Quick Votes and Union Certification Drives in Canada

Abstract

This paper reviews the use of quick votes in Canada and the evidence of their effects on union organizing. Most Canadians now work in provinces where mandatory elections, including provisions for quick votes, are in place. In fact, all provinces except Alberta, past and present, that use mandatory elections have such provisions. In most cases, the election must take place within only one week of the application date. The evidence suggests that compliance with this requirement is very high; however, employer actions are a strong correlate of noncompliance. Overall, quick-vote elections appear to reduce certification success rates by around 20 percentage points in the private sector, while elections may have little effect in the public sector. A key area for future research is to gain a better understanding of what factors underlie the relationship between the union recognition regime and union organizing outcomes.