Ready to take the next steps?
The Ontario Labour Relations Act regulates labour relations, including collective bargaining and certifications of bargaining units between unions and employers in Ontario.
A group of employees can choose to be represented by a union.
An organizing campaign involves the signature of confidential membership cards by a majority of employees in the group.
The Ontario Labour Relations Board requires that all cards be signed personally by the employee applying for membership.
There are different steps to the union certification process.
1- Sign your PSAC membership card
By signing a card you are voicing your support for being represented by the union.
You can sign by completing a PSAC online membership form available through this website.
This is a two-step process using Adobe Acrobat Sign Digital Signature. After you initially complete the form, you will receive an email to validate your application with your electronic signature.
You can also sign a traditional paper card.
You can contact us to sign in person.
Your PI and the University will never know that you have signed a card as the process is confidential under The Ontario Labour Relations Act.
The union must show to the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) that at least 40% of eligible employees support the union.
Membership cards must also have been signed within the last 12 months prior to the application.
2- PSAC files an application for certification
Once the union is confident that a minimum of 40% of employees eligible to be part of the union have signed a membership card, PSAC will file an application with the OLRB to be certified.
Filing of the application requires sending the membership cards to the OLRB with a description of the bargaining unit to be certified.
It can be complex in a workplace like uOttawa to be certain whether someone is eligible and will be part of the bargaining unit.
Technically, to be included in the calculation of the required percentage, employees must have an employment relationship with the University on the day of the application for certification.
There is no harm is signing a card if someone is uncertain of their employment status or if their contract is soon up for renewal.
The union and the employer will have the opportunity to make representations to the Labour Board on the final list of employees that should be considered for the calculation.
The University will provide a list to the OLRB and to the union. It is an agent at the Board that will calculate the percentage. The employer never sees the membership cards.
3- Representation vote held by the OLRB
Upon receiving the application for certification, the OLRB will determine if 40% or more of the employees in the proposed bargaining unit has signed a membership card.
If the required threshold is met, the OLRB shall direct that a representation vote be taken. It will take place within 5 days of the application for certification by secret ballot among the individuals in the voting constituency.
To be granted a vote, we need enough cards!
All employees eligible to be part of the union can vote whether they have signed a card or not.
It’s a Yes or No vote to unionization.
In case of dispute on who should be in the bargaining unit the Labour Board will hold a hearing.
It will take place after the vote. Both the union and the employer will present their positions and the OLRB will render a decision on the disputed matters.
4- Union Certification
If a majority of the ballots are in favour of union representation, providing that there are no disputes, the OLRB will issue a bargaining certificate.
The certