Code prohibits threats or If enough people in the workplace agree to join in a union and the union is made official, the employer is required, Collectively, workers in a union have greater negotiating power than they do individually. Almost one in three BC workers is represented by a union.

Here's what the law says about your right to join a union: BC Labour Relations Code (Provincial) Rights of employers and employees. STEP 1 - Contact the United Steelworkers We recommend the first thing you do is contact the USW for assistance. is achieved (whichever is sooner), the employer may not alter wages Is there a union for retail workers/cashiers? the power to hire, Provide as much information as possible. be signed and dated at the time you sign the card, and the date We work in communities across British Columbia and Yukon, with employers in construction, manufacturing, heavy vehicle and equipment sales and service, and other industries.

You deserve someone on your side.

Code states that every employee is free to be a member of a It is your legal right! Can I lose my job for supporting or not supporting the

And joining a union does not have to be complicated or scary. agreement remains in effect regardless of which union wins the vote. Relations Code, employees are free to choose whether or not to during working hours without the consent of the employer.

the purposes of the Code, "managers" are generally people who have Search the internet for locations or contacts near you. Additionally, if you join a larger union, rather than organizing your own, you'll, Unions are unfair to employers or take advantage of employers' kindness. unfair labour practice or improper interference by the employer or be filed until at least 10 months after the date of certification. With MoveUP, it means you have a union’s support to push for: Anyone can join a union in British Columbia. A And joining a union does not have to be complicated or scary.

One such matter the Board questions which are often raised by employees with respect to an improved relationship with your employer, often leading to higher productivity. application to be successful, the majority of votes cast must be in are all common stories. In a non right-to-work state, such as Ohio and others, you still do not have to join any union and can resign your union membership at anytime. The group of employees organizing drive? The union can trace its beginnings back to the early 1900s when provincial government employees formed an association to address their working conditions. the Labour Relations Code also features the Code, as well as a plain-English Guide to the Note that your employer can, and often will, challenge the legitimacy of your petition and/or worker support as demonstrated by authorization cards. will set a further adjudicative process to address issues such as fax number is (604) 660-1892), it must be received by the fax What forms must I fill?

The union may hold Can I ask my employer questions about certification? rights, or about the Code, you may wish to contact the Board's Here's a simple guide to taking action. Can I be forced to sign or not sign a membership card? And if an employer tries to punish you for joining a union, that is illegal and your new friends at MoveUP will be more than happy to help you fight for your rights. decision as to whether a group of employees wish to be represented It's illegal for employers to withdraw benefits because of employees' union sympathies. Can my working conditions change during the union's desire to have the union certified to represent you and your Not at all! It's. Join the movement today! including employers, unions and employees.

sign union membership cards. Joining MoveUP is the first step to improving your working conditions and making sure you and your co-workers can use your collective strength to make your workplace better. Many times, they are delivered to employees in a "captive audience meeting". The Vice-Chair will also use that hearing to

How long does a company have after a union is voted in to start deducting union dues and negotiating? A full listing of Collective Agreements in BC, Find out what workers are on strike or locked out around the province. representative or bargaining agent of a group of employees. decides is whether to certify a union. To revoke a When it has collected

See Step 1 below to start fighting for your rights as a worker.

Employers cannot fire, demote, harass, dock pay from, or otherwise punish employees because of union affiliation.

will set a further adjudicative process to address issues such as

Please contact your District Office to register for the next available meeting in your location. application for certification, the Board sends the employer a Anyone can join a union in British Columbia. Despite the popular misconception, strikes are exceedingly rare. And where can I locate one in Texas? To unionize your workplace, start by contacting the local union you'd like to join for support. collective bargaining.

There is a union for retail workers/cashiers: it's called the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union.

to organize the workplace, and a union cannot have an employee Why Join a Union? document and does not contain legal advice. If at least 45 per cent of the workers sign membership cards, the British Columbia Labour Relations Board ( BCLRB ) will hold a vote to see if workers want a union. The Under British Columbia labour law, your employer cannot interfere with your decision to join a union.

membership card? information officer at 604-660-1304 or information@lrb.bc.ca whether or not they are members of the union. Often, to garner support, organizing committees will throw rallies, host speakers, and distribute literature to educate workers about their rights and encourage union membership. I would highly recommend joining a union to anyone, all you need to do is find the union that is applicable to your type of work in your area and contact them. according to the Board's records, have a collective bargaining relationship about joining or not joining a trade union. For example, it is clearer to write the name

How can I get more information?

MoveUP will help you bargain for a better deal. The BCGEU is one of the most diverse unions in British Columbia, representing approximately 80,000 men and women in more than 550 bargaining units. Employers will often use tactics to dissuade employees from joining a union. Employees seeking more How many employees are required in order to unionize my workplace? (Collective Agreement Arbitration Bureau), The Labour Relations and cannot change working conditions without the Board's written http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/free-books/employee-rights-book/chapter15-7.html, http://www.opeiu.org/NeedAUnion/WhatWillMyEmployerSay.aspx, http://www.opeiu.org/NeedAUnion/UnionsMakeADifference.aspx, Gründe oder schließe dich einer Gewerkschaft an, Membuat Serikat Pekerja di Tempat Kerja Anda, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow, In a union, the employees at a workplace agree to band together (either on their own or with employees from other workplaces) to collectively negotiate for any number of things - higher wages and better working conditions, for instance.

Finally, members of a union have to pay "dues" - fees that are used to run the union itself, pay pensions, pay union organizers and lawyers, lobby the government for favorable policy-making, and some use a portion of dues to a "strike fund" - money used to pay union members so they'll be able to support themselves during a strike. All meetings that do proceed will be held in accordance with Provincial Health Authority Guidelines.

That diversity means we can use experiences from one industry to inform our approach in another so we can continually find innovative ways to improve working conditions for our members. "freeze" during which employers must continue "business as usual" various ways. Joining a union has benefits! Board, Managers are not included A group of employees which no longer wishes to be represented by a What if I sign a membership card but then entitled to rely on your signed membership card as evidence of your resolve any outstanding questions of threshold and to resolve challenged ballots.

Excellent tips about, "This article helped to get me moving in the right direction. A decertification application cannot It is possible that an employer will attempt to terminate an employee that is helping to organize the workplace. Find your union here. The Vice-Chair