In 2015 the percentage of workers in Canada who belong to a trade union increased .1% to 30%. Canada's unionized workforce has actually grown in recent years. Today, the CBC reports that about 4.56 million workers are members of unions up more than 800,000 since 1997. Unions expansion has been outstripped by the non-unionized workforce, which grew by about 2.5 million over the same period.
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@8KMCS9R5yrs5Y
Neither, unions do not exist for the benefit of the economy
@B5M9SRF1mo1MO
Help, in theory but have recently become corrupt and should go through reforms to not be corrupt again.
@B5L37XG1mo1MO
I feel some unions are in place for equitable pay however, not all are regarded equally. I feel some union members are overpaid like conservation officers while others are underpaid like education assistants.
@B56KYL32mos2MO
It honestly goes both ways I believe. With Corruption I'd say it would hurt the economy & Unions that help the workers truly of course are helpful
@B55DSG42mos2MO
I believe unions started out being good for workers but have become the opposite now, unions protect the people who don’t pull their weight at jobs now. I still believe in unions but they need to be revised.
@B4XFT6W2mos2MO
I don’t think this question is worded right. Unions “hurt” the economy in terms of limiting gdp growth and raw economic activity, but they’re essential to protecting the worker.
@9KGWSV21yr1Y
A more democratic society, with a stronger more responsive labour regulator would make unions obsolete. Unions are often wasteful and an impediment.
@9H4CMCQ2yrs2Y
Help, BUT I do believe some better measures need to be put in place to aid the employer even a little bit when it comes to removing employees who are 'riding the gravy train' because their employer is literally hand tied and cannot get rid of them due to union contracts. There are good honest people willing to work who are not able to due to unproductive workers who 'play the game' and remain employed. These type of employees, become a cost to the product/service their company is providing. At the same time, I do not think power should be given to the employer catre blanche.
Help, but employees should have the ability to influence and or unite on key issues. However, labor unions should be prohibited from publicly or privately supporting one party.
@9GPTJ2D2yrs2Y
It depends on the union, some are better at advocating for workers' rights and best interests; others are more focused on justifying and funding their own existence and do not offer value for the union fees they charge members
@9GNXXXT2yrs2Y
A mix of both, rather than just one or the other. Depends on the relationship with management, leadership, and other factors.
@9FKGY8B2yrs2Y
Help, as long as they don't go too far in doing things like riots and fights.
@9FCN65T2yrs2Y
Mostly hurt but some unions are okay
@B4GKHPS3mos3MO
Labour unions should hold a neutral position politically. They have moved away from the focus on the worker. There main job should be to hold the government to account on workers rights
@9WBTJ7S8mos8MO
Hurt. Most unions are puppets of the companies and enforcers of bad company relations and bad policies.
@9RZPX6711mos11MO
given that public most public unions in canada are against having to actually work 3 days a week under minimal accommodations, public unions are bad!
@9RTLWCPIndependent11mos11MO
Unions, but public and private can easily be corrupt, I support some unions, but unions and companies should be banned from making any donations
@9RGCB9P11mos11MO
I believe that they currently offer higher rates than privatized industry. This raises the cost to consumer and productivity goes down. Their entitlement appears to be abused. I work in an industry that is both union and non union and see an abuse of this in the union regions more. The cost is higher, causing a higher cost to the consumer, while the worker makes more and contributes more to society creating a catch-22, but their productivity is lower. I believe more research and data informed decision making needs to go into unions.
@9QZCYDN12mos12MO
They can do both. Unions should be made less powerful and corrupt however because people strike over the smallest things now.
Mostly hurt, especially government/public unions. Allow a company to operate with unions AND non-union workers. There have been and are benefits to unions but they also prevent meritocracy from determining financial reward, promotion and productivity.
@9FYP94M2yrs2Y
Help. There should be some sectors that should not be allowed to strike and must negotiated while the individuals still work...eg teachers.
@9FP3QX22yrs2Y
Hurt the economy, Help society. Corporations do not benefit from labour unions, but workers do. If the economy in its current form were to crumble because of labour unions, the world would be better off.
