What Happens If I Join A Union?
Often during the organizing of a workplace, there are questions that arise and fear of reprisal that the workers experience. Here are a few of them:
Who will know that I joined?
That’s up to you. The Union will not tell anyone that you joined. The Labour Board protects your rights and will not tell anyone your name, especially your employer. This is confidential information.
What if the boss lays me off?
Even if your boss suspects that you or others have joined, they are prohibited by law to take action against you.
Section 6 of the Labour Relations Code prohibits an employer or anyone on their behalf from:
- Participating in or interfering with the formation or administration of a Union;
- Discharging, suspending, transferring or laying off an employee because that employee seeks to exercise his or her right to be a member of a Union;
- Discharging, suspending, transferring, laying off or otherwise disciplining an employee except for proper cause during a Union certification drive;
- Imposing any condition in a contract of employment that attempts to restrain an employee from exercising his or her rights under the Code; and
- Threatening a penalty or promising a benefit in order to compel an employee to refrain from becoming, or continuing to be, a member of a Union.
Unless an employer’s actions are intended (even in part) to interfere with an employee’s rights under the Code, the employer is not prohibited from:
- Suspending, transferring, laying off or discharging an employee for proper cause;
- Communicating to employees any fact or opinion reasonably held concerning the business; or,
Making any change in the operation of the business that is reasonably necessary for the proper conduct of the business.
When does our company become Union?
The Union becomes certified to represent the workers after a representation vote, with 51% of workers voting in favor of the Union.
Will the boss find out I joined the Union?
NO! Confidentiality is our top priority. The only people who know that you joined are yourself, the Union Representative and the Labour Relations Board and they legally can’t give out any names of persons who have joined any Union. Almost all card signing is done privately in a person’s home to protect his or her rights.
What does it mean to be certified?
Once certified, the Union becomes your exclusive bargaining agent. Because of our strength in numbers, we are far better able to negotiate good collective agreements, raise and correct safety concerns, and provide job security through collective agreements with the employer.
Why do I need a collective agreement?
Without a collective agreement, your employer can often take away benefits and take disciplinary action anytime they want. Collective agreements are contracts that protect you by making agreements enforceable.
Will the Union take away any of my benefits?
NO! Unions strive to improve wages and conditions, it is more important to have these conditions recognized in a collective agreement. They are only enforceable in a negotiated agreement.
Do I have any say in what happens?
YES! All negotiations are done in consultation with the workers. All collective agreements are ratified by the employees.
What do I have to sign?
The Labour Board requires that each worker supporting the Union must sign a Petition Card that says: “In applying for a membership, I understand that the Union intends to apply to be certified as my exclusive bargaining agent and to represent me in collective bargaining.”
What does it cost to join?
NOTHING! We believe in organizing workers and will charge nothing to sign a Petition Card and nothing for initiation to become a member of the Union. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain!
IMPORTANT
Remember that when you sign a Petition Card, not only are you a part of Unionizing your workplace, you are protecting yourself.
When you sign a Petition Card, the Union commits to protect you against unfair labour practices or other disciplinary actions.