectivebargaininginCanadain2015.

ThenumberofunionizedworkersinCanadaincreasedfrom2014

Asreportedbylabourorganizations,thetotalnumberofworkerspayingduestoaunioninCanadawas4.83millionattheendof2015,upfrom4.75millionattheendof2014.

Uniondues-payingworkerscomprised31.8%ofallemployeesinCanadain2015,anincreaseof0.3percentagepointsfrom2014[Appendix1].Bycomparison,theshareofemployeescoveredbyacollectivebargainingagreement,ascalculatedbyStatisticsCanada,was30.6%in2015.2

Themajorityofunionizedworkerswererepresentedbynationalunions

InCanada,unionscanbedividedintofourmaintypes:(1)national;(2)international;(3)independentlocalorganization;and(4)directlycharteredlocal.3Astrongmajority(69.7%)ofdues-payingworkers(henceforth,unionizedworkers)wereaffiliatedwithnationalunions(Chart1andAppendix3)in2015.Internationalunionsaccountedforalmost25%ofunionizedworkers,followedbyindependentlocalorganizations(3.9%)anddirectlycharteredlocals(1.5%).Comparedto2014,therewaslittlechangeinrepresentationbytypeoforganization.

CHART1:Shareofunionizedworkers,byorganizationtype,2015

1Appendix8discussesthesurveymethodology.2Source:LabourForceSurvey,StatisticsCanada,CANSIMtable282-0012.SeeAppendix8forfurtherinformationonthedifferencesinmethodologybetweenthetwoestimatesoftheunioncoveragerate.

3Appendix9containsthedefinitionofeachtypeofunion.Appendix2containsthebreakdownofunioncoveragebytypeoforganization.

Page4

CHART2:Shareofunions,byorganizationtype,2015

In2015,nationalandinternationalunionsrepresentedalmost95%ofunionizedworkers,butaccountedfor30.5%ofthetotalnumberofunionsinCanada(Chart2andAppendix3).Directlycharteredlocalsandindependentlocalorganizationsmadeupthemajorityofunions(69.6%).

Eightlargeunionsrepresentedalmosthalfofunionizedworkers

In2015,thetotalnumberofunionsstoodat776.Eightofthoseunions–fiveofwhichwerenationalandthreeinternational–represented100,000ormoreworkerseach[Appendix4].Theeightcomprised45.1%ofallunionizedworkersinCanada.

The18unionswithbetween50,000and100,000workersrepresented25.9%ofallunionizedworkers.Just1.9%ofunionizedworkersweremembersofthe282unionsrepresentinglessthan1,000workerseach.4

TheCanadianLabourCongressrepresentedmorethantwo-thirdsofunionizedworkers

In2015,thevastmajorityofunionizedworkers(81%)wereaffiliatedwithalabourcongress.TheCanadianLabourCongress(CLC)representedmorethantwo-thirdsofallunionizedworkers(69.0%),5followedbytheConfédérationdessyndicatsnationaux(CSN),whichrepresented6.9%ofunionizedworkers(Chart3andAppendix7).Almost19%ofunionizedworkerswerenotaffiliatedwithanylabourcongress.Thissituationwasrelativelyunchangedfrom2014.WhileaffiliationwiththeCLCroseslightly(0.2percentagepoints),therewasnochangefortheCSN.

4Appendix5containsthedetailedlistoflabourorganizationswith30,000ormoreworkers.5SeeAppendix6fordetailsoftheCLC’scoveragebyaffiliation.

Page5

CHART3:Shareofunionizedworkers,bycongressaffiliation,2015

Unionmergers

In2015,twoindependentunionsjoinedalargerlabourorganization:theUniversityofNewBrunswickEmployeesAssociationandits320membersmergedwithUnifortoformLocal4504;andtheNewFrontierIndependentAssociation,with50members,mergedwiththeServiceEmployeesInternationalUniontoformLocal800.

Page6

Legislativechanges

In2015,therewereanumberoflegislativechangesaffectingunionsandcollectivebargaininginCanada.

AsignificantchangewasmadetothefederallabourrelationssystemwiththecomingintoforceofBillC-525,theEmployees'VotingRightsAct,onJune16,2015.BillC-525modifiedtheunioncertificationandrevocationofcertification(decertification)rulesunderthreefederalrelationsstatutes:theCanadaLabourCode,theParliamentaryEmploymentandStaffRelationsActandthePublicServiceLabourRelationsAct.OnJanuary28,2016,theGovernmentofCanadatabledBillC-4(AnActtoamendtheCanadaLabourCode,theParliamentaryEmploymentandStaffRelationsAct,thePublicServiceLabourRelationsActandtheIncomeTaxAct)which,ifenacted,wouldreversethechangesmadebyBillC-525andrestorethecard-checkcertificationsystem.

