10: Collective Bargaining

The Charter gives us the right to form unions. The Labour Code enables us to campaign to form a union.

Legal frameworks

• Labour Day: a day to stop and reflect upon those who died/were punished for employment standards.

• Alberta Labour Relations Board: sets out rules, regulations and laws regarding relationships between unions and employers.

• Unions force all industries to maintain competitiveness.

• Unions: higher wages and benefits, free legal advice, safer workplaces, stronger together.

As we know, employers usually don’t want unions.

• Forming a union:

  • fill a form; sign cards; when 40-50% have signed, it can be approved by the Relations Board. Vote to ratify a union and become unionized. Must be done off-the-job.

  • The cost of the employer finding out: unfair practices.

Collective Bargaining

When the two parties can’t negotiate, either has the option of a strike or a lockout. In both cases, employees don’t get paid. Cannot access EI.

Unionization is franchise-by-franchise. Contract negotiations are forced.