Think unions only help their members? Think again

Stronger labour laws don’t just help workers. They improve life for everyone

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The late-August strike by Air Canada flight attendants did more to advertise the benefits of union membership than any billboard or newspaper ad ever could. But the same worker protections helping flight attendants secure better working conditions also improve life for all Canadians.

Unionization rates in Canada have been declining for decades, falling from about 38 per cent in the 1980s to roughly 30 per cent today, in part due to policies that make joining or forming a union more difficult. That’s why new research by four Canadian academics is especially timely—it shows that the benefits of unionization are far-reaching, and governments would do well to actively support the role of unions in Canadian society.

The benefits of carrying a union card—often called the “union advantage”—are easy to spot. In 2022, for example, unionized workers across Canada earned a median income that was $7 higher per hour than non-union workers, a difference that can add up to more than $14,000 a year for someone working full time. Beyond higher pay, unionized workers are significantly more likely to have access to pensions, health benefits, sick leave and paid vacation.

Less visible, perhaps, are the broader benefits unions bring to society. New research from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives—where I serve as the Errol Black Chair in Labour Issues—was released on Labour Day and reveals a positive link between unionization rates and social outcomes across the 10 provinces from 2000 to 2020. These include better population health, improved environmental quality and greater income equality.

Specifically, higher unionization is associated with lower mortality rates. Environmentally, provinces with higher union density tend to produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions and less air pollution. On the income front, as unionization rises, the very richest take home a smaller share of total income, and income distribution across all groups becomes more equal, meaning the gap between the wealthiest Canadians and everyone else is smaller.

Unions influence these outcomes in two main ways. First, collective bargaining helps secure not only decent wages but also better working conditions. Health and safety protections, along with benefits for dental, vision, physiotherapy and mental health care, all contribute to better outcomes for workers. Union standards also pressure non-union employers to raise their own compensation and benefits in order to compete for labour.

Second, unions advocate politically for the rights of people and the planet, often through labour federations and councils. Sometimes this is direct and deliberate, as when the Canadian Labour Congress pushes for a higher minimum wage, expanded employment insurance and a more progressive tax system. But the impact can also be indirect. Unions tend to support political parties that favour pro-labour policies—such as the federal NDP—and those same parties often back environmental protection, income equality and public health care. These knock-on effects benefit all Canadians, not just union members.

The Manitoba government recently joined British Columbia, Quebec, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island in making it easier for workers to join a union. B.C., Quebec, Manitoba and federally regulated sectors have also banned the use of replacement workers—often referred to as “scabs” in union parlance—during legal strikes. These temporary hires are brought in to do the jobs of striking employees, but their use often prolongs strikes and delays fair settlements. Banning them gives workers a fairer chance to bargain collectively and secure a just deal.

These findings offer a compelling rationale for governments to make it easier for workers to unionize. Unions are good for their members—and with better public health, a cleaner environment and greater equality—they’re good for everyone.

Niall Harney holds the Errol Black Chair in Labour Issues at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Manitoba office.