UFCW Canada Eastern Provinces Council

Union 101

A union is a collective effort by workers under a shared employer to:

win what they want;
stop what they don't want;
do anything else the workers decide they want to do.

Here are a few other fundamental you should know about unions:

Solidarity

Solidarity is the collective understanding among workers that they have shared goals that can only be won if they work together. Solidarity is the source of any union’s power.

Collective Bargaining

Collective bargaining is the process where a union negotiates with an employer about changes to the working conditions of a workplace. The result of collective bargaining is a collective agreement, or union contract, which is legally binding and can be enforced through a grievance procedure.

Strikes

A strike is a collective refusal to work made by a group of workers in response to an employer’s refusal to collectively bargain in good faith. Every strike requires a majority of workers to vote in favour of going on strike. Strikes outside of contract negotiations or in response to sudden events are called “wildcat” strikes.

Grievances

A grievance is a complaint filed by a unionized worker against an employer in response to a violation of a collective agreement. Successful grievances either lead to a settlement between the worker and employer, or to a legal order from arbitration.

Frequently Asked Questions

I’m all for a union but the people on my shift are all scared. As soon as the company finds out about the organizing drive they will run for cover.

Fear is always hard to overcome in an organizing drive, but your provincial Labour Act gives you the legal right to join a union of your choice. With a signed union card UFCW can help protect you and any of your co-workers who are treated unfairly due to trying to form a union.

What leverage does the union really have? I could lose what I already have. If you go into negotiations with all our proposals and the company simply puts a big X through it and says no, then what?

By law in any Atlantic province, your working conditions are frozen after unionizing while your collective agreement is being negotiated. Your employer cannot change conditions such as wages or benefits until those changes are negotiated into a contract.

If your employer refuses to negotiate, they can be brought into conciliation where a third-party mediator will attempt to get them on board. After that, you can decide if you want to try and force them into negotiating by going on strike. In New Brunswick specifically all new unions have first contract arbitration as their final step, meaning no workers in New Brunswick have to go on strike to win a first contract.

This company will never accept a union. No matter what you guys say they will never negotiate with you.

How much will we have to pay in union dues and initiation fees?

The UFCW Eastern Provinces Council’s dues are 60% of one hour’s work per week.

You only start paying dues after you ratify your first collective agreement. Dues are how you pool resources with other UFCW members in order to afford legal support, organize other workplaces to improve your shared leverage against employers, and hire staff to support servicing and contract negotiations.

I’m doing all right. I don’t need a union. I can stick up for myself. Unions are only for troublemakers and lazy workers.

The hard reality is that your boss can replace you if you’re acting on your own. Any worker, on their own, does not have enough power to make their boss do what they want. Only by working together with your co-workers will you build the power you need to win the changes you want to see.

The myth that unions protect bad workers is a cover for weak management. In a unionized workplace, management has to prove just cause for discipline and usually has to follow progressive discipline. If there’s a proven reason to get rid of a worker, and they’ve been given a chance to improve or fix their behaviour, there’s no reason why that worker can’t be disciplined or fired.

Can an employer fire me for trying to form a union?

It is illegal for a company to fire anyone for union activity. The first step to organizing is signing the union card which is 100% confidential. Once you sign a card, your union can protect you. If you are uncomfortable signing a card, you can always agree to maintain regular contact to stay in the loop and make sure you know what’s happening.

Aren’t unions a third party that gets between workers and managers?

If my coworkers and I unionize, do we have to go on strike?

More than 95% of collective bargaining negotiations are settled without a strike. In Canada, strikes or lockouts are not allowed during the duration of the collective agreement. However, strikes are the strongest leverage you have during negotiations. Your workplace will never go on strike until you and your coworkers vote in favour of doing so.

If you do go on strike, UFCW has a National Defence Fund that can provide $500 per week, tax-free, to any workplaces that sign up to join the fund ahead of a strike.

If I sign a union card, will my employer find out?

Cards are 100% confidential. Your employer will never see or know about your card unless you tell them. It is illegal for your employer to fire anyone for union activity. But by signing the card you are securing your rights and the union can protect you in the event of any illegal action. In the rare cases where it occurs, UFCW Canada lawyers will fight for your job and compensation at the labour board.

My co-worker told me that if I sign a union card, everyone will know. Can I be fired for supporting the union?

Cards are 100% confidential. The only people that see it is our union and the labour board. Your employer will never see or know about your card unless you tell them. It is illegal for your employer to fire anyone for union activity. But by signing the card you are securing your rights and the union can protect you in the event of any illegal action. In the rare cases where it occurs, UFCW Canada lawyers will fight for your job and compensation at the labour board.

I don’t see how the union can help our jobs be more secure. The company has to make money.

The money a company makes comes from the work you do. Your wages are a small cut of the money your work created. As long as you and your coworkers are working, the company will be making money. If you form a union you are making sure you can work in better conditions, and that you get a fairer share of the money you’re making for the company. Better working conditions and higher wages make for a more stable company.

In the event of an economic downturn, you are protected by seniority, severance, notice, and recall rights.

What if I try to unionize my workplace and lose? Then I have no protection, right?

If you lose the vote, you are still protected by your right to try and form a union. While UFCW cannot re-apply to unionize your workplace for one year, we will try to keep in contact with you to ensure there are no illegal activities. However, unions can usually only protect people who tried to form a union, not just those to signed a union card. After the one year, you can try to organize with UFCW again.

About Unions