Canadian Public Sector Unions at the Crossroads

Joseph B. Rose

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DOI: 10.2190/CN.31.3.a

Abstract

Since the 1960s, public sector unions have accounted for the lion's share of union growth in Canada. The rapid rise in public sector unionism was a response to the introduction of public sector bargaining laws and the expansion of public employment. The prospect for continued growth was challenged by the "retrenchment years" (1990s), a period in which governments and public sector employers (e.g., health care and education) engaged in massive restructuring and downsizing. This study reveals public sector unionism stagnated during the retrenchment years, with a number of major unions suffering membership losses. This was followed by a general rise in union membership and density in the postretrenchment years. In addition to examining the reasons why some unions experienced growth while others suffered losses, the study assesses the prospects for future union expansion.

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