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Union Membership in Canada — January 1, 2006
Labour Policy and Workplace Information
Labour Program, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
| Each year, a survey is conducted of international and national unions, either affiliated or unaffiliated to a central labour congress, having one or more members, and labour organizations consisting of a single bargaining unit with 50 or more members but not affiliated with any other labour organization. |
Information obtained during the most recent survey indicated that as of January 1, 2006, 4,441,000 workers were union members. This represents an increase of 60,000 members compared to the 4,381,000 members accounted for on January 1, 2005. During 2006, the number of non-agricultural paid workers reached 14,434,000; an increase of 165,000 over 2005.
Consequently, the unionization rate or union density (union membership as a percentage of non-agricultural paid employment) was 30.8% as of January 1, 2006.
The affiliated membership of the Canadian Labour Congress increased by 41,040 from 3,156,560 on January 1, 2005 to 3,197,600 on January 1, 2006, however, its share of total union membership slightly decreased from 72.1% in 2005 to 72.0% in 2006.
Information as of January 1, 2006, indicates that the percentage of membership from unaffiliated national unions increased slightly from last year (11.4%) to this year (12.0%). This represents an increase of 34,430 members.
Union Membership, Non-Agricultural Paid Workers and the Civilian Labour Force
|
Source: Labour Policy and Workplace Information.
Table 1Union Membership in Canada, 1991–2006 |
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| Year | Union Membership | Civilian Labour Force1 | Employment by Non Agricultural Paid Workers1 | Union Membership as a Percentage of Civilian Labour Force | Union Membership as a Percentage of Non Agricultural Paid Workers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
(000s) | (000s) | (000s) | % | % |
|
1991 |
4,068 |
14,336 |
11,419 |
28.4 |
35.6 |
|
1992 |
4,089 |
14,336 |
11,271 |
28.5 |
36.3 |
|
1993 |
4,071 |
14,435 |
11,256 |
28.2 |
36.2 |
|
1994 |
4,078 |
14,574 |
11,482 |
28.0 |
35.5 |
|
1995 |
4,003 |
14,689 |
11,715 |
27.3 |
34.2 |
|
1996 |
4,033 |
14,854 |
11,758 |
27.2 |
34.3 |
|
1997 |
4,074 |
15,079 |
11,964 |
27.0 |
34.1 |
|
1998 |
3,938 |
15,316 |
12,212 |
25.7 |
32.2 |
|
1999 |
4,010 |
15,588 |
12,603 |
25.7 |
31.8 |
|
2000 |
4,058 |
15,847 |
13,027 |
25.6 |
31.1 |
|
2001 |
4,111 |
16,110 |
13,304 |
25.5 |
30.9 |
|
2002 |
4,174 |
16,579 |
13,650 |
25.2 |
30.6 |
|
2003 |
4,178 |
16,959 |
13,965 |
24.6 |
29.9 |
|
2004 |
4,261 |
17,182 |
14,265 |
24.8 |
29.9 |
|
2005 |
4,381 |
17,343 |
14,464 |
25.3 |
30.3 |
|
2006 |
4,441 |
17,593 |
14,782 |
25.2 |
30.0 |
|
1 Statistics Canada, The Labour Force Survey, Labour Statistics Division. |
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Source: Labour Policy and Workplace Information.
Table 2Unions with Largest Membership, 2005–2006 |
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|
Membership (000’s)
|
||
|
2005
|
2006
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Canadian Union of Public Employees - CLC |
540 | 548 |
|
National Union of Public and General Employees- CLC |
337 | 337 |
|
United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union - AFL-CIO/CLC |
280 | 280 |
|
National Automobile, Aerospace, Transportation and General Workers Union of Canada (CAW-CANADA) - CLC |
265 | 265 |
|
United Food and Commercial Workers Canada - CLC |
230 | 233 |
|
Public Service Alliance of Canada - CLC |
156 | 162 |
|
Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada - CLC |
150 | 150 |
|
International Brotherhood of Teamsters - AFL-CIO/CLC |
125 | 120 |
|
Fédération de la santé et des services sociaux - CSN |
110 | 114 |
|
Service Employees International Union - Canada - CLC |
78 | 85 |
|
Fédération des syndicats de l'enseignement - CEQ |
84 | 82 |
|
Laborers' International Union of North America - AFL-CIO/CLC |
85 | 72 |
|
Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario - CLC |
65 | 69 |
|
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers - AFL-CIO/CLC |
56 | 57 |
|
Fédération des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec - Ind. |
49 | 56 |
|
Canadian Union of Postal Workers - CLC |
55 | 55 |
|
Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation - CLC |
53 | 55 |
|
Ontario Nurses' Association - CLC |
50 | 51 |
|
United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America - AFL-CIO/CLC |
52 | 50 |
|
Fédération des employées et employés de services publics inc. - CSN |
42 | 46 |
|
UNITE HERE CANADA- CLC |
45 | 46 |
|
Alberta Teachers' Association - Ind. |
33 | 45 |
|
British Columbia Teachers' Federation - Ind. |
44 | 45 |
|
Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada - Ind. |
48 | 44 |
|
United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada - AFL-CIO/CLC |
41 | 43 |
|
Syndicat de la fonction publique du Québec - Ind. |
43 | 43 |
|
International Union of Operating Engineers - AFL-CIO/CLC |
40 | 40 |
|
International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers - AFL-CIO/CLC |
42 | 39 |
|
Christian Labour Association of Canada- Ind. |
30 | 38 |
|
Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association - CLC |
35 | 36 |
|
Canadian Office and Professional Employees Union - CLC |
35 | 34 |
|
Fédération du commerce inc. - CSN |
34 | 32 |
Source: Labour Policy and Workplace Information.
Table 3Union Membership by Congress Affiliation, 2005–2006 |
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|
2005
|
2006
|
|||
| Congress Affiliation |
Membership
|
%
|
Membership
|
%
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLC | 3,156,560 | 72.1 | 3,197,600 | 72.0 |
|
CLC only |
1,975,800 | 45.1 | 2,376,990 | 53.5 |
|
AFL-CIO/CLC |
1,178,940 | 26.9 | 818,770 | 18.4 |
|
Directly Chartered Local Unions |
1,820 | 0.0 | 1,840 | 0.0 |
|
CSN |
280,650 | 6.4 | 284,280 | 6.4 |
|
CSQ |
129,750 | 3.0 | 123,510 | 2.8 |
|
CSD |
61,180 | 1.4 | 59,160 | 1.3 |
|
CCU |
8,660 | 0.2 | 9,390 | 0.2 |
|
AFL-CIO only |
87,370 | 2.0 | 74,650 | 1.7 |
|
Unaffiliated National Unions |
497,290 | 11.4 | 531,720 | 12.0 |
|
Unaffiliated International Unions |
1,860 | 0.0 | 2,150 | 0.0 |
|
Independent Local Organizations |
158,530 | 3.6 | 158,085 | 3.6 |
|
Total |
4,381,000 | 100.0 | 4,441,000 | 100.0 |
|
Note: Due to rounding, sums may not always equal totals. |
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Source: Labour Policy and Workplace Information.
Table 4National and International Composition of Unions, 2005–2006 |
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|
2005
|
2006
|
|||||||
|
Unions
|
Membership
|
Unions
|
Membership
|
|||||
| Type of Union |
Number
|
%
|
Number
|
%
|
Number
|
%
|
Number
|
%
|
|
000’s
|
000’s
|
|||||||
| National | 212 | 25.1 | 2,897 | 66.1 | 206 | 24.9 | 2,966 | 66.8 |
|
International |
43 | 5.1 | 1,274 | 29.1 | 40 | 5.0 | 1,264 | 28.5 |
|
Other 1 |
590 | 69.8 | 210 | 4.8 | 580 | 70.1 | 211 | 4.8 |
|
Total |
845 | 100.0 | 4,381 | 100.0 | 826 | 100.0 | 4,441 | 100.0 |
|
Note: Due to rounding, sums may not always equal totals. 1 Includes directly chartered unions and independent local organizations (see Table 6). |
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Source: Labour Policy and Workplace Information.
Table 5National and International Unions by Size, 2005 – 2006 |
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|
UNIONS
|
||||||
|
National Unions
|
International Unions
|
Total
|
||||
| Membership Range |
2005
|
2006
|
2005
|
2006
|
2005
|
2006
|
| under 999 | 70 | 75 | 7 | 5 | 78 | 80 |
| 1,000–9,999 | 95 | 83 | 17 | 16 | 115 | 99 |
| 10,000–29,999 | 23 | 24 | 8 | 8 | 31 | 32 |
| 30,000–49,999 | 11 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 15 | 14 |
| 50,000–99,999 | 7 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 12 |
| 100,000 and over | 6 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Total | 212 | 206 | 43 | 40 | 259 | 246 |
|
MEMBERSHIP (000's)
|
||||||
|
National Unions
|
International Unions
|
Total
|
||||
| Membership Range |
2005
|
2006
|
2005
|
2006
|
2005
|
2006
|
| under 999 | 27 | 29 | 2 | 2 | 29 | 31 |
| 1,000–9,999 | 322 | 307 | 78 | 67 | 400 | 374 |
| 10,000–29,999 | 370 | 405 | 130 | 130 | 500 | 535 |
| 30,000–49,999 | 427 | 393 | 168 | 168 | 595 | 561 |
| 50,000–99,999 | 428 | 492 | 271 | 264 | 699 | 756 |
| 100,000 and over | 1,322 | 1,340 | 631 | 633 | 1,953 | 1,973 |
| Total | 2,896 | 2,966 | 1,280 | 1,264 | 4,176 | 4,230 |
|
Note: Due to rounding, sums may not always equal totals. |
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Source: Labour Policy and Workplace Information.
