Yes, it's a cultural thing; associations here in N. America are related to unions, which in broad terms are generally frowned upon anymore.

It's difficult to find support when forming unions here, regardless of their good intents toward management. The pilots at Westjet, Canada's second largest airline, had discussions of forging a union after having been 15 yrs without one. So far the attempts have been defeated, but it's been a struggle.

Don't take offense to the rhetoric displayed here regarding them; in Canada, you either belong to one and like them, or not.

It's clear where many of the contibutors here lay.