The Manitoba Government has made it harder for Manitobans to join a union. Amendments passed on Bill 7, The Labour Relations Amendment Act, and the bill officially came into effect on November 10, 2016.
The new legislation means:
- The absolute elimination of automatic
certification;
- All labour certifications will be required to go
to a vote once 40% of workers sign a union card; and
- A vote will be held within 7 days after
the application is filed with the Manitoba Labour Board. Labour certification
is granted once 50% of workers, or more, vote in favour of being unionized.
“Forcing workers to vote on union certification after they have already indicated their decision allows the employer time to obstruct their choice through intimidation and coercion,” said MGEU President Michelle Gawronsky. “This only means that now there will be fewer workplaces with fair benefits and wages for Manitoba working families. It’s a huge step backwards for Manitoba’s labour movement and I hope this does not foreshadow labour’s relationship with this government.”
Earlier this fall, Gawronsky and several other labour leaders made presentations to a legislative standing committee in strong opposition to this new legislation.