Actually, Albertans want unions. A 1996 study found that 32 per cent of recent university graduates working in non-union jobs would join a union if given the opportunity. 30 per cent of recent high school graduates working in non-union jobs wanted to join a union as well.

This study, done by the University of Alberta sociologists Graham Lowe and Harvey Krahn, mirrored similar results from earlier studies in Alberta and studies done in other parts of Canada.

In Alberta, only 25 % of the workforce is unionized – the lowest rate in Canada. This is despite strong efforts by unions to organize and an appetite for unions among working people.

Alberta Labour Laws create barriers to unionization

The truth is that Alberta’s labour laws, specifically intended to protect Albertans when they exercise their democratic right to join a union and to promote efficient labour relations through collective bargaining, are not serving their purpose.

The Alberta Labour Relations Code creates several unnecessary and undesirable barriers to both the formation and effective operation of trade unions.

These barriers involve problems with certification of new unions, problems with the ability of unions to engage in meaningful negotiations, and problems with the nature and governance of labour disputes.

The upcoming review of the Alberta Labour Relations Code provides a good opportunity for government to address these problems.

Make it easier to join unions