Union News - December 2017
April 15th 1872 - Ten thousand Canadian citizens descended on Queen's Park in support of Toronto's print workers who were striking in protest of their 10+ hour per day, 7 day per week schedule. George Brown, then the publisher of the Toronto Globe had the Strike Committee arrested for criminal conspiracy, but the outpouring of support from the community and subsequent gatherings protesting the arrests signaled that things were changing in a drastic way. Later that same month, Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald introduced the Trade Union Act legalizing and protecting unions in our country. Over the proceeding decades, the role and importance of unions to the broader Canadian society was cemented in the minds of citizens and politicians alike. The issues and concerns of workers were easily understood, and both unionized and non-unionized citizens identified with the goals of our unions.
Now however, well into the 21st century, something is happening. Over the last number of years there has been a significant drop in the rate of unionization of Canadian workers. According to Statistics Canada, the rate of unionization has fallen from 37.6% in 1981 to 28.8% in 2014. This decline was most dramatic among male workers, for whom the unionization rate fell from just over 42% in 1981 to 27% in 2014. While the decline has been most pronounced among men and younger workers, it is undeniable that the percentage of workers in this country who belong to a union has been decreasing.
So what's the deal!? Why is union membership, something that should be so desirable to all workers, decreasing so dramatically? One of the most important factors is the changing landscape of the Canadian workplace. The secure, well paid, full time jobs of years past, continue to be replaced with precarious, contract and part-time positions. Many of the new hires within the CRA are now hired for contracts so short that they are precluded from even being dues paying members, and thus are not eligible for representation and benefits. This shift has had numerous unintended and intended consequences, including the fracturing of our collective work force between indeterminate and determinate employees, as well as between determinate employees on terms less than three months (term minus) and dues paying members. This has had a dramatic effect on our ability to mobilize, as many of our precariously employed members are much less likely to participate in union related activities out of fear of possible reprisals. Additionally, many of our younger members, as well as those who are new to the Public Service who do not have a working knowledge of our union, see the organization as little more than an extension of the bureaucracy in which they work.
All this means that our efforts to engage and educate our members will become even more important in the coming years. Our ability to connect with our members regarding the issues that matter most to them today will be paramount if we are to curb the trend of decreasing engagement and falling unionization rates. We need to broaden the discussion to include not only the benefits of increased unionization to workers, but also the benefits to the broader society in which our members live. In an era of widespread wage stagnation and ever increasing income inequality, unionization offers an important tool to level the playing field. The economic and health related benefits of increased unionization rates in this country are undeniable, and as activists we need to not only engage with our existing members but also with our brothers and sisters in the private sector. The fight for better wages and protections for all workers in this country is our fight.
Over the coming months we will endeavour to feature articles related to the struggles and triumphs of our members, and offer a platform for the sharing of our stories. As we continue to meet our challenges head-on, and to fight for the fair and equitable treatment of our members, we will create a space for the celebration of who we are and what we are working to achieve.
We would love to hear from you, please email us at communications@ute-sei.org with your stories.
Nate Angus-Jackman
Communications Committee