List of Major Trade Unions in Canada: Top 10 List

Canada’s labor landscape has a long rich history. This consists of activism, negotiation, and advocacy for workers’ rights. This movement lies under the various trade unions spread across the country. These Trade Unions in Canada represents the huge collection of workers from different sectors and industries.

These trade unions help them to manage large memberships and have significant influence in shaping labour policies and practices. Each trade union comes with a unique perspective and ideology.

Following is the list of major trade unions in Canada.

List of Trade Unions in Canada

Trade Unions	Estd. Year	Total Members	President
Canadian Labour Congress	April 23, 1956	3.3 million	Bea Bruske
Canadian Teachers’ Federation	1920	277,000	Heidi Yatman
Air Canada Pilots Association	November 1995	4,300	Captain Ian Smith
Canadian Office and Professional Employees Union	2004	35,000	Annette Toth
Canadian Union of Public Employees	196	700,000	Mark Hancock
National Union of Public and General Employees	1976	425,000	Bert Blundon
Canadian Association of University Teachers	1951	72,000	Peter McInnis
Public Service Alliance of Canada	1966	180,000	Chris Aylward
Canadian Union of Postal Workers	1965	54,000	Jan Simpson
Directors Guild of Canada	1962	5,500	Warren P. Sonoda

Canadian Labor Congress

It is also known as the Central Body of Canada. It was established in April 23, 1956. Currently, this union has more than .3 million active members. In French, the meaning of the CLC is Congrès du travail du Canada (CTC). they are like an Umbrella organization because of they provide major trade unions across the countries.

Role and Structure

• They are not directly connected to bargaining with employers for its members. the responsibility of the individual unions that are represented (CLC).
• Instead, the CLC acts as a national voice for organized labor in Canada, benefiting workers and promoting the labor movement across the country.
• It is a democratic organization, governed by a national convention and a permanent executive council elected by its affiliated unions.

Membership and Affiliation

• It boasts a huge membership, with over 3.3 million workers, it represents its 17 affiliated unions. These unions have a wide range of industries, from the sector like public service and education to manufacturing and healthcare.
• They give Some prominent member unions include the CUPE (Canadian Union of Public Employees), PSAC (the Public Service Alliance of Canada), USW (the United Steelworkers), and Uniform.
• It is affiliated with international labor organizations like the ITUC (International Trade Union Confederation).

Activities and Advocacy

• Both governments like federal government and provincial governments on issues of importance to working Canadians, such as fair wages, better working conditions, social programs, and workplace health and safety.
• They conduct research and publish reports on varous labor-related issues to inform public policy discussions.
• The CLC promotes worker solidarity and encourages unionization efforts across Canada.

Canadian Teachers’ Federation

The name of CTF in French are Fédération Canadienne et des enseignants [FCE]. It is a national organization representing teachers across Canada. It was established in 1920. Currently, this union has more than 277,000 active members.

Key Details

• Who they represent: The elementary and secondary school teachers across Canada about Over 365,000. Their membership comes from affiliated provincial and territorial teacher organizations. In 1920, the CTF was Founded, and its Headquarters are in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
• Public Education Advocacy: They build a strong public education system across Canada and worldwide. The lobby for increased funding and resources for public education.
• Teacher Rights and Working Conditions: They ensure fair payments, resources, benefits, and care for working conditions teachers.
• Social Justice and Equity: They promote social justice and valuable education, advocating for inclusive learning environments and equal opportunities for all students.
• Professional Development: The CTF provides professional development resources and opportunities for teachers.

Structure

• The CTF is a federation made up of provincial and territorial teacher organizations as members.
• Each member organization has representation on the CTF’s board of directors.

Air Canada Pilots Association

The CTF is a federation made up of provincial and territory Air Canada Pilots Association (ACPA) used to be a Canadian Labor union that represented pilots at Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge. The current Status of ACPA is Defunct means that they are no longer operational. It represented pilots who have flown in the air for Canada and also ACR (Air Canada Rouge).

From the Year 2023 MY, The ACPA has decided to join the world’s largest pilots union and they have voted to participate in ALPA (Air Line Pilots Association) because they want to exist as a separate entity. Rial teacher organizations as members.

Each member organization has representation on the CTF’s board of directors.

