 |
| PIC WORKER'S UNITE |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Frequently Asked Questions |
| How do we achieve unionization of our workplace?
The first step is signing a union membership card. Once Teamsters Canada has received union membership cards from more than 40% of PIC Quality Inspectors, the cards are taken to the Ontario Labour Board and verified for authenticity. A vote for the union will be held five business days after verification. For the union to be certified, 50% plus 1 must vote yes for a union. If this is accomplished the union will be certified. When the union is certified, the company is required by law to negotiate with us unilaterally, over wages, benefits and working conditions etc. What will be in our contract? This is done through a democratic process. Your negotiating committee made up of quality inspectors will hold a meeting and record input from all Quality Inspectors as to what they would like to see in their contract and the priority in which they value such items. Once the proposal is drafted it can then be used in negotiation with PIC management. Are Strikes Common? No. a great majority of contracts (approximately 96% of them) are achieved through dispute-free negotiations. But if the members at a particular workplace are not willing to accept negotiated settlement that they have voted on, they can decide to take a strike vote. A strike vote raises the stakes in negotiations, and contracts are often settled after a strike vote but before any strike has begun. How much are union dues Your union dues will be two and a half times (2 �) your hourly rate of pay, plus a $4.00 assessment, which includes $2.00 for the Teamsters Canada Strike Fund. All dues paid are totally tax deductible at the end of the year. This strike fund protects you and your family in the event of a labour dispute. Think of it as job insurance, you have car insurance to protect your car, home insurance to protect your home and a Union to protect your job and your rights. What is a Local Union? Local Unions are the backbone and vital force of Teamsters Canada. In fact, a Local Union is an autonomous entity governed by the Constitution and by its own regulations. It is comprised of officers (president, vice-president, secretary-treasurer, recording secretary, etc.), business agents, recruiters, and staff members. On account of the Local Union�s autonomy, its officers can make any decisions while considering the needs of the members. What are my union dues for? Your union dues are used for so many things, including: � Defence of the group of employees you are part of; � Negotiation of your collective agreement; � Training of your shop stewards; � Defence of all workers� interests in general against the governments and the pressure groups formed by companies; � Information sharing between unions to provide a better protection of the workers; � Recruitment of new members; � Creation of a strike fund; � Publication of our news magazine, and updating of our Internet site; � Review of the provincial and federal labour legislation; � Coordination of the union membership during major events aimed at improving working conditions; � Research and development of solutions for safer workplaces; � Organization of meetings allowing the Teamsters to present their views to companies and government bodies What is a member? He or She is the foundation of our union and without their will to progress, the union simply would not exist. Only he or she, in synergy with the other members, can advance the cause of employees in their working environment. What is Teamsters Canada? Teamsters Canada is a labour organization with over 110,000 members. It is affiliated with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which has 1,500,000 members across North America. We represent several industries, including transport, retail, motion picture, brewery & soft drink, construction, dairy, warehousing, and more. What services does Teamsters offer to its members? The services we offer to our members are as many as they are useful. Just to name a few: � Education � Research � Governmental Affairs � Public Relations � Communications � Magazine � Internet site � Recruitment � Administration of the Canadian strike fund Where are you located? Our local is Local Union 938. Local Union 938 is located at: Main Office 275, Matheson Blvd. East Mississauga, Ontario , L4Z 1X8. E-Mail: [email protected] Toll free: 1-800-263-9938 Phone: (905) 502-0062 Fax: (905) 502-0076 And their sub office is located at: Oshawa Office 1240 Phillip Murray Avenue, Unit 9 Oshawa, Ontario L1J 6Z9 Main Line: (905) 436-8887 Second Line: (905) 436-1666 Fax: (905) 436-9555 Fax: 1-866-884-8874 Toll Free: 1-866-894-8864 What can a labour union like Teamsters do for me? In a few words, we can say that Teamsters will protect you from your employer�s arbitrary decisions. Teamsters main mission is to ensure the respect of its members with regard to opportunities for advancement, as well as vacation, wages, etc. As a result, the days when bosses used to make decisions without any consideration for their employees are now gone. How are the Teamsters different from other unionized workers? This can be explained in several ways. First, the Teamsters form a big family joined by convergent interests, which can be summed up in five words: the welfare of the members. Then, they are members of a truly democratic labour union. You can be involved at all levels, and express your opinion. The great majority of the officers, business agents, and organizers working in local unions are from the rank and file. As such, they are men and women, who are able to understand your issues and demands. What is a Joint Council? A Joint Council is an entity that coordinates the activities of Local Unions within your province or your region. It offers many services, including: � Representation at the labour federation of your province � Representation at various ministries and government bodies, such as Transportation, Labour, and the WSIB/CSST � Training and recruitment � Enforcing the regional powers of Local Unions. Does Teamsters provide training? Yes. Teamsters provides training to its shop stewards through its Training Services. The courses are as varied as they as interesting. In addition, they can be customized to meet your needs. To this end, please contact your business agent to discuss the training program offered by Teamsters Canada. What is a shop steward? Elected by his co-workers, the shop steward is the spokesperson chosen to act as a liaison between the members, the local union and the company management. The shop steward usually masters their collective labour agreement. His or her, main goal is to make sure they get the Employer's respect. Any violation of the Collective Labour Agreement will be subjected to the grievance procedure. Thereafter, it's up to the shop steward to intervene. Are the Teamsters only made up of truckers? No. The Teamsters work in a wide variety of sectors and positions, from office clerks to skilled workers in the food product industry, to teachers and stockroom clerks, etc. Do you have any other questions? If this FAQ on our union did not answer all of your questions, do not hesitate to let us know. We will be happy to provide you with our answers as soon as possible. Email us with your questions or concerns at [email protected] or call John Hull at 1-800-263-9938 Extension 251 |
 |