Making the decision to join Unifor can leave a positive and lasting impact on the lives of workers and their families. Unifor represents workers in nearly every sector of the economy, and has a wide-range of experience negotiating strong contracts and settling grievances, even in some of the most challenging circumstances. As a Unifor member, you will have one of the strongest and most innovative Canadian unions in your corner, helping you win fair wages and an improved standard of living.

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Six steps in joining the union

The process to join the union

Step 1. Signing your card

Kirchhoff workers sign a union card to join the union. The employer will never know you have signed a card, and the process is completely confidential, you can either sign a confidential electronic card, or a physical card

Step 2. Filing for Certification

Once enough workers have signed their union card, Unifor can apply to the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) to initiate a vote. The OLRB requires a minimum of 40% of employees to sign a union card before the application can be filed, typically Unifor will file at a higher percentage of support to ensure we will win the vote. Once the union files for the vote, you start with the pay and benefits you currently have and build on them. Your working conditions will also be frozen during a statutory freeze to give you the opportunity to bargain your first collective agreement. Its not true, you DO NOT start from scratch!

Step 3. Voting for your Union

Kirchhoff workers then vote by secret ballot to approve the union drive. A simple majority of 50% plus one is needed to win the vote and certify the union. Votes in Ontario have been conducted online from the privacy of your own home online. 

Step 4. Electing your union representatives

As new Unifor members, workers will be assigned to a local union that can best support the workers at Kirchhoff. At this point, you will also begin electing your union representatives from your workplace. There are several positions workers will elect, but the first elections will be for your bargaining committee. This will be a committee of co-workers elected to steer your first contract negotiations in a direction decided by the workers at Kirchhoff Automotive. Your newly elected union representatives will get to work immediately and have the support of Unifor resources and staff at every step.

Step 5. Bargaining your first contract

As previously stated, after you elect your bargaining committee, they will start bargaining your first collective agreement with management representatives of Kirchhoff. Bargaining will cover wages, benefits and pensions, work scheduling and job bidding processes, grievances, holidays and vacations, and more. Once your elected bargaining committee and employer have reached a tentative agreement, all the Kirchhoff workers will vote on the deal. If workers vote to ratify, Kirchhoff management is then legally bound to the terms of the agreement as decided on by workers

No one pays any union dues until after the agreement is ratified.

Step 6. Your Kirchhoff Union

As a Unifor member, you are the union.

Kirchhoff workers fill positions elected within your union. Your union is there for you around the clock every single day to protect your rights and ensure that management does not violate the terms of your collective agreement. Unifor National Representatives assist at every step to offer guidance, research and education that your representatives need to work on your behalf. The Collective Agreement outlines clear rules and guidelines for job selection based on seniority.

Unifor has regular communication updates for Kirchhoff Automotive employees.

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