British Columbia’s unions expanded at a rate not seen in almost two decades in 2023 as rising costs and government policy supported workers’ bargaining rights.

The BC Labour Relations Board said trade unions submitted 301 applications to organize new workplaces as of Oct. 31 this year, more than double the 143 applications the board received in all of 2022.

The board, which is responsible for tallying votes and approving union certifications, estimates the final numbers for 2023 may be as high as 361.

Both the interim and projected total would be the most applications unions have submitted since 2004, a sign of a resurgent labour movement in B.C. after decades of declining or stagnant private sector union density.

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