URGENT - Stand up for workers' rights against Bill C-525

Conservative Members of Parliament want to make it harder for people to form a union at work. They're trying to rush Bill C-525 through the House of Commons as fast as possible.

The Committee studying the Bill is allowing only one day of witnesses. PSAC asks what's the big rush?

What the Conservatives want to keep quiet is that this Bill is profoundly undemocratic.

Under current federal labour laws in both the public and private sectors, if a majority of employees sign a union card, the union is certified. If there is less than a majority, a vote is held. Right now, the majority rules - a majority of those who cast a vote. But that won't be the case if Bill C-525 becomes law.

Under Bill C-525, whenever a vote is taken, employees who don't vote will be counted. They will automatically be counted as having voted against the union - even though they never voted.

You can help by sending an email to the Members of Parliament sitting on the committee that's examining in the Bill. PSAC President Robyn Benson and REVP for Quebec Magali Picard are appearing before the committee on Tuesday. But they need your help. The Conservatives are trying to rush thisBill through as quickly as possible. Act now!

Please Go On Line to fill out this section, see link below:

 

http://psacunion.ca/stand-workers-rights-against-bill-c-525?utm_source=PSAC+Master+List&utm_campaign=173d3d85d2-C_525_HUMA&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_3691e8f9c6-173d3d85d2-267886651

 

 

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Dear Members of Parliament:

 

I am very concerned about Bill C-525.  This Bill is going to create problems where none currently exist.  Here are several of them.
 
Existing federal labour laws in the public and private sectors allow workers to freely decide to unionize or to decertify.   Bill C-525 will eliminate the right to automatic certification when a majority of workers have clearly shown their intent by signing union cards.  Experience in the provinces where this right has been eliminated shows that workers are vulnerable to employer intimidation before votes can take place.

 

When labour boards conduct votes, unions can only be certified or decertified if there is majority support among the workers who vote.

 

With Bill C-525, unions will need a majority of the entire bargaining unit to become certified.  In other words, labour boards will have to count all those who did not vote as having voted against the union.  In the case of a decertification vote, once again anyone who does not cast a ballot will be counted as voting against the union.

 

How can you possibly make assumptions about those who do not vote? You have to cast a vote to be counted.  As a Member of Parliament, if you chose not to vote on Bill C-525, your non-existent vote will not be counted as either for or against the Bill.

 

Bill C-525 also proposes changes to the Public Service Labour Relations Act and the Parliamentary Employees Staff Relations Act that will set the requirement to decertify the union at 45%.  There is no justification to allow a minority to  be able to overturn the will of the majority. 

 

Labour laws should balance the interests of workers, employers and the public.  These laws should only be changed with careful consideration and after full consultations with those affected.  Bill C-525 was not the result of consultation and is seriously flawed.

 

I ask you to vote against this Bill at the Committee stage and in the House of Commons.