Construction union effect
Reasons for the study
Unions have played an important role in the development of occupational health and safety protections for workers, through various mechanisms such as advocacy, provisions in collective agreements, ensuring enforcement by authorities, and enhancing joint health and safety committee effectiveness. However, quantitative findings on the prevention of injury, especially nonfatal injury, has been mixed.
IWH previously undertook two studies of the union effect on workplace injuries in the industrial, commercial and institutional (ICI) sector of construction. These studies were based solely on data from Ontario’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB). The present study will both repeat and extend the earlier methodological approach, by using data not only from WSIB but also from the Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey and the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association (IHSA).
Objectives of the study
- Examine the association between employer/worker unionization and WSIB fatal and nonfatal injury claim incidence, in the industrial, commercial and institutional (ICI) construction sector, using two approaches. These include:
- Employer-level analysis, using administrative data from WSIB, unions, and employer associations
- Worker sub-group-level analysis, using the above sources and the Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey
- Explore the association of employer achievement of the IHSA’s Certificate of Recognition (COR) status with unionization and claim incidence
Target audience
The results of this research project are relevant to unions, employers and stakeholders in the construction sector, including the Ontario Construction Secretariat, as well as policy-makers, including the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.
Related studies
- Occupational health and safety performance in Ontario's unionized construction sector
- Determinants of health and safety in unionized and non-unionized firms in Ontario’s construction sector
Project status
Ongoing
Research team
Collaborators and partners
Ontario Construction Secretariat, unions and employer associations
Funded by
Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD), Ontario Construction Secretariat