Why Union

Ontario’s building trades unions and their contractor partners host one of the most talented labour pools in the entire world. With an unparalleled focus on worker safety to the endless hours of training, they get the job done on-time and on-budget.

This is Why Union?

Building Trust in Procurement

It goes beyond the lowest bid

  • Procuring construction based solely on the lowest bid can increase risks, cause delays, and lead to disputes
  • Strong, trust-based relationships between owners and contractors lead to better outcomes

For a full report on construction procurement best practices, click here.

Unionized Construction Work is Safe Work

An unparalleled focus on safety

  • Building trades unions in Ontario’s ICI construction sector are 31% safer when compared to non-union firms
  • Lower incidences of critical injury claims, lower incidence of musculoskeletal injury claims, and lower incidence of lost-time injury claims

For more information on the Union Safety Effect as well as a link to the full study, click here.

Training Investment in Ontario’s ICI Construction Industry

Endless hours of high-quality training

  • With over 100 union-employer training centres, Ontario building trades unions and their contractor partners work together to train the next generation
  • $70 Million invested annually (ICI sector contributions)

For a full report on training investment, click here.

For more reports on a variety of other topics click the respective buttons below

Just Not Credible: Challenging Claims About Closed Tendering in Ontario ( May 2019)

Community Benefits Report (November 2019)

Impact of Fair Wage Policies – JUNE 2006

The Economic Costs and Benefits of Project Labour Agreements in Ontario (April 2025)