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You
have the "right"
under
Ontario's
Labour Relations Act to
organize and
join a union.
"Every person is
free to join a trade union of the person's own choice and to participate
in its lawful activities." (s. 5, LRA, 1995)
It is illegal in Ontario for Employers to
interfere with unions or employees' rights. That is, it is illegal
for an employer to:
 | "refuse to employ or continue to
employ" anyone or "discriminate against" anyone in
employment based on membership in a trade union or the exercise of
rights under the Act. |
| impose any condition in employment contract
seeking to restrain someone from becoming a member of a trade union or
from exercising rights under the Act. |
| seek by threat of dismissal, by any other kind
of threat, or by the imposition of pecuniary or other penalties, or
"by any other means" to compel an employee to refrain from
becoming or continuing to be a member of a trade union or from
exercising rights under the Act. |
| use intimidation or coercion. |
| ignore a certified trade union. Once a
union has bargaining rights and has service notice to bargain, an
employer must meet with that union and bargain in good faith toward a
collective agreement. |
The right to organize is a fundamental right,
protected under provincial and federal laws. By law we
can:
| attend meetings to learn about the union and
ways to support ourselves. |
| read and distribute union literature in
non-work areas during non-work time. |
| in most cases, the right to wear union
insignia like buttons, pins and stickers at work. |
| sign an authorization card asking our employer
to recognize and bargain with us as a union. |
| ask other workers to support our union , to
sign authorization cards or petitions. |
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Do
UAW members have their own locals?
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Who
decides what we will request from management in wage increases
and other contract benefits ?
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Can
management take away any benefits we now have if we form our
union?
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Who
meets with management to negotiate our wages and other
contract benefits?
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Does
the Negotiating Committee have the right to make a final
settlement with management without approval of the membership?
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What
is a strike?
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Does
the UAW pay strike benefits while we are on strike?
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How
much are dues in the UAW?
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When
will I be required to pay union dues?
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Can
the Union raise the dues at any time?
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Are
there any special assessments, fines or fees in addition to
dues in the UAW?
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How
much is the initiation fee in the UAW?
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Will
I be required to pay an initiation fee?
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Is
the UAW active in Canada?
Yes, all UAW members belong
to their own Local Union, elect their own officers,
committeepersons and stewards and control their own treasury.
Members decide what you want
in your contract at membership meetings called for this purpose.
No.
Ontario's Labour Relations Act, 1995
provides that once a trade union applies for certification at the
Ontario Labour Relations Board and the employer has notice of it
from the Board, the Act establishes a "statutory freeze"
until the Board has issued a final decision in the application or
the union has served notice to bargain (ss. 86(2)). Similarly, if
the Union wins certification, it has the right to serve the
employer with a notice to bargain toward a collective agreement.
That notice to bargain triggers another statutory freeze,
effective until an agreement is negotiated or the union is in a
strike position (ss. 86(1)). Under both 86(1) and (2), the freeze
is broadly worded and applies to wages and "any other term or
condition of employment or any right, privilege or duty of the
employer, the trade union or the employees". Benefits would
definitely be frozen, unless the Union consented to a change.
Similarly, since the Act
requires "business as usual" during the freeze, an
employer would have to follow its normal practices (e.g., annual
evaluations and wage increases) and implement any planned
improvements or increases in working conditions in order to avoid
violating the statutory freeze.
During an organizing
campaign (that is, before the freeze kicks in), the removal or
threat to remove, benefit coverage would be an unfair labour
practice complaint if it is motivated by anti-union animus,
seeking to interfere with the formation or selection of a trade
union. Employer interference in trade unions and employer
interference with employees' rights are outlawed by sections 70
and 72.
You select and/or elect your
own committee to negotiate your contract. Experienced Canadian
representatives
of the International Union will assist you. In addition, UAW
Departments with expertise in various areas such as health safety
and retirement are available.
No.
In the UAW before any settlement becomes
final, it must be presented to the full membership for their
acceptance or rejection. Further, members of your committee
will make periodic reports on the progress of negotiations.
If you, along with the
membership, vote to accept a contract only then can such a
contract become effective.
A strike is the act of
workers withholding their labour. The UAW Constitution
requires that two-thirds of the voting members must authorize a
strike. 98% of all UAW contracts are settled without a
strike.
In Ontario, workers can
strike only after a "no board" report is issued by the
Ontario Labour Relations Board and the matter is referred to a
mediator.
Yes. During the time
you spend on an authorized strike the UAW will pay you strike
benefits under the provisions of the UAW Strike Assistance
Program. At present the weekly benefit is $200US plus life
insurance and the cost of any contractual health benefits,
excluding vision and dental care.
The dues in the UAW are two
(2) hours pay per month. The UAW dues structure has not
changed since 1967.
It is the policy of the UAW not
to require payment of any dues until after a first
contract has been negotiated and accepted by the employees.
No. Union dues can
only be raised if you vote to raise dues at a membership
meeting of your local or by your delegates from your facility or
local to the International Union Convention.
No. The UAW
Constitution does not allow for collecting any special
assessments.
The initiation fee is a
minimum of $10CDN and a maximum of $50CDN.
No. Newly organized
members do not pay any initiation fees.
Is the UAW active in
Canada?
Yes. The sub regional
office is located in Chatham, Ontario. The UAW is affiliated
with the Canadian Labour Congress, the Ontario Federation of
Labour and the American Federation of Labour.
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