An Empirical Analysis of the Effects of the Change from Card-Check to Mandatory Vote Certification

This article explores the effect of a legislated change in certification procedure in Ontario in 1995, from a card-check system to a mandatory vote system. The author concludes that introduction of mandatory votes had a highly significant negative effect on the probability of certification. In addition, the influence of particular factors on the likelihood of certification, such as the size of the bargaining unit, whether it was in the public or private sector, the extent of delay, and the degree of voter turnout in election cases was substantially different under the two procedures. Finally, statistically significant differences were found in the characteristics of applicants and in the characteristics of units for which certification was granted