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Union Membership in Canada — 2007
Strategic Policy, Analysis, and Workplace Information Directorate
Labour Program, Human Resources and Social Development Canada
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| Each year, a survey is conducted of international and national unions, having one or more members in Canada, either affiliated or unaffiliated to a central labour congress, and labour organizations consisting of a single bargaining unit with 50 or more members in Canada but not affiliated with any other labour organization. The survey is based on self-reports by labour organizations. The 2007 survey collected data from 501 labour organizations. |
| Labour organizations’ contact information, membership, and union locals and affiliations are made available in a searchable database, the Directory of Labour Organizations in Canada. Data on membership and union affiliations is also tabulated to provide a portrait of labour organizations in Canada, as presented below. |
2007 Survey Results
Information obtained during the most recent survey indicates that in 2007, 4,480,020 workers were union members. This represents a slight increase of 39,020 members compared to the 4,441,000 members accounted for in the previous year. Consequently, the unionization rate or union density (union membership as a percentage of non-agricultural paid employment) is 30.3% for 2007. This is close to the union density figure calculated by Statistics Canada, which is estimated at 29.3% for the first 6 months of 2007.
The Labour Force Survey , Statistics Canada, is a sample survey based on self-reports that can be analysed by sex, age, and other characteristics. For more information see Perspectives on Labour and Income—Unionization.
National unions represent 66.9% of membership while international unions (those headquartered outside of Canada ) represent 28.1%. For their part, independent local organizations represent 3.6% of total union membership.
The Canadian Labour Congress ( CLC ) has the largest membership affiliation at 70.8%, followed by the Confédération des syndicats nationaux (CSN) at 6.3%, Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ) at 2.3%, Centrale des syndicats démocratiques (CSD) at 1.4%, and the Confederation of Canadian Unions at 0.2%.
When looking at the size of unions, 9 of them, representing 4.2% of the overall number of unions, have a membership range over 100,000 and represent 52.1% of the total union membership. On the other hand, 157 unions, representing 73.4% of all unions have less than 10,000 members and represent 8.3% of the total membership.
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Table 1 Union Membership in Canada, 1997–2007 |
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|
Year |
Union Membership |
Civilian Labour Force * |
Non Agricultural Paid Workers * |
Union Membership as a Percentage of Civilian Labour Force |
Union Membership as a Percentage of Non Agricultural Paid Workers |
|
|
(000s) |
(000s) |
(000s) |
% |
% |
|
1997 |
4,074 |
14,854 |
11,758 |
27.4 |
34.6 |
|
1998 |
3,938 |
15,079 |
11,964 |
26.1 |
32.9 |
|
1999 |
4,010 |
15,316 |
12,212 |
26.2 |
32.8 |
|
2000 |
4,058 |
15,588 |
12,603 |
26.0 |
32.2 |
|
2001 |
4,111 |
15,847 |
13,027 |
25.9 |
31.6 |
|
2002 |
4,174 |
16,110 |
13,304 |
25.9 |
31.4 |
|
2003 |
4,178 |
16,579 |
13,650 |
25.2 |
30.6 |
|
2004 |
4,261 |
16,959 |
13,965 |
25.1 |
30.5 |
|
2005 |
4,381 |
17,182 |
14,265 |
25.5 |
30.7 |
|
2006 |
4,441 |
17,343 |
14,464 |
25.6 |
30.7 |
|
2007 |
4,480 |
17,593 |
14,782 |
25.5 |
30.3 |
|
* Statistics Canada , The Labour Force Survey, Labour Statistics Division. Note: Civilian labour force and non-agricultural paid employment data shown for each year are annual averages of the preceding year; data shown for union membership are as of January of the years shown and as reported by labour organizations. |
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Source: Strategic Policy, Analysis, and Workplace Information Directorate, Labour Program, Human Resources and Social Development Canada.
