Union certification: Developing a level playing field for labour relations in Quebec

In votes of various types, such as elections and referendums, the secret ballot is seen as a way of guaranteeing that voters are protected from pressure or intimidation and of ensuring that the vote represents their true opinion. However, this is not the approach used in labour relations in Quebec and elsewhere: the outcome of a union certification or a strike vote may be determined by a less rigorous process that involves canvassing workers to get signatures or a show of hands in favour of a strike. This procedure may alter workers’ true will and favour labour relations disputes, putting economic growth and investment at risk. The objective of this research paper is to examine reform options for the union certification process in Quebec.

Links of interest

Media Release: Union certification: Mandatory secret ballot voting would show more respect for workers’ wishes – A new poll indicates that a large majority of Quebeckers support this reform

Léger Marketing public poll commissioned by the MEI: Study on the Perceptions of Union Certification Methods and Strike Decrees