@B4ND9T9Conservative3mos3MO
I believe that labor unions are inefficient and hurt the economy; but if companies making billions of dollars of profit can't raise worker wages and continue to lower them, I believe the unions are the only ones stepping in.
@B48NXNX3mos3MO
Support, unions can be economically beneficial if they operate within a coordinated, rules-based system, tie wage growth to productivity, and avoid obstructing innovation or necessary reforms.
@B29K2FS 6mos6MO
Some help, others hurt. Depends on the Union, and ban unions and companies from making political donations. I support private and public unions, but larger unions should be regulated
@9YFJQZ9Conservative8mos8MO
They help the economy only IF they are actually not being greedy. They should be checked by the goverment for any greedness.
@9GCWLY72yrs2Y
Help, every working person should be unionized as every working person needs a voice as well as protection from abuse and exploitation
@B2KRKJ35mos5MO
I don't think labour unions and labour rights should be considered as factors regarding economy since it monetizes people's rights and safety.
@9FC8R8W2yrs2Y
Regardless, people have a right to freedom of association
@9F2ZGL62yrs2Y
It hurts the economy but helps for change
@B3YRVCJNew Democratic4mos4MO
Neither hurt or help, as I believe that the economic fluctuations of labour unions ultimately even out
@96ZYY3JConservative3yrs3Y
Unions are mostly good. Sometimes they can hurt businesses.
@96KPKNQ3yrs3Y
It's about the workers' rights, not the economy
@95LSVQV3yrs3Y
Help, but they should have their power limited to a certain extent
@95J9PCR3yrs3Y
Hurt, but it is necessary for safety and regulation
@95DH7PG3yrs3Y
In the middle. It all depends on many factors.
@958H6MWConservative3yrs3Y
its really in between for me
@957BLNV3yrs3Y
Hurt, and ban their ability to make political decisions as they have become corrupt.
@93TM7X63yrs3Y
Help the economy, but do not allow them to make political donations, publically fund elections.
@93HJWN4Conservative3yrs3Y
Help but should be reviewed by a rotating party of informed workers
@93FG53G3yrs3Y
A mix of both. Unions can do great things in making workplaces safer, and also potentially argue for higher wages which benefits the economy and lessens the burden on government, but they can also be used for hurtful purposes as well.
@93CCWGR3yrs3Y
@92NSVSP3yrs3Y
A mix of both, but overall unions are a force for good in the world. Many of the labour rights we take for granted, such as the 8 hour workday, and weekends off (of course, depending on profession) were fought for by unions.
@9235Q2J3yrs3Y
Help, but workers should be given real representation on boards as in Germany
@8ZN4YG43yrs3Y
I would say unions have a mix of both. It can make it incredibly hard for business to do some things, and lead to tensions between management/workers. But, while there are these flaws, unions can negotiate for great things, such as better pay, hours, benefits, and other things which help ease the burden on our governments/and help people become less dependent on the government.
@8VJKMNM4yrs4Y
Have a time and place but outsized political or economic power should be limited.
@8VJFCMG4yrs4Y
Depends on the labour union
@8VJ7CMY4yrs4Y
Generally help to provide a collective voice and support workers so they are not taken advantage of, but occassionally go too far with demands individuals outside unions don't benefit from.
@8VJ3DNT4yrs4Y
Help and Hurt, regulation and accountability are important
@8VH294R4yrs4Y
Don’t know enough about unions to understand the question.
@8VF9GCZ4yrs4Y
Hurt! They encourage self-entitlement, lazy work ethic, strikes, and even theft from the company when workers leave early, get paid for it and are protected by their union
@8VDJ95R4yrs4Y
It depends entirely on the situation (what the workers are asking for, what they end up getting in return, the working conditions that causes the union etc.)
I find majority of unions useless and aren’t actually in the best interest of the workers. They still follow suit and instruction from higher ups, not requests from workers.
@8V6FSH34yrs4Y
Both. They aren't all the same so generalizing them doesn't make sense.