|
Table 2 Labour Organizations with Largest Membership—2007 |
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|
Name and Affiliation |
|
Number of |
|
Canadian Union of Public Employees – CLC |
|
548,880 |
|
National Union of Public and General Employees – CLC |
|
340,000 |
|
United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union – AFL-CIO/CLC |
|
280,000 |
|
National Automobile, Aerospace, Transportation and General Workers Union of Canada (CAW Canada ) – CLC |
|
265,000 |
|
United Food and Commercial Workers Canada – CtW/CLC |
|
245,330 |
|
Canadian Teachers’ Federation |
|
219,000 |
|
Public Service Alliance of Canada – CLC |
|
166,960 |
|
Ontario Teachers’ Federation (1) – CLC |
|
155,000 |
|
Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada – CLC |
|
150,100 |
|
Canadian Federation of Nurses – CLC |
|
135,000 |
|
Fédération de la santé et des services sociaux – CSN |
|
117,130 |
|
Ontario Public Service Employees Union (2) – CLC |
|
113,500 |
|
Teamsters Canada – CtW/CLC |
|
108,510 |
|
Service Employees International Union – Canada – CtW/CLC |
|
86,860 |
|
Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario – CLC |
|
71,690 |
|
Alberta Union of Provincial Employees – Ind. |
|
69,000 |
|
Canadian Police Association |
|
66,800 |
|
Laborers' International Union of North America – CtW |
|
65,000 |
|
FTQ Construction – CLC |
|
61,600 |
|
B.C. Government and Service Employees’ Union (2) – CLC |
|
61,564 |
|
Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation – CLC |
|
60,700 |
|
Fédération des syndicats de l'enseignement – CSQ |
|
60,000 |
|
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers – AFL-CIO/CLC |
|
57,130 |
|
Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec – Ind. |
|
55,290 |
|
Canadian Association of University Teachers |
|
55,000 |
|
Canadian Union of Postal Workers – CLC |
|
54,000 |
|
Ontario Nurses' Association (3) – CLC |
|
51,000 |
|
United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America – CtW/CLC |
|
50,000 |
|
Fédération des employées et employés de services publics inc. – CSN |
|
48,000 |
|
UNITE HERE Canada – CtW/CLC |
|
46,000 |
|
United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada – AFL-CIO/CLC |
|
45,530 |
|
Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada – Ind. |
|
44,830 |
|
British Columbia Teachers' Federation (1) – CLC |
|
44,750 |
|
Christian Labour Association of Canada – Ind. |
|
42,876 |
|
Syndicat de la fonction publique du Québec – Ind. |
|
42,500 |
|
International Union of Operating Engineers – AFL-CIO/CLC |
|
40,000 |
|
International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers – AFL-CIO/CLC |
|
38,700 |
|
Centrale des syndicats démocratiques (directly chartered unions) – CSQ |
|
37,768 |
|
Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association (1) – CLC |
|
36,000 |
|
Alberta Teachers' Association (1) – Ind. |
|
35,310 |
|
Canadian Office and Professional Employees Union – CLC |
|
34,000 |
|
Fédération du commerce inc. – CSN |
|
33,940 |
|
Manitoba Government and General Employees Union (2) – CLC |
|
33,828 |
(1) Component of Canadian Teachers’ Federation;
(2) Component of National Union of Public and General Employees ( NUPGE); (3) Component of Canadian Federation of Nurses Union. |
||
Source: Strategic Policy, Analysis, and Workplace Information Directorate, Labour Program, Human Resources and Social Development Canada.