Table 6Union Membership by Type of Union and Affiliation, 2006 |
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|
|
Membership
|
|||
| Type and Affiliation |
Unions
|
Locals
|
Number
|
%
|
| National Unions | 206 | 11,475 | 2,966,370 | 66.8 |
| CLC | 60 | 7,683 | 2,008,310 | 45.2 |
| CSN | 12 | 1,850 | 284,280 | 6.4 |
| CSQ | 14 | 314 | 123,510 | 2.8 |
| CCU | 6 | 25 | 9,390 | 0.2 |
| CSD | 5 | 100 | 9,160 | 0.2 |
| Unaffiliated Unions | 109 | 1,503 | 531,720 | 12.0 |
| International Unions | 40 | 4,004 | 1,264,250 | 28.5 |
| AFL-CIO/CLC | 32 | 3,663 | 818,770 | 18.4 |
| AFL-CIO only | 2 | 39 | 74,650 | 1.7 |
| CLC only | 4 | 294 | 368,680 | 8.3 |
| Unaffiliated Unions | 2 | 8 | 2,150 | 0.0 |
| Directly Chartered Unions | 311 | 51,840 | 1.2 | |
| CSD | 309 | 50,000 | 1.1 | |
| CLC | 2 | 1,840 | 0.0 | |
| Independent Local Organizations | 269 | 158,085 | 3.6 | |
| TOTAL | 826 | 15,479 | 4,441,000 | 100.0 |
|
Note: Due to rounding, sums may not always equal totals. |
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Source: Labour Policy and Workplace Information.
Table 7Canadian Labour Congress Membership by Affiliation, 2005 – 2006 |
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|
2005
|
2006
|
|||||
| Type and Affiliation |
Membership
|
%
|
Membership
|
%
|
||
| National Unions | 1,969,530 | 62.4 | 2,008,310 | 62.8 | ||
| CLC only | 1,969,530 | 62.4 | 2,008,310 | 62.8 | ||
| International Unions | 1,185,210 | 37.5 | 1,187,450 | 37.1 | ||
| AFL/CIO-CLC | 1,178,940 | 37.3 | 818,770 | 25.6 | ||
| CLC only | 6,270 | 0.2 | 368,680 | 11.5 | ||
| Directly Chartered Local Unions | 1,820 | 0.0 | 1,840 | 0.1 | ||
| Total | 3,156,560 | 100.00 | 3,197,600 | 100.0 | ||
|
Note: Due to rounding, sums may not always equal totals. |
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Source: Labour Policy and Workplace Information.
Affiliation and Structure Changes to National and International Unions
- United Food and Commercial Workers Canada (UFCW CANADA ) is now affiliated with the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) (n/a)
- The Association professionnelle des technologistes médicaux du Québec (APTMQ) and the Centrale des professionnelles de la santé (CPS) merged to form the Alliance du personnel professionnel et technique de la santé et des services sociaux (APTS) (April 2004)
- The Syndicat des employé(e)s des magasins et de bureau de la S.A.Q. (SEMB-SAQ) is now affiliated with the Fédération des employées et employés de services publics inc. (FEESP) (January 2005)
- The Fédération du personnel professionnel des universités et de la recherche (FPPU) is no longer affiliated with the Centrale des syndicats du Québec (CSQ) and is now an independent national union (April 2005)
- Ontario Liquor Board Employees' Union (OLBEU) joined the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) (June 2005)
- Service Employees International Union – Canada (SEIU-Canada) is now affiliated with the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) (July 2005)
- UNITE HERE CANADA is now affiliated with the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) (September 2005)
Union Name Changes
- Association of Professionals and Supervisor (APS) now changed to Association of Professionals and Supervisors of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (APS)
- Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 4559 now changed to Professional Engineers for Public Safety Association, Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 4559
- United Steelworkers of America now changed to United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial Service Workers International Union
New Unions in Part 1
- The Syndicat des employées et employés de MusiquePlus
- United Food and Commercial Workers Canada previously part of United Food and Commercial Workers International Union
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. Use the Directory of Labour Organizations in Canada for information on many unions.
© Labour Policy and Workplace Information, HRSDC—Labour Program
December 29, 2006
