The Legal Right to Join a Union
It’s your right to join the union. The law
protects you and so will the IAM!
“Every person is free to join a trade
union of his (or her) own choice and to
participate in its lawful
activities…” Canadian Labour Law
“… no employer of employees in the unit
shall alter the rates of pay or any
other term or condition of employment or
any right or privilege of such
employees…” Canadian Labour Law
SECRECY – In every jurisdiction in
Canada, the law guards the secrecy of your
signature on a union membership card just as
it guards the sanctity and secrecy of the
polling booth at election time. Joining a
union is your democratic right and NO ONE
but you and the union organizer knows
whether you signed a card or not.
NO REPRISALS – Once the majority of
you have decided you want the union, the
employer is not permitted (by law) to
withdraw any of the existing benefits or
change working conditions (wages, hours of
work, etc.) unless you and your union first
agree to it.
These are your rights under the law
You have the right to join the union
and ask others to join;
You have the right to attend meetings
and to ask others to attend;
You have the right to give out
leaflets to other employees on your own time
away from company property;
You have the right to do anything
else to help get the union going so long as
you do not interfere with the work or
violate announced company policy.
So that you may understand the law, here
are some answers to questions about what you
can and cannot do.
QUESTION: If during lunch time or
before work I think I have a chance to sign
up one of the other employees, can I sign
him up on company property?
ANSWER: Yes, you can. But make
sure it’s on your own time.
QUESTION: Can I talk about union
matters openly with another employee at
break, lunch time or before and after work?
ANSWER: Yes. Your right to free
speech is protected. However, that right
does not entitle you to disturb plant
operations.
QUESTION: If another employee comes
to me during working hours and asks me to
sign him up in the union, what should I do?
ANSWER: Tell him you’ll do it
after work or at lunch time.
QUESTION: Are company rules
controlling?
