Employees' Right to Join Unions in Ontario The Labour Relations Act of Ontario 1995 (Rev) An employee has the right to join a trade union of his/her own choice and to participate in its lawful activities. An employee has the right to cast a secret ballot in favour of, or in opposition to, a trade union at a representation vote ordered by the Labour Relations Board. An employee has the right not to be discriminated against or penalized by an employer or by a trade union because he/she is exercising rights under the Labour Relations Act, 1995. An employee has the right to be represented by a trade union in a manner that is not arbitrary, discriminatory or in bad faith. An employee has the right to cast a secret ballot at a strike vote and a ratification vote conducted by a trade union. An employee has the right not to be penalized for refusing to engage in an unlawful strike. An employee has the right not to be penalized because he/she participated in a proceeding under the Labour Relations Act, 1995. An employee, except an employee employed in a hospital as defined by the Hospital Labour Disputes Arbitration Act, has the right to participate in a timely strike in support of a trade union. An Employee's Membership Protected The secrecy of an employee's membership card is protected by law under Section 119 of the Labour Relations Act of Ontario 1995 (Rev). YOUR EMPLOYER WILL NOT SEE IT. Protection Given to Unions A trade union has the right to obtain the support of employees without being hindered by unlawful conduct of an employer. A trade union has the right to require an employer not to penalize or discriminate against any employee because the employee supported or participated in legitimate trade union activity. A trade union has the right to demand that an employer not interfere with its formation, selection or administration. A trade union that holds bargaining rights for the employees of an employer has the right to require the employer to bargain in good faith and make every reasonable effort to make a collective agreement. A trade union has the right to obtain a provision in a collective agreement requiring compulsory dues check-off. A trade union has the right to demand that the employer comply with the terms and conditions of the collective agreement between it and the employer. A trade union that holds bargaining rights for the employees of an employer has the right to demand that the employer not engage in bargaining with individual employees or other trade unions in respect of those employees for whom it hold bargaining rights. A trade union has the right to obtain a declaration continuing its bargaining rights or its collective agreement with an employer who has purchased a business or part of a business from an employer who was bound by that collective agreement or for whose employees the trade union held bargaining rights. |TOP|