InNovember2015,theGovernmentofSaskatchewanenactedTheSaskatchewanEmployment(EssentialServices)AmendmentAct,2015,whichobligespublicserviceemployersandunionstonegotiateessentialservicesagreementspriortoaworkstoppage.Intheeventanessentialserviceagreementsubstantiallyinterfereswiththerighttostrike,collectivebargainingimpassesmustberesolvedthroughbindingmediation-arbitration.ThislegislationwasenactedinresponsetoaJanuary2015findingoftheSupremeCourtofCanada(SCC)thattheprovince’sPublicServiceEssentialServicesActwasunconstitutionalfor,amongotherthings,allowingpublicsectoremployerstounilaterallydesignatewhichworkersareessential,therebysubstantiallyinterferingwithworkers’freedomofassociationandtheirrighttostrike.

AnumberofotherlegislativechangesaffectingunionsandlabourrelationsweremadethroughoutCanadain2015.Forexample,Bill51inNewBrunswick(AnActtoAmendthePublicServiceLabourRelationsAct)amendedtheprovincialPublicServiceLabourRelationsActtoincreasetheperiodwithinwhichnoticetobargaincollectively-whereacollectiveagreementorarbitralawardisinforce-maybegivenfromtwotosixmonths.Bill51cameintoforceonJune5,2015.InAlberta,Bill6(EnhancedProtectionforFarmsandRanchWorkersAct)receivedRoyalAssentonDecember11,2015.Bill6amendedanumberofprovincialActs,includingamendingtheLabourRelationsCodetonolongerexcludecertainfarmandranchworkersfromitsapplication.Thisamendmentwillcomeintoforceonproclamation.

Page7

Appendix1:UnionizedworkersinCanada,1999–2015

YearUnionizedworkersa

(000s)

AllEmployeesb

(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,ESDCb. Source:LabourForceSurvey,StatisticsCanada,CANSIMTable282-0012

Page8

Appendix2:UnionAffiliation,2015

Unions Locals Unionizedworkers

Number Distribution

(%)

National 196 10,652

3,364,739 69.7

CanadianLabourCongress(CLC) 51 7,105 2,167,858 44.9

Independentnational 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

International 40 1,300

1,200,415 24.9

AmericanFederationofLaborandCongressofIndustrialOrganizations(AFL-CIO)/CanadianLabourCongress(CLC) 30 1,137 932,732 19.3

ChangetoWin(CtW)/CanadianLabourCongress(CLC) 3 83 230,007 4.8

AmericanFederationofLaborandCongressofIndustrialOrganizations(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

Page9

Appendix3:Typeofunion,2015

Unions Unionizedworkers

Number Distribution(%)

Number Distribution(%)

National 196 25.3 3,364,739 69.7

International 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

Source:LabourProgram,ESDC

(Percentagesmaynottotalto100%duetorounding)

Page10

Appendix4:UnionSizeandType,2015

National International Independentlocal Total*

Unions Workers Unions Workers Unions Workers Unions Workers

Fewerthan1,000 81 30,478 8 3,307 193 57,978 282 91,763

1,000-9,999 70 263,352 14 58,501 56 120,631 140 442,484

10,000-29,999 20 362,271 8 130,506 1 10,000 29 502,777

30,000-49,999 8 320,162 1 38,000

9 358,162

50,000-99,999 12 776,280 6 405,450

18 1,181,730

100,000andmore 5 1,612,196 3 564,651

8 2,176,847

Source:LabourProgram,ESDC

*Directlycharteredunionsarenotincluded

Page11

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,AlliedIndustrialandServiceWorkersInternationalUnion 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

AlbertaUnionofProvincialWorkersIndependentnational 85,803

ElementaryTeachers’FederationofOntario CLC 78,204

FTQConstruction CLC 77,300

OntarioSecondarySchoolTeachers’Federation CLC 73,311

FédérationinterprofessionnelledelasantéduQuébecIndependentnational 66,000

ChristianLabourAssociationofCanadaIndependentnational 61,501

Fédérationdesemployéesetemployésdeservicespublicsinc. CSN 60,700

OntarioNurses’Federation CLC 60,000

Fédérationdessyndicatsdel'enseignement CSQ 59,000

InternationalBrotherhoodofElectricalWorkers AFL-CIO/CLC 57,130

UnitedAssociationofJourneymenandApprenticesofthePlumbingandPipeFittingIndustryoftheUnitedStatesandCanada AFL-CIO/CLC 55,643

ProfessionalInstituteofthePublicServiceofCanadaIndependentnational 53,930

InternationalUnionofOperatingEngineers AFL-CIO/CLC 52,326

CanadianUnionofPostalWorkers CLC 50,531

InternationalAssociationofMachinistsandAerospaceWorkers AFL-CIO/CLC 50,000

UnitedBrotherhoodofCarpentersandJoinersofAmerica CLC 50,000

Page12

Appendix5:Unionswith30,000ormoreunionizedworkers,2015(continued)

