Unionization and the Health of Canadians

Abstract

This research seeks to answer how unionization affects self-rated health of the Canadian workforce. Previous literature suggests that labour union membership leads to more positive health outcomes. The expectation is that this study will replicate those found in previous studies in the Canadian context. Despite neoliberal efforts to dismantle unions in Canada since the 1990s, the health effects of such policies have yet to be examined in the Canadian context. Fifteen cycles of the Canadian General Social Survey between 1989 and 2018 were analyzed using ordinal regression models to determine the relationship between union membership and self-rated general health and self-rated mental health, and how the relationship may change over time. Across each year, the results show that there is no consistent pattern between union membership and self-rated health outcomes in the Canadian context. No significant interaction effects were found when examining key demographic variables – age, sex, education, household income, marital status, visible minority status, and province of origin – though income remained the greatest determinant for improved health outcomes regardless of union member status. Future research is necessary to include occupational differences, as well as improve the measurement of union membership and its various forms, which are critical to assess how they may produce unequal impacts on health outcomes.