Labour Unions Returns

Description: evaluates the extent and effect of the association of Canadian unions with international labour unions. Financial and other information from certain corporations and labour unions with activities in Canada is collected under the auspices of the Corporations and Labour Unions Returns Act (CALURA).

Who/what was surveyed: all labour unions having 100 or more members resident in Canada that meet the requirements of the Act

How the data were collected: information was supplied by various unions and corporations through a mail-out/mail-back survey and telephone follow-up

Geographic detail: Canada, provinces, territories and census metropolitan areas

Demographic detail: sex (obtained from membership data)

Information collected:

1. number of unionized workers by industry
2. the amount of dues paid by union members
3. assets, liabilities, income and expenditures by fund and type of union (international, national, government)

Frequency: annual (the last survey data released by Statistics Canada pertain to 1995)

Data availability: data have been collected since 1962; a major series break occurred in 1983 when 1981 when revisions to CALURA came into effect. CALURA ceased collecting data with the 1996 survey.

Reference period: Calendar year for membership data and fiscal year for financial data

Release dates: 18 to 24 months after the reference period

What makes the data valuable:

1. the only continuous major source of data on unionization
2. provide a breakdown of members affiliated with international, national and government unions
3. give a financial picture of trade unions

Related surveys or data:
Survey of Union Membership 1984;
Labour Force Survey (since January 1997);
Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics (SLID);
Survey of Work Arrangements

Products and services:

1. Annual Report of the Minister of Industry, Science and Technology under the Corporations and Labour Unions Returns Act. Part II, Labour Unions (Catalogue no. 71-202-XPB) (discontinued after 1995)
2. Articles in Perspectives on Labour and Income,Catalogue no. 75-001-XPE, quarterly paper edition and Catalogue no. 75-001-XIE, monthly online edition.
3. "Unionization in Canada: A retrospective", Supplement to the Summer 1999 issue of "Perspectives on Labour and Income"

Responsible division: Industrial Organization and Finance