If you could receive all of the government’s services–health care, education, roads, garbage collection–without paying taxes, would you voluntarily pay taxes? If you could receive all the benefits of collective bargaining–higher wages, better health and pension benefits, free representation if you are disciplined or dismissed–without having to pay any union dues, would you voluntarily pay union dues? What Americans mean by the “Right to Work” laws. That’s a nice name, but the laws have nothing to do with a “right to work”. The laws prohibit collective agreement clauses that require every employee who receives the benefit of a collective agreement and receives union representation to pay union dues. The result is that paying union dues becomes a voluntary measure, which makes it very difficult for unions to collect the funds they need to defend the rights of the worker in collective agreements. It limits the Unions from hiring lawyers, organizers, economists, pension experts, et cetera. The Ontario and Federal Government are considering doing just that, bringing in a law which makes paying Union dues voluntary. In Canada, we have followed the Rand Formula for decades, which says that a union can bargain a clause requiring everyone covered by a collective agreement to pay an equal share of the dues that pay for the union’s services. This is also found in the BC Labour Relations Act. In exchange for paying dues, the law imposes a duty of fair representation on unions to represent everyone that is paying dues, even those people who hate the union. The U.S. laws turn this basic tradeoff on its head: workers don’t have to pay dues, but the union still has a legal duty to represent everyone the same. The wisdom of the Rand Formula is beyond debate. There should not be “free riders” in a unionized workplace. I am inviting all shop stewards to attend a one day class on this issue. The date for the class is Monday July 29, 2013 at 9:00am at the Union Hall 326th 12th street, New Westminster. The Local will pay your lost wages if you are working that day and will provide lunch. Please respond to me as soon as possible so that we can request your Union leave from your employer. I am looking forward to a good turn out on this issue. In solidarity, Jean Van Vliet President, CAW LOCAL 3000 604 516-8031, cell 604 220-2541, 1-800 862-3088, FAX 604 524-6762
Posted on: Sun, 21 Jul 2013 06:17:13 +0000