Expressing Confidence in Unions in Quebec and the Other Canadian Provinces: Similarities and Contrasts in Findings

Abstract

This article examines changes in levels of confidence in unions and proposes an intra-national comparison between Quebec and the rest of Canada based on the analysis of the three most recent waves of the World Values Survey (WVS) database, of which Canada is part (i.e. 1990, 2000, 2006). After noting differences in the trends of confidence in unions in these two regions, we applied the same logistic regression model to both regions, based on the 2006 WVS wave, in order to bring out the determinants of the propensity of individuals to express confidence in unions. The results show both similarities and differences between the two regions. As for the similarities between Quebec and the rest of Canada, it should be noted that involvement in politics and the fact of being unionized had a positive effect on the respondents’ propensity to have confidence in unions whereas most of the socio-demographic variables had no significant effects. As for the differences, the fact of reporting a higher income had a significant negative impact in Quebec, but was not significant in the rest of Canada. The fact of supporting the NDP in the rest of Canada had a more structuring effect on the propensity of individuals to have confidence in unions than the fact of supporting the BQ in Quebec. Moreover, the greater the extent to which citizens in Quebec identified with left-leaning ideological positions, the more likely they were to have confidence in unions. Finally, the respondent’s level of education was not significant in the rest of Canada but, cetiris paribus, was highly significant and positively related to confidence in unions in Quebec.

Interpersonal Trust and Confidence in Labor Unions: The Case of South Korea

“…Kane and Newman (2019), for instance, demonstrate that "class-based anti-union rhetoric" employed by the mass media turns public opinion of labor unions effectively negative in the United States. Frangi and Hennebert (2015) highlight the difference between Quebec and the rest of Canada in terms of how individual-level trust contributes to the formation of public confidence in labor unions. Not only are these studies exceptional, they are confined exclusively to the North American context, where unions play a unique role in the society.…”

Attitudes towards trade unions in Malta

“…In order to shed light on the reasons behind attitudes towards trade unions, adopting Frangi and Hennebert’s approach (2015), this study distinguishes three common bases of positive attitudes or ‘confidence’. The first type is confidence based on instrumental grounds (also known as ‘calculus-based’), in which attitudes are based on what individuals stand to personally gain or lose from unions.…”

“…Considerable research exists about unionization levels and unions’ actions. However, there is insufficient evidence about people’s attitudes towards trade unions (Frangi and Hennebert, 2015; Givan and Hipp, 2012). Indeed, there is also scant information about the way the general public views the role played by trade unions in Malta.…”

Are strikes still a tool for union action? A qualitative investigation into the private sector in Quebec, Canada

“…Although the industrial relations system in Canada may appear to be a relatively homogeneous entity – based on the Wagner Act model of union certification 5 and voluntarism between labour and management through a decentralized regime of collective bargaining – there are significant differences between the Canadian provinces (Frangi and Hennebert, 2015). In this regard, Quebec is undoubtedly the province that most stands out.…”