OntarioEnglishCatholicTeachers’Association CLC 48,545

BritishColumbiaNurses'UnionIndependentnational 46,291

BritishColumbiaTeachers’Federation CLC 43,563

AlbertaTeachers'AssociationIndependentnational 42,572

AmalgamatedTransitUnion AFL-CIO/CLC 38,000

CanadianOfficeandProfessionalEmployeesUnion CLC 36,287

SyndicatdelafonctionpubliqueetparapubliqueduQuébecIndependentnational 34,904

Fédérationautonomedel'enseignementIndependentnational 34,000

FédérationnationaledesenseignantesetdesenseignantsduQuébec CSN 34,000

Affiliationslegend:

• AFL-CIO-AmericanFederationofLaborandCongressofIndustrialOrganizations

• CLC–CanadianLabourCongress • CSN-Confédérationdessyndicatsnationaux • CSQ-CentraledessyndicatsduQuébec • CtW-ChangetoWin Source:LabourProgram,ESDC

Page13

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

CLCdirectlychartered 55 0.0

TotalaffiliationwiththeCLC 3,330,891 100.0

Source:LabourProgram,ESDC

Page14

Appendix7:Unioncoverage,bycongressaffiliation,2015

Unionizedworkers

Number Distribution(%)

CanadianLabourCongress(CLC)

AmericanFederationofLaborandCongressofIndustrialOrganizations(AFL-CIO)/CanadianLabourCongress(CLC) 932,732 19.3

CanadianLabourCongress(CLC)only 2,167,858 44.9

ChangetoWin(CtW)/CanadianLabourCongress(CLC) 230,007 4.8

Directlychartered 55 0.0

Total 3,330,652 69.0

Confédérationdessyndicatsnationaux(CSN)

Federation 329,335 6.8

Directlychartered 6,000 0.1

Total 335,335 6.9

CentraledessyndicatsduQuébec(CSQ)

Total 130,427 2.7

Centraledessyndicatsdémocratiques(CSD)

Federation 4,938 0.1

Directlychartered 68,435 1.4

Total 73,373 1.5

ConfederationofCanadianUnions(CCU)

Total 10,478 0.2

AmericanFederationofLaborandCongressofIndustrialOrganizations(AFL-CIO)only

Total 35,684 0.7

Unaffiliatedunions

Independentinternational 1,992 0.0

Independentlocal 188,609 3.9

Independentnational 721,703 14.9

Total 912,304 18.9

GrandTotal 4,828,253 100.0

Source:LabourProgram,ESDC

Page15

Appendix8:Methodology

TheLabourProgram’sdataiscollecteddirectlyfromlabourorganizationsusingaself-reportingsurvey.Smalllabourorganizations(i.e.fewerthan50workers)arenotpartofthesamplingframeforthesurvey,sincetheLabourProgramdoesnothaveasystematiccountofthem.

Foreachlabourorganization,thesurveyasksaboutthenumberofuniondues-payingworkers,thenumberoflocalsrepresented,andtheunion’saffiliationwiththelabourcongresses.TheinformationisrequestedasofDecember31ofthereportingyear.Thesurveyissentoutinmid-DecemberwithresponsesrequestedbytheendofJanuarythefollowingyear.Whenlabourorganizationsdonotrespondtothesurveybythetimetheresultsareconsolidated,figuresfromthemostrecentyearavailableareusedinstead.

TheLabourProgram’ssurveyoflabourorganizationsandStatisticsCanada’sLabourForceSurvey(LFS)providedifferentestimatesoftheunioncoveragerate.Thenumeratoroftheratesdifferbecauseofhowthedataiscollected(i.e.theLFSisasurveyofhouseholds,anditisamonthlysurvey)andwhatismeasured(i.e.theLFSaskspersonswhohavepaidemploymentwhethertheyarecoveredbyacollectivebargainingagreementaswellaswhethertheyaremembersofaunion).Thedenominatorusedtocalculatethecoverageratesisthesame,thenumberofemployeesinCanada,asreportedintheLFS.

Page16

Appendix9:Definitions

Union:Labourorganizationthatorganizesandcharterslocals,setsgeneralpolicyforitslocals,assiststhemintheconductoftheiraffairs,andisthemediumforco-ordinatingtheiractivities.

Labourcongress:Anumbrellaorganizationofunionsthatprovidesassistanceandsupporttoitsmembers.

Unionizedworkers:Allworkersthatarepayingunionsduestoalabourorganization.

Unioncoverage:UnionizedworkersasashareofallemployeesinCanada.

Local:Thebasicunitoflabourorganizationsformedinaparticularplantorestablishment.Themembersparticipatedirectlyintheaffairsoftheirlocal,includingtheelectionofofficers,financialandotherbusinessmatters,andrelationsbetweentheirorganizationandtheemployer,andtheypayduestothelocal.

Nationalunion:AunionthatrepresentsitsmembersinCanadaonly.

Internationalunion:AunionthatrepresentsitsmembersinCanadaandtheUnitedStates.InLabourProgram’ssurvey,onlyworkersinCanadaarereported.

Independentlocalorganization:Aunionthatisnotformallyaffiliatedwithanyotherlabourorganization.

Directlycharteredlocal:Aunionthatisorganizedandreceivesitscharterfromalabourcongress.Itpayspercapitaduestothecongressandreceivesservicesfromthecongress.