There are 12.8 million working Canadians and 30.3 per cent are in a union, Statistics Canada reports.
Union membership is up slightly in 2002, with 3.9 million working Canadians now members of a union, up from 3.8 million last year.
The increase in union memberships also outstripped the numbers of new non-union working Canadians so the union rate, or density, was also up slightly to 30.3 per cent from 30 per cent last year.
Newfoundland and Labrador remains the most heavily unionized province while Alberta the least.
Most of the increase in membership occurred in the public sector and women accounted for most of the jump. For the first time, the union rate for women (30.2 per cent) virtually matches that for men (30.3 per cent). Employees in the public sector are almost four times as likely to belong to a union.
Union membership is up slightly in 2002, with 3.9 million working Canadians now members of a union, up from 3.8 million last year.
The increase in union memberships also outstripped the numbers of new non-union working Canadians so the union rate, or density, was also up slightly to 30.3 per cent from 30 per cent last year.
Newfoundland and Labrador remains the most heavily unionized province while Alberta the least.
Most of the increase in membership occurred in the public sector and women accounted for most of the jump. For the first time, the union rate for women (30.2 per cent) virtually matches that for men (30.3 per cent). Employees in the public sector are almost four times as likely to belong to a union.
