IBEW local 636

DID YOU KNOW?

• …that even if another Union does agrees to represent you (and is successful in gaining the necessary support to be certified), under Section 63 of the LRA your collective agreement ceases to operate as soon as your current Union is decertified or;
• …that without the protection of the collective agreement, an employer can rely on the minimum standards provided by such legislation as the Employment Standards Act (ESA) or the Occupational Health & Safety Act (OHSA) to determine your working conditions or;
• …that premium payment for overtime under the ESA is only after forty -four (44) hours in any week - and paid at a rate of time and half (1 ?x's) the employee's regular hourly rate - which is substantially less than your collective agreement provides or;
• …that in determining an employees entitlement to overtime, an agreement may be made with the employer to work up to sixty (60) hours per week and average the employee's hours over a period of not more than four (4) weeks (or longer if approved by the Ministry of Labour) or;
• …that under the ESA, a lunch break is not required until an employee has completed at least five (5) consecutive hours of work or;
• …that coffee breaks and wash up time are negotiated benefits - not legislated rights or;
• …that under the ESA, there are only eight (8) days recognized as 'Public Holidays' (and this does not include Civic holidays) or;
• …that under the ESA, an employer is only required to provide employees with vacation pay at a rate of 4% of their annual earnings (with two [2] weeks off) and; the employer can determine when an employee can take the vacation to which he or she may be entitled or;
• …that there are no seniority rights without a collective agreement or;
• …that there are no sick leave payments required without a collective agreement or;
• …that if the collective agreement is no longer in full force and effect - there is no job security for employees in the event that work currently performed by members of the bargaining unit is awarded to outside contractors or;
• …that those workers in Ontario who are represented by a Union enjoy a higher quality of life than those who are not organized.

In solidarity with our partners in the labour movement, Local Union 636 of the IBEW will continue to defend the rights of the working men and women who have made our province great.

Our union has worked very hard to develop positive and harmonious relationships with employers that foster and promote respect in the workplace. We remain committed to this approach. It is important that we do not let the actions of the government of the day impede our ability to deal with the issues that may affect our workplaces tomorrow in a mutually beneficial way.

Just like any relationship, the one between a Union and its members is sometimes tested. Don't be fooled - decertification is not the answer. Look not at the moment that you may have felt that your union let you down but rather, on the many times (and many ways) that the union has been there for you - sometimes in ways that you may not even have been aware of.

For more than one hundred years, the IBEW has been committed to the principles of justice, equality, security, fairness and democracy. With your continued support, Local 636 will be able to ensure that workers in the generations to follow are treated with the dignity and respect that they deserve.