Description: Unionized Canadians make more than their non-union counterparts, but the concept of the union “wage premium” is a complex one.

Source: The Globe and Mail

Date: 02/05/2014

Link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/economy/economy-lab/it-still-pays-to-be-in-a-union-but-for-how-long/article16697608/

Related links:

• Union member’s response (see “Working together”)
• Statistics Canada report
• Conference Board report
• Earlier article by Karla Thorpe
• A study from 2002

Questions for discussion:

• What is the union “wage premium”?
• Why does the author say this premium “tends to be overestimated”?
• What are some of the forces that threaten this premium?
• Do you agree with the statement that “belonging to a union may seem like an antiquated notion to many in today’s work environment”?
• Why or why not?