Union Dues Election

In 2023, Alberta’s government committed to consulting with unions on ways to reduce red tape in aspects of the union dues election framework that applies to union charitable donations.  

Alberta’s labour relations legislation requires that unions and associations, in their role as bargaining agents, must provide union dues payers with the opportunity to elect (i.e., opt in) to pay the portion of their union dues that fund non-core activities. Non-core activities are activities that support social causes, charities, non-governmental organizations and organizations or groups affiliated with or supportive of a political party (i.e., activities that do not directly benefit dues payers in the workplace). However, dues payers must still pay the portion of their dues that fund activities that directly benefit them in the workplace such as collective bargaining and the representation of dues payers.  

The legislation does not prohibit unions from making charitable donations; however, if union dues are used to make charitable donations, then only the portion of dues that dues payers have opted to pay may be used.  

Alberta Jobs, Economy and Trade is seeking feedback to better understand how the union dues election provisions are operating, the impact they have had on charitable donations and suggestions on how red tape or administrative burden could be reduced to limit adverse impacts on charitable donations.  

In 2023, Alberta’s government committed to consulting with unions on ways to reduce red tape in aspects of the union dues election framework that applies to union charitable donations.  

Alberta’s labour relations legislation requires that unions and associations, in their role as bargaining agents, must provide union dues payers with the opportunity to elect (i.e., opt in) to pay the portion of their union dues that fund non-core activities. Non-core activities are activities that support social causes, charities, non-governmental organizations and organizations or groups affiliated with or supportive of a political party (i.e., activities that do not directly benefit dues payers in the workplace). However, dues payers must still pay the portion of their dues that fund activities that directly benefit them in the workplace such as collective bargaining and the representation of dues payers.  

The legislation does not prohibit unions from making charitable donations; however, if union dues are used to make charitable donations, then only the portion of dues that dues payers have opted to pay may be used.  

Alberta Jobs, Economy and Trade is seeking feedback to better understand how the union dues election provisions are operating, the impact they have had on charitable donations and suggestions on how red tape or administrative burden could be reduced to limit adverse impacts on charitable donations.