Module 1: Unions and Union Principles

By the end of this module, participants will be able to:

Explain why unions exist and list some of the reasons workers choose to belong to unions,
identify some of the key principles that guide the union’s goals and activities,
describe thoughts and feelings about being a union member.

Statement about Unions	Mostly agree	Mostly disagree	Not sure
1. People needed unions years ago, but today they’re obsolete.
2. Union contracts should deal only with wages and money.
3. Unions are not democratic, and the leadership runs the show.
4. Just because there’s a union where I work, I shouldn’t have to pay union dues.
5. Workers who face systemic discrimination (for example, women, Indigenous, Black, and/or racialized people, people with disabilities) benefit from being unionized.
6. When unions make contract gains, these gains often help improve working conditions for non-union workers.