Canada’s Top 10 construction unions:
Contributing to members’ interests
and the community-at-large
Canadian Design and
Construction Report staff writer
It can be a challenge to select
Canada’s “Top 10” construction
unions and labour organizations – es-
pecially since the unions represent
different trades and perspectives.
This list is based partly on the organi-
zations’ size and influence, but the
references here are alphabetical,
rather than in a ranking order as it is
unfair to set one union against an-
other in some sort of hierarchy.
In terms of size, the Labourers In-
ternational Union of North America
(LiUNA) is the nation’s largest. The
union’s Toronto-area Local 183 wins
hands down as the largest in the
North America – with more than
55,000 members.
We also appreciate that CLAC (The
Christian Labour Association of
Canada) is regarded as an outlier by
the rest of the unions described
below, but include it in this list be-
cause the organization indeed bar-
gains on behalf of its members and
represents thousands of workers in
the Canadian construction industry.
CLAC is especially strong in areas of
Ontario and Alberta.
United Brotherhood of
Carpenters and Joiners of
America (Carpenters Union)
This union, with locals across the
country, co-ordinates extensive train-
ing programs for both new and expe-
rienced carpenters, increasing the
28 – Winter 2018 — The Canadian Design and Construction Report
trade’s relevance and importance
within the industry. In Ontario, the
Carpenters Union has been a key
force in the formation of the Ontario
College of Trades (OCOT).
CLAC – Christian Labour
Association of Canada
CLAC advocates for workers dif-
ferently than other trade unions;
speaking for an interdisciplinary ap-
proach, where members can take on
different trades and tasks once they
have achieved the required qualifica-
tions (and can do the work safely and
reliably). International Brotherhood
of Boilermakers
The Boilermakers Union’s locals
are among the most substantial sup-
porters of the Helmets to Hardhats
program, creating career paths for
former soldiers in the heavy con-
struction environment. This is not
work for the meek and mild – the
union represents individuals capable
of hard, heavy-duty work.
International Brotherhood
of Electrical Workers (IBEW)
IBEW’s locals, representing skilled
electricians, have been strong propo-
nents for the trade, and the union
has advocated for working environ-
ment/rules to improve worksite
safety. International Union of Bricklayers
and Allied Craftworkers
This union supports significant
training programs and initiatives, and
in Ontario has been one of the lead-
ing proponents of both the OCOT
and the new Construction Act (Bill
142). International Union of
Operating Engineers (IUOE)
The union represents thousands
of crane and heavy equipment opera-
tors across the country. It operates
training institutes to ensure that oper-
ators can handle the equipment
safely and efficiently.
International Union of
Painters and Allied Trades
The painters union represents
more than painters – it advocates for
highly skilled workers applying spe-
cialized coatings in industrial and in-
stitutional environments, where
specialized training and strong safety
knowledge must be combined to
complete the work reliably.
International Association
of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and
Transportation Workers (SMART)
The former Sheet Metals Workers’
International Association (SMWIA)
merged with the United Transporta-
tion Union (UTU) in 2014, to form the
new, larger organization. The union
has more than 15,000 sheet metal
and roofing members in Canada.