Once the OLRB issues the bargaining certificate you now have a union.
The end of the unionizing campaign marks the beginning of the mobilizing campaign for collective bargaining and the building of your Local.
Building your Local
Once certified, you will also have to build your Local under the PSAC and elect your Executive members. As a union member, you are part of a Local that brings together members from your workplace.
Locals form the foundation of the union. It is where members connect to the union, where they go for help, where they meet to discuss workplace concerns, where they elect their representatives and where they vote on proposed collective agreements.
There are over 1000 different Locals across the country.
Each Local has a democratically elected Executive and a network of union stewards who handle workplace problems and concerns.
The Executive, made up of member volunteers, is elected at annual general meetings of the Local, open to every member of the bargaining unit.
A Union Representative from PSAC will be assigned to provide support to your Local Executive and help maintain your Local.
You will have access to a union education program accessible to all members of the Local.
Preparing for bargaining
Once certified by the OLRB the members in the certified unit elect their own bargaining team. As per PSAC Regulations, the bargaining team should reflect the diversity of the membership, including representatives from PDFs and NRs and ideally from both campuses.
Before negotiations can begin, the bargaining team will work with PSAC to prepare bargaining demands and establish main priorities. Those will be determined through a consultation process with the membership.
A professional negotiator from PSAC accompanies and advises the bargaining committee, but decisions at the bargaining table are made by your elected bargaining team. A professional researcher from PSAC also works with the team and the negotiator to provide rationales for demands using comparable information and market data.
Once the bargaining team reaches the best possible deal, the tentative agreement will be taken to the membership for approval through a ratification vote.
Members will vote on accepting or not the tentative agreement. Once ratified it will determine and protect your terms and conditions of employment and be legally binding.
Regional participation
At the regional level members have the opportunity to get involved with the NCR regional committees and participate in the protection of all members’ interests. Committees guide the union forward by strategizing around issues that are important for all.
The National Capital Region has 13 committees, including women’s, young workers, health and safety, political action, racially visible workers, members with disabilities, pride committee and the Indigenous Action Circle.
Your Local.
Your decisions.
Your participation.
Our services.
Local independence
Your Local will have autonomy to:
Elect representatives and bargaining committee members
Develop bargaining demands and priorities
Hold general meetings
Inform and advise members of their rights under the collective agreement
Represent members in their grievances
Membership Services
PSAC will provide:
A union representative assigned to your Local
Negotiation and research services
Support from experts in
Union education
Mobilization
Labour Relations
Political Action
Communications
Union organizing
Grievance arbitration and other legal remedies
Prevention and safety in the workplace
Classification and job evaluation services
Representation before the WSIB for work-related accident
Participation to conventions and conferences
You do not pay any dues to PSAC between the time you are certified by the OLRB and the date you ratify your first collective agreement.
You have full access to PSAC services during the period.
Union dues
Union dues are democratically determined by the membership at the National and the Local level.
Regional
PSAC members dues rate include a percentage that is voted by the members of your Local at an Annual General Meeting. This portion directly support activities of the Local. Your Local will have its own bank account and the autonomy to administer the funds as needed. It may be used for:
Union leave for elected Local representatives
Union meeting expenses
Office equipment
Website for the Local
National
There is also another portion of dues that stays with PSAC at the national level to fund all the services members have access to. This percentage is adopted every 3-years by the delegates attending the National Triennial Convention.
The PSAC portion of dues is 0.9593%, plus $1 a month for the national PSAC Strike Fund.
The average for Locals portion is 0.61044%.
Newly unionized PSAC members do not have to pay union dues until they have ratified a first collective agreement.