Unionization rates and health in Canadian provinces, 2000 - 2020

This paper examines one possible, but understudied, institution that might have an impact on health: unionization. We outline four distinct, although complementary, pathways through which unions might influence population health outcomes based on two axes: the levers that unions can potentially pull...

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Main Authors: Ian Hudson, Anupam Das, Mark Hudson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Critical Public Health Network 2025-05-01
Series:Journal of Critical Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/jcph/article/view/80333
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author Ian Hudson
Anupam Das
Mark Hudson
author_facet Ian Hudson
Anupam Das
Mark Hudson
author_sort Ian Hudson
collection DOAJ
description This paper examines one possible, but understudied, institution that might have an impact on health: unionization. We outline four distinct, although complementary, pathways through which unions might influence population health outcomes based on two axes: the levers that unions can potentially pull to influence any policy environment (collective bargaining and political action) and the manner in which health can be influenced in a society (the Social Determinants of Health and health care). We test whether unionization rates have an impact on total, preventable, and treatable mortality using panel data on Canadian provinces between 2000 and 2020. We find that unionization rates are negatively associated with all three measures of mortality.
format Article
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institution Kabale University
issn 3033-3997
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series Journal of Critical Public Health
spelling doaj-art-32b0bd84a1c24de3aa9904c71f26eaf02025-08-20T15:43:05ZengCritical Public Health NetworkJournal of Critical Public Health3033-39972025-05-0110.55016/ojs/jcph.vi.80333Unionization rates and health in Canadian provinces, 2000 - 2020Ian Hudson0https://orcid.org/0009-0005-8713-6270Anupam Das1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4910-6290Mark Hudson2University of ManitobaMount Royal UniversityUniversity of ManitobaThis paper examines one possible, but understudied, institution that might have an impact on health: unionization. We outline four distinct, although complementary, pathways through which unions might influence population health outcomes based on two axes: the levers that unions can potentially pull to influence any policy environment (collective bargaining and political action) and the manner in which health can be influenced in a society (the Social Determinants of Health and health care). We test whether unionization rates have an impact on total, preventable, and treatable mortality using panel data on Canadian provinces between 2000 and 2020. We find that unionization rates are negatively associated with all three measures of mortality. https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/jcph/article/view/80333UnionsHealthMortalitySocial Determinants of HealthCanadaPolitical Economy of Health
spellingShingle Ian Hudson
Anupam Das
Mark Hudson
Unionization rates and health in Canadian provinces, 2000 - 2020
Journal of Critical Public Health
Unions
Health
Mortality
Social Determinants of Health
Canada
Political Economy of Health
title Unionization rates and health in Canadian provinces, 2000 - 2020
title_full Unionization rates and health in Canadian provinces, 2000 - 2020
title_fullStr Unionization rates and health in Canadian provinces, 2000 - 2020
title_full_unstemmed Unionization rates and health in Canadian provinces, 2000 - 2020
title_short Unionization rates and health in Canadian provinces, 2000 - 2020
title_sort unionization rates and health in canadian provinces 2000 2020
topic Unions
Health
Mortality
Social Determinants of Health
Canada
Political Economy of Health
url https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/jcph/article/view/80333
work_keys_str_mv AT ianhudson unionizationratesandhealthincanadianprovinces20002020
AT anupamdas unionizationratesandhealthincanadianprovinces20002020
AT markhudson unionizationratesandhealthincanadianprovinces20002020