Is This a Good Time to Belong to a Union?
Working people in the United States and Canada face increasing challenges, from labor shortages and rising living costs to a public transit funding crisis. Despite regional differences in our two countries, one thing is clear: Unions are becoming more essential than ever.
Labor Shortages and Wage Pressures
Both Canada and the U.S. are experiencing widespread labor shortages, particularly in industries like healthcare, technology, and transit. Canada has addressed these gaps by increasing immigration, while the U.S. has struggled to pass immigration legislation.
While minimum wages vary by province in Canada and by state in the U.S., in general, Canadian workers tend to have higher minimum wages. However, both countries are struggling with inflation and rising costs of living, making it harder for workers to afford housing and essentials.
Transit Systems in Crisis
Public transportation systems are under strain in both nations. Ridership has not fully rebounded post-pandemic, there are funding gaps, and workforce shortages, in addition to the rise of autonomous public transit vehicles, climate change, and sustainability trends.
While ridership is rebounding post-pandemic, some cities like Detroit and Chicago are still struggling, with demand below 50% of pre-pandemic levels.
Staffing shortages are particularly acute. Agencies are struggling to hire enough drivers and maintenance workers, which impacts service quality.
Union Action and Advocacy
The ATU is at the forefront of addressing these challenges by actively working to address workforce shortages, funding gaps, and safety concerns.
In Canada, ATU Canada has been advocating for increased federal investment in public transit infrastructure to ensure long-term sustainability.
Funding Gaps Threaten Services
Public transit systems face massive financial shortfalls. In the U.S., there’s a $6 billion shortfall, exacerbated by declining fare revenue and the expiration of emergency federal funding. The ATU is lobbying for new funding, from Illinois to New Jersey to Pennsylvania.
Canada’s cities are in a similar bind. Structural deficits in cities like Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver are reporting hundreds of millions in budget shortfalls, with Montreal expecting a $700 million deficit by 2028.
The Union Advantage
Is it a good time to belong to a Union? The right to collectively assemble and address these issues is best carried out through your Union. Yes, we need our Union!
On a closing note, I was honored to attend the first-ever ATU International Pride Caucus and the ATU International Black Caucus. Both were inspirational, highlighting the diversity of our Union. I’d also like to give a shout out to the officers of the Pride Caucus and the recently elected officers of the Black Caucus. Your leadership is needed now more than ever.