29 Just Labour: A Canadian Journal of Work and Society – V.15 – Special Edition – Nov. 09 FURTHER TESTS OF THE LINK BETWEEN UNIONIZATION, UNEMPLOYMENT, AND EMPLOYMENT: FINDINGS FROM CANADIAN NATIONAL AND PROVINCIAL DATA

There is a substantial international economics literature regarding the impact of labour market and social institutions (such as trade unions and collective bargaining systems) on labour market performance (measured by indicators such as unemployment rates and job-creation). Some recent installments in that literature include OECD (2006), Howell (2005), and Hein, Heise and Truger (2006). The broad finding of this international research is that there is no predictable relationship either way between trade unionization, unemployment rates, and employment levels. Countries with stronger or weaker unions and collective bargaining regimes may experience stronger or weaker labour market outcomes, depending on the other, more important economic and structural factors that affect labour markets (such as macroeconomic conditions and demographics). Despite these international findings, certain opponents of proposed changes to U.S. labour law (and, in particular, the Employee Free Choice Act) have attempted to argue that Canada’s labour market experience “proves ” tha