Q: What happens in the event of an illegal strike or lockout? We recommend that you stock up on prescription medications and have dental exams before the strike begins. We are currently evaluating our ability to provide benefits to Superstore union members during a strike if you actually decide to strike. PREPARE YOUR FINANCES While a positive strike vote does not mean there will be a strike, it is advisable to prepare for the worst-case scenario. Planning for a strike or lockout will ensure that you don`t make a last-minute effort to make arrangements. The picket pay we offer as a union far exceeds that of most other unions, but it may not be enough to keep things going. It is good to prepare now. What you can do to prepare: Start saving money now. You receive a picketing allowance if you picket, but it may not be exactly what you would normally earn. You`ll be happier if you`ve saved up a little to make up the difference. Whenever possible, do not make major purchases until the threat of a strike or lockout has passed. If you need to make a major purchase, try to find ways to extend the payment (i.e.
financing) until a strike or lockout is resolved. Contact your bank and creditors in advance to let them know you may be on strike. Most will be happy to accommodate you by arranging for lower payments or interest payments only in the event of a strike or lockout. Most companies and banks know that you won`t strike forever. Remember your strength as a consumer! You don`t want to lose your business and you will often do anything to keep it as long as you talk to them ahead of time about what`s going on. Never ignore a believer, and all will be well. Thousands of UFCW members picked up people across North America, and none lost their homes to strikes or lockouts. If you need help dealing with creditors, we can help. We`re here to help you defend yourself. NEVER CROSS A PICKET LINE A strong picket line is crucial to the success of a strike for workers. The strike decision is also a democratic decision that must be supported, not betrayed. That`s why, as a union, we use our resources to support each other, to stay united and strong when we need it.
But we all have different situations and sometimes different perspectives on things. Some may want to strike 50 hours a week. Some only 20 hours a week. Some may not be willing or able to pick up regularly. Some may not pick up at all for some reason. That`s ok! You can still support your picket employees by doing one of the following: The terms of a collective agreement remain in effect beyond its expiry date until the dispute resolution mechanisms under the Code have been exhausted and 21 days have passed since the Minister of Labour “released the parties”. The orderly system of settlement of labour disputes under the Code does not regulate strikes and lockouts themselves. What is regulated is when they can happen. For more details, see § 89 para. 1 lit. lit.
a to f ZPO. We also established a strike fund committee, made up of regular union members who listened to needs and developed a strike pay system that they felt was fair and achievable. This committee met for several months and made a recommendation on the amount of picket pay for UFCW Local 401 members. What is a picket wage? It is important to remember that picket wages are neither salary nor taxable. What you get is what you take home. The purpose of picketing is to help you replace your income as much as possible while taking a stand. If that`s not enough, union members often find other jobs to supplement what they get from the picket lines. Do I have to pay all of this back? What about union dues? No! You will never have to repay a portion of the strike pay and you will not have to pay union dues while you are on strike or locked out. What about special situations? A strike can be a scary thing, but your labour relations union representatives are here to discuss your concerns confidentially. We want to make sure you understand your rights and we will make every reasonable effort to help you.
Financial problems that occurred prior to a strike are not covered, but we believe that no union member should lose their housing, be unable to pay their rent or suffer undue hardship as a direct result of industrial action. What about my benefits? A strike or lockout does not require employees to leave the workplace or form a picket line to meet the definition of strike or lockout in the Code. “We have had the right to strike legally for five years, a short period of time,” says Borodey. An employer can apply to the Board if they believe that a union has declared or authorized a strike or that workers are participating in a strike prohibited by the Code. Similarly, a union may petition the Executive Council alleging that an employer declared or caused an employee lockout in violation of the Code. Illegal strikes and lockouts are criminal offences under the Code and are subject to substantial fines upon conviction. However, no proceedings may be instituted against trade unions, employers or their representatives without the prior consent of the Board. The Commission will investigate the reasons for non-compliance and may or may not accept prosecution, depending on the circumstances. And the 60 laundry workers and their thousands of supporters won that battle. Public support for the strike forced Prime Minister Ralph Klein to relent. An 18-month delay in privatization was not a complete victory, but this wildcat strike curbed Klein`s burn-and-burn policy.
This moment became an important triumph for workers in the history of Alberta workers. Essential services legislation allows strikes and lockouts of public sector workers, while “essential” public services must continue to be accessible to the general public during labour disputes. Another commentator pointed to the complicity of the industrial relations system in enforcing corporate diktats, writing: “Is the refusal to work overtime an illegal strike? What did we get? This is absolutely ridiculous. I am shocked. When considering remedies in illegal strike and lockout cases, such as more informal pre-hearing procedures, the Board takes a problem-solving approach, takes into account the unique realities of industrial relations for each situation, and does not always find a purely legal recourse. For example, the commission refused to make an order if the strike or lockout had already ended. If it is determined that the union has not approved or declared a strike, the board may simply order the workers to perform their duties. In one case where the union voluntarily revoked its authorization for activities considered by the board to be an illegal strike, no order was issued.
In another case, the commission refused to issue an order, but hired an IRO to monitor events following the discovery of an illegal strike. If a union or employer continues to cause illegal work stoppages, the Board will consider taking stricter measures to ensure compliance with its orders. Workers at AlumaSafway`s scaffolding at Suncor`s oil sands operations in northern Alberta refused to accept voluntary overtime beyond their 10-hour shifts in late August in protest of low wages and abject working conditions. On behalf of the multi-billion dollar energy giant, which has an appalling health and safety record, AlumaSafway responded with a case to the Alberta Labour Relations Board (ALRB). The executive has dutifully banned workers` protest as an “illegal strike.” But the existence of wildcat strikes in Alberta`s history does not reflect any more militant attitudes among provincial workers than in other provinces.