|
Table 3 Union Membership by Congress Affiliation—2007 |
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|
Union Locals |
Membership |
% |
|
|
CLC |
3,169,750 |
70.8 |
|
|
|
CLC only |
2,018,880 |
45.1 |
|
|
AFL-CIO/CLC |
614,110 |
13.7 |
|
|
CtW/CLC |
536,700 |
12.0 |
|
|
Directly Chartered Unions |
60 |
0.0 |
|
CSN |
289,990 |
6.3 |
|
|
|
CSN only |
284,190 |
0.1 |
|
|
Directed Chartered Unions |
5,800 |
0.1 |
|
CSQ |
105,040 |
2.3 |
|
|
CSD |
62,770 |
1.4 |
|
|
|
CSD only |
6,100 |
0.1 |
|
|
Directed Chartered Unions |
56,670 |
1.3 |
|
CCU |
8,550 |
0.2 |
|
|
AFL-CIO only |
35,310 |
0.8 |
|
|
CtW only |
65,000 |
1.5 |
|
|
Unaffiliated National Unions |
581,290 |
13.0 |
|
|
Unaffiliated International Unions |
1,950 |
0.0 |
|
|
Independent Local Organizations |
160,370 |
3.6 |
|
|
Total |
4,480,020 |
100.0 |
|
|
Note: Due to rounding, total percentages may not equal 100%. |
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Source: Strategic Policy, Analysis, and Workplace Information Directorate, Labour Program, Human Resources and Social Development Canada.
|
Table 4 Composition of Unions —2007 |
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|
|
Unions |
Membership |
||
|
Type of Union |
Number |
% |
Number |
% |
|
National |
175 |
21.4 |
2,997,650 |
66.9 |
|
International |
39 |
4.8 |
1,259,470 |
28.1 |
|
Directly Chartered Unions and Independent Local Organizations |
605 |
73.9 |
222,900 |
5.0 |
|
Total |
819 |
100.0 |
4,480,020 |
100.0 |
|
Note: Due to rounding, total percentages may not equal 100%. |
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Source: Strategic Policy, Analysis, and Workplace Information Directorate, Labour Program, Human Resources and Social Development Canada.
|
Table 5 National and International Unions by Size—2007 |
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|
Membership |
National Unions |
International Unions |
Total |
|||
|
Unions |
Membership |
Unions |
Membership |
Unions |
Membership |
|
|
under 999 |
68 |
25,840 |
4 |
1,330 |
72 |
27,170 |
|
1,000–9,999 |
69 |
267,380 |
16 |
59,620 |
85 |
327,000 |
|
10,000–29,999 |
15 |
270,880 |
8 |
135,460 |
23 |
406,340 |
|
30,000–49,999 |
9 |
362,200 |
4 |
170,230 |
13 |
532,430 |
|
50,000–99,999 |
8 |
483,280 |
4 |
258,990 |
12 |
742,270 |
|
100,000 and over * |
6 |
1,588,070 |
3 |
633,840 |
9 |
2,221,910 |
|
Total |
175 |
2,997,650 |
39 |
1,259,470 |
214 |
4,257,120 |
|
* Excludes the Canadian Teachers' Federation, Canadian Federation of Nurses, the Fédération de la santé et des services sociaux , and the National Union of Public and General Employees. The membership of these unions are included in other components. Note: Directly chartered unions are not included. |
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Source: Strategic Policy, Analysis, and Workplace Information Directorate, Labour Program, Human Resources and Social Development Canada.
|
Table 6 Union Membership by Type of Union and Affiliation—2007 |
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|
Type of Union and Affiliation |
Unions |
Locals |
Membership |
||
|
|
|
|
Number |
% |
|
|
National Unions |
175 |
10,822 |
2,997,650 |
66.9 |
|
|
|
CLC |
40 |
7,109 |
2,012,480 |
44.9 |
|
|
CSN |
9 |
1,831 |
284,190 |
6.3 |
|
|
CSQ |
13 |
306 |
105,040 |
2.3 |
|
|
CCU |
6 |
27 |
8,550 |
0.2 |
|
|
CSD |
1 |
64 |
6,100 |
0.1 |
|
|
Unaffiliated Unions |
106 |
1,485 |
581,290 |
13.0 |
|
International Unions |
39 |
3,913 |
1,259,470 |
28.1 |
|
|
|
AFL-CIO/CLC |
24 |
3,363 |
614,110 |
13.7 |
|
|
AFL-CIO only |
5 |
97 |
35,310 |
0.8 |
|
|
CLC only |
2 |
58 |
6,400 |
0.1 |
|
|
CtW/CLC |
5 |
360 |
536,700 |
12.0 |
|
|
CtW only |
1 |
28 |
65,000 |
1.5 |
|
|
Unaffiliated Unions |
2 |
7 |
1,950 |
0.0 |
|
Directly Chartered Unions |
349 |
7 |
62,530 |
1.4 |
|
|
|
CSD |
346 |
- |
56,670 |
1.3 |
|
|
CLC |
2 |
- |
60 |
0.0 |
|
|
CSN |
1 |
7 |
5,800 |
0.1 |
|
Independent Local Organizations |
256 |
- |
160,370 |
3.6 |
|
|
TOTAL |
819 |
14,742 |
4,480,020 |
100.0 |
|
|
Note: Due to rounding, total percentage may not equal 100%. |
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Source: Strategic Policy, Analysis, and Workplace Information Directorate, Labour Program, Human Resources and Social Development Canada.