@8V5YNPV4yrs4Y
Help, I support private unions but am against public unions
@8TXCC9Y4yrs4Y
Change the negotiation process to a court/tribunal model where the union and employer prepare cases before the contract ends to be heard before a judge or representative
@8TRKFLZ4yrs4Y
Hurt, but are more important than economy
@8TQ55PQ4yrs4Y
They had a place once, now overbearing and out of control
@8TL9CJZ4yrs4Y
Don’t know enough about labour unions
@8T4S2VT4yrs4Y
This is complicated and it depends on the union.
@8SZZXNH4yrs4Y
A balance is key, unions should have to play by the same rules are private organizations.
@8SHK8XZ4yrs4Y
We dont really need them anymore
@8SH4CWD4yrs4Y
Hurt but are needed for workers rights
@8SCWFQW4yrs4Y
Help economy is much more stable if workers can produce higher results due to better conditions
Unions benefit their members but hurt consumers generally, and especially workers who are denied job opportunities. Unions decrease the number of jobs available in the economy. The vast majority of manufacturing jobs lost over the past three decades have been among union members.
@8RQRK5PConservative4yrs4Y
Hurt, I support Private Companies workers right to unionize, Public Sector Unions should be outlawed.
@8RK5FXD4yrs4Y
Hurt, extremist and criminal corruption in unions has become a major problem.
@8QYMC73Conservative4yrs4Y
Neither they protect workers
@8QXR442New Democratic4yrs4Y
I think Unions depend on where you live. Where I live Unions control a lot, but in places like Halifax they are probably better
@8QX2RHJ4yrs4Y
both. They both have negative and positive outcomes
@8QDSZ3Y4yrs4Y
I feel it’s circumstantial
@8QDR7RC4yrs4Y
Yes, but there shouldn't be regulations on what an individual can do. They should be able to decide that.
@8PXL3BFNew Democratic5yrs5Y
Help, and they should have more representation in government
@8PPRN77New Democratic5yrs5Y
"Hurting" the economy is irrelevant here. labor unions are essential to ensure workplace dynamics aren't completely one-sided.
@8PKC8BCBloc Québécois5yrs5Y
hurt but it’s a necessary evil
@8PKBLYV5yrs5Y
Its immaterial. They help the employees and their welfare.
@8PJVJTNConservative5yrs5Y
Private unions help by providing the work force needed for large projects. Public unions generally have monopolies on their business and have too much negotiating power at the expense of the taxpayer. Public unions tend to support governments that are generous to them which seems like a conflict of interest to me.
@8PDRZZH5yrs5Y
The issue is not labour unions. There needs to be a balance of power between the employees and employers. The issue is the current way it is implemented. The strike/lockout system should be changed into a more court-like process
@8PBLDKRNew Democratic5yrs5Y
Doesn't really apply to me
@8KLHHQY5yrs5Y
Help, but ban their ability to make political donations and increase their powers.
@8KLCJ9TNew Democratic5yrs5Y
Help, and companies that engage in union busting tactics (such as Amazon) should be punished.
@8H8DY745yrs5Y
Hurt. Once a powerful movement for postive change for the grreater good - now morphed into an opportunistic culture that only serves those within in
@8DGFHHN5yrs5Y
It has its advantages and disadvantages
@8DBP8TM5yrs5Y
Hurt, in Canada there is no more needed
Help. They need a better relationship with employers right now though.
A mix of both, but worth having than no one to stand up for workers and conditions.
@9CLKM962yrs2Y
@9CBKZDD2yrs2Y
Usually help but not always
@9BSYMVY2yrs2Y
Help, and mandate membership in labour unions for work.
@99P37GG2yrs2Y
theyre helpful to our survival slayyy
@98PQTLX2yrs2Y
Help the economy as they are the are the ones making productions and increase wages
A mix of both. They should be there if the workers want it, but it depends on how they're run that makes me skeptical of them. They can create a really good environment, but also a really antagonistic one, and so that's why I would say that I'm in the middle on this issue rather than just blindly picking a side.
@986L77S3yrs3Y
I don’t have any idea about
@983VWVPConservative3yrs3Y
Yes but it comes at a price
@97ZVYJ43yrs3Y
The organization gets the union it deserves
@97VBYPL3yrs3Y
No, but are crucial for workers rights
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