Frequently Asked Questions about joining Unifor (FAQs Federal)
Do you lose anything when you join the union?
No. Once a union applies for certification, the Labour Board requires that all terms and conditions of employment are frozen and cannot be changed without the union’s consent. Section 24 (4) of the CLC. That means that if the union gets certified, then bargaining would start from your current conditions and move up from there.
Can my employer take any action against me for joining a union?
No. The decision to join is solely up to the individual without any undue influence, threats or coercion from management. Every person
is free to join a union of their own choice. Section 8 of the CLC.
Does the employer ever find out who supported the union?
No. The CLC guarantees the secrecy of all membership evidence. Employers never find out and never get to see the membership cards. Section 25 of the Regulations Relating to the CLC.
What happens if an employer violates workers’ rights during an organizing drive?
Notify the union, immediately. The union can file an “Unfair Labour Practice Complaint”, with the Labour Board, who in turn has the authority to order any remedy that it feels is appropriate and that addresses any violation of the CLC. Sections 94, 96, 97 & 99 of the CLC.
Do you lose anything when you join the union?
No. Once a union applies for certification, the Labour Board requires that all terms and conditions of employment are frozen and cannot be changed without the union’s consent. Section 24 (4) of the CLC. That means that if the union gets certified, then bargaining would start from your current conditions and move up from there.
Can my employer take any action against me for joining a union?
No. The decision to join is solely up to the individual without any undue influence, threats or coercion from management. Every person
is free to join a union of their own choice. Section 8 of the CLC.
Does the employer ever find out who supported the union?
No. The CLC guarantees the secrecy of all membership evidence. Employers never find out and never get to see the membership cards. Section 25 of the Regulations Relating to the CLC.
What happens if an employer violates workers’ rights during an organizing drive?
Notify the union, immediately. The union can file an “Unfair Labour Practice Complaint”, with the Labour Board, who in turn has the authority to order any remedy that it feels is appropriate and that addresses any violation of the CLC. Sections 94, 96, 97 & 99 of the CLC.
Can management staff belong to the union?
No. The Canada Labour Code prohibits people
who exercise managerial functions from belonging or interfering with the formation of the union.
What is the function of the union in our workplace?
The employees ARE the union in the workplace.
Union Stewards and other positions are elected to represent their co-workers with management and to ensure that the company does not violate the contract. A Unifor National Representative provides assistance, direction, research and education to Stewards and other members in the workplace. The Unifor National Representative also helps settle grievances.
What is a collective agreement?
A collective agreement or a contract is a legal agreement between a union and an employer, covering wages, hours of work, working conditions, benefits, rights of workers and the union, and a procedure to be followed in settling workplace disputes.
Who negotiates the contract?
After a successful organizing campaign, the affected employees meet to put forward proposals for the contract and to elect from amongst themselves their own bargaining committee. The committee, along with a Unifor National Representative, would then proceed to meet with the employer to obtain a satisfactory agreement as mandated by their fellow co-workers.
Unifor Representatives direct and lend expertise at all stages of negotiations with full input from the elected bargaining committee at all levels.
What are union Constitutions & By-Laws?
They are the rules and regulations that govern the union, elected and appointed officers, revenue of the union and the welfare of the membership. The Constitution and By-Laws were created by the membership and can only be amended by the members of the Union by a 2/3 majority vote at convention.
How will we benefit from joining Unifor? Documented statistics clearly show that year after year, unionized workers do far better than their non-union counterparts in wages, benefits and working conditions.
Contract bargaining ensures that all workers have a say in wages, benefits and working conditions on a regular basis. As well, a contract gives unionized workers a legal right to grieve improper pay rates, health & safety issues, application of negotiated benefits, unjust treatment or discipline, etc. This process ensures that problems, issues and concerns will not be sidestepped, but rather be mandated to be dealt with in very specific time limits.
At work, unionized workers have the benefit of representation from elected and trained in-plant Stewards who receive direction and assistance from the Unifor National Representative assigned to your workplace.
Unionized Unifor workers also have access to the full resources of the union and the various departments that assist workers by providing expertise and knowledge when required and is a service available to all Unifor members. Without a union and a collective agreement, you give management sole discretion in determining what is fair and just, concerning all of your conditions of employment and without any means to challenge any decision that management makes.