Canadian Office and Professional Employees Union

The Canadian Office and COPE (Professional Employees Union) is a labor union in Canada representing around 35,000 white-collar workers. Here’s a breakdown of some key details:

Who they represent

• They have represented professional employees, workers, and technical and sales executives.
• Their members work in both the private and public sectors across various industries like insurance, finance, utilities, education, healthcare, and more.

Structure and History

• It is a represented young union, formed in 2004. Previously, OPEIU (these locals were part of the American-based Office and Professional Employees International Union).
• In 2004, The Canadian members decided to be voted to become independent and formed COPE.
• It has a total no of 35 local unions and operates in four regions across Canada.

What they do

• It gives better working conditions and also lives for its members through collective bargaining, grievance procedures, and legal actions.
• They are affiliated with the CLC (Canadian Labour Congress), which is the largest labor organization in Canada.
• It promotes workers for their benefits like they give rights and educates the public about the importance of unions.

Canadian Union of Public Employees

In French, the CUPE also known as the Syndicat canadien de la fonction publique . It is the largest Union in Canada.

Who they represent

• It is a major player in the public sector and represents over 700,000 workers across the whole of Canada.
• Their members work in various public services like healthcare, education, municipalities, libraries, universities, social services, utilities, transportation, emergency services, and even airlines.
• In CUPE over 60% of members are women, and nearly a third work part-time.

History and Structure

• They were formed in 1963 through a merger of two existing public sector unions.
• It was operating as a national union with different legal branches like CUPE Ontario and CUPE BC.
• It is affiliated with the CLC (Canadian Labor Congress) and other international labor organizations.

What they do

• It acts as a collective voice for its members, advocating for better wages, benefits, and working conditions through collective bargaining.
• They represent members in grievance procedures and legal actions if needed.
• It plays a great role in shaping public policy and promoting social justice issues relevant to its members and the broader community.

National Union of Public and General Employees

The NUPGE (National Union of Public and General Employees) is a prominent Canadian trade union, it is the second-largest union in the country.

Here’s a breakdown of key details about NUPGE:

Membership and Representation

• It represents a staggering 425,000 members across Canada.
• The majority of their members work in the public service sector at the provincial level.
• They have also grown their membership base in private businesses. the private businesses like NUPGE (The National Union of Public and General Employees).

Focus and Activities

• They give the rights and well-being of working families across Canada.
• They strive to create a “better Canada” by advocating for policies that ensure a fairer distribution of wealth NUPGE (The National Union of Public and General Employees).
• They actively monitor and analyze developments in provincial and federal labor laws, social programs, and public services NUPGE (The National Union of Public and General Employees).
• They play a role in shaping legislation affecting Canadian workplaces and contribute their voice to policy discussions.

Structure and Affiliation

• NUPGE operates as a national union with 13 component unions representing various sectors within the public and private spheres National Union of Public and General Employees.
• Some notable component unions include the BCGEU (British Columbia General Employees’ Union) and the Canadian Union of Brewery and General Workers National Union of Public and General Employees.
• It strengthens its national presence through its affiliation with the CLC (Canadian Labor Congress) and maintains international connections with PSI (Public Services International) National Union of Public and General Employees.

Canadian Association of University Teacher

The French name of the CAUT is Association Canadienne des professeures et professors’ university, it is a federation and that represents a large portion of Canadian academia.

Who They Represent

It advocates for groups that are significant for academic staff, and it has almost roughly 70,000 professors, librarians, researchers, and other professionals working at universities and colleges across Canada. Their membership spans over 120 institutions, including universities and colleges Canadian Association of University Teachers.

Structure and History

• They function as a federation of independent associations.
• CAUT was Established in 1956, it has grown considerably since its inception.
• According to its history, it has played a crucial role in defending academic freedom and advocating for better working conditions for its members.

What They Do

CAUT champions several key areas for its members, including:

• Academic Freedom: Protecting the right of the faculty to teach, research, and publish without undue hesitation.
• Collective Bargaining: Negotiating fair employment contracts with universities and colleges on behalf of members who are working.
• Governance: Ensuring that universities are governed fairly and democratically, with faculty having a meaningful voice.
• Equity: Promoting equity and diversity in the place of academic workplace.
• They offer resources, support, and advocacy services to its member associations in pursuit of these goals.

Public Service Alliance of Canada

The French name of the PSAC is Alliance de la Fonction publique du Canada. It is the one of Canada’s biggest national Laboure. Here’s a breakdown of key details about PSAC.