|
Table 7 Canadian Labour Congress Membership by Affiliation—2007 |
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|
Type of Union and Affiliation |
Membership |
% |
|
|
National Unions |
2,012,480 |
63.5 |
|
|
|
CLC only |
2,012,480 |
63.5 |
|
International Unions |
1,157,210 |
36.5 |
|
|
|
AFL/CIO-CLC |
614,110 |
19.4 |
|
|
CtW/CLC |
536,700 |
16.9 |
|
|
CLC only |
6,400 |
0.2 |
|
Directly Chartered Local Unions |
60 |
0.0 |
|
|
Total |
3,169,750 |
100.0 |
|
|
Note: Due to rounding, total percentage may not equal 100%. |
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Source: Strategic Policy, Analysis, and Workplace Information Directorate, Labour Program, Human Resources and Social Development Canada.
The 2007 survey is the first to include the Change to Win (CtW) federation in the breakdown of affiliation by international union. Change to Win was created in September 2005 when a number of American international unions disaffiliated from the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO).
Change to Win affiliates include the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (Teamsters), the Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA), the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), UNITE HERE, the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBCJA), the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) and the United Farm Workers of America (UFW). The UFW does not have any Canadian members.
Affiliation and Structure Changes to National and International Unions
- Following the passage of Bill 30 requiring the reorganization of unions in the Quebec health and social services sector, the Alliance du personnel professionnel et technique de la santé et des services sociaux (APTS) was created from the merger of the following unions (April 2004):
- The Association des techniciennes et techniciens en diététique du Québec (ATDQ)
- The Association professionnelle des technologistes médicaux du Québec (APTMQ)
- The Syndicat des ergothérapeutes du Québec (SEQ)
- The Syndicat des intervenants professionnels de la santé du Québec (SISP)
- The Syndicat des physiothérapeutes et des thérapeutes en réadaptation physique du Québec (SPTRPQ)
- The Syndicat des professionnels et des techniciens de la santé du Québec (SPTSQ)
- The Syndicat des technologues en radiologie du Québec (STRQ)
- International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) and World Confederation of Labour (WCL) merged to create the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) (November 2006)
- Canadian Racetrack Workers Union (CRWU) joined the National Automobile, Aerospace, Transportation and General Workers Union of Canada (CAW Canada ) (February 2007)
- The Fédération du personnel de la santé et des services sociaux (FPSSS) and the Fédération des syndicats de professionnelles et professionnels de la santé et des services sociaux (FSPPSSS) merged to form the Fédération des syndicats de la santé et des services sociaux (F4S) (June 2007)
- Canadian Telecommunications Employees Association (CTEA) joined the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada (CEP) (October 2007)
Union Name Change
Fédération des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec (FIIQ) now changed to Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec (FIQ) (December 2006)
New Union
Fraternité indépendante des travailleurs industriels (May 2007)
| The Directory of Labour Organizations in Canada, a searchable database, provides information such as the affiliation, membership, telephone and fax numbers as well as e-mail and Web site addresses of the various organizations. Visit the Directory of Labour Organizations in Canada for more information on various unions. |
