Unions in Canada
Nearly 30% of Canadian workers belong to unions, including, nurses, teachers, journalists and professional athletes, as well as the more traditionally unionized occupations like retail store clerks, manufacturing workers, miners, electricians and other construction trades workers. All in all, about four million Canadian workers belong to a union. Why not you and your co-workers?
Union Dues
Unions in North America started nearly two hundred years ago as “mutual aid societies.” They are still like that today. Everyone who belongs contributes a small portion of their income in return for the protection of the group as a whole. That’s what union dues are. Every union member contributes to a common fund of money that is used to protect the interests of all.
What about Strikes and Lockouts?
There is a difference between a strike and a lockout, although they are related. Both are also known as “work stoppages.” A strike is a general withdrawal of services by the members of the union because they are not willing to accept the employer’s offer for a collective agreement. Strikes can be over wages, pensions, health care benefits, seniority rights, health and safety conditions, job security and other issues.