Who they represent

• It is the one of largest union in the Canadian federal public sector, it is representing over 180,000 workers across the country.
• Their members work in various federal government departments and agencies, it also including Crown corporations, universities, airports, and even security sectors.
• Their membership also includes employees in some non-traditional areas like casinos and community services organizations.

Structure and History

• They were formed in 1966, through a merger of two existing public service unions.
• It operates as a national union with regional offices across Canada.
• PSAC is affiliated with the Canadian Labor Congress (CLC), the biggest Labor organization in Canada.

What they do

• They act as a collective voice for their members, advocating for better wages, benefits, and working conditions through collective bargaining.
• They represent members in grievance procedures and legal actions if necessary.
• Their lobbies are the government on issues of importance to its members and the broader public service sector.

Current Focus

• Recent news on the PSAC website highlights their ongoing efforts on several fronts:
• Seeking improvements to public services in Canada.
• They are calling for increased support for Canadians through it measures like higher Employment Insurance benefits.
• Advocating for better access to safe drinking water.

Canadian Union of Postal Workers

The French name of the CUPW are Syndicat des TravailleUrs et travailleuses des postes (STTP). It is a prominent public-sector trade union that representing a vital part of Canada’s infrastructure.

Here is the key details about CUPW.

Who They Represent

• They give the rights of postal workers across Canada and the population of 54,000 in Canada.
• Their membership encompasses a wide range of positions crucial to mail delivery, including:
• Letter carriers (urban and rural)
• Postal clerks
• Mail handlers and dispatchers.
• Technicians, mechanics, and electricians employed by Canada Post
• It also represents workers outside Canada Post. and it has more than 15 private sector bargaining units [bcfed.ca]. These could include cleaners, couriers, warehouse workers, and others in related fields.

History and Structure

• They have a rich history dating back to 1965 when it was formed by the Canadian Postal Employees Association (CPEA).
• They operate as a national union with local branches across Canada.
• They are affiliated with the Canadian Labor Congress (CLC),
• The largest labor organization in Canada.

What They Do

• They play a very critical role in ensuring fair treatment and working conditions for its members through collective bargaining with Canada Post and other employers.
• They represent members in grievance procedures and legal actions if needed.
• They actively advocate for improvements in Canada’s postal services to ensure and their continued relevance and effectiveness in the digital age.

Recent Activities

They recently secured a new bargaining agreement with Maintair Aviation Services, bringing ground handling workers like baggage handlers under their umbrella.

Directors Guild of Canada

In French, DGC name was introduces is Guilde canadienne des réalisateurs. It is a national labour organization representing. The total 5,500 film and television professionals across Canada.

Here’s a closer look at the DGC:

Who they represent

They represent a wide range of creative and logistical personnel in the Canadian screen-based industry, it is encompassing over 48 different occupations.

Some key member categories include:

• Directors (film and television)
• Assistant directors
• Editors
• Production managers
• Location managers
• Art directors and production designers
• Post-production supervisors

It’s important to note that some positions in Quebec, like certain production roles, are represented by different unions.

Structure and Advocacy

The DGC operates as a national organization with district councils in each province and region.

Here are some examples:

• Directors Guild of Canada – Ontario
• Directors Guild of Canada -BC District
• Directors Guild of Canada – Alberta

Each district council has its own specific standard agreement to represent the interests of its members in that region.

Securing funding for Canadian film and television programming (DGC).

What they do

• They negotiate and administers collective agreements to secure better wages, benefits, and working conditions for its members [Directors Guild of Canada].
• They offer professional development opportunities and resources for their members.
• The DGC advocates for a strong and vibrant Canadian screen industry that provides opportunities for creative professionals [Directors Guild of Canada.

List of Major Trade Unions in Canada – FAQs

What do you mean by trade union?

It is an organization formed to represent their interests in the workplace. It helps them to negotiate with employers on behalf of workers and discuss the problems related to wages, working conditions etc.

Canada has how many major trade unions?

Canada has various major trade unions. This represents workers across many sectors and industries. There is no exact count of their unions.

Which sector do trade unions in Canada represent?

Major trade unions represent their involvement in various industries. They are engaged in like manufacturing, healthcare, public service, transportation, etc.

How do unions trade benefits for workers?

This includes their collective bargaining for preferable wages and working conditions. Their representation helps them to solve the problem of workers and help them to improve and grow.

How are trade union leaders chosen?

Trade union leaders are chosen through, and elected by the union members through a democratic voting process. This ensures that leaders represent the interests and priorities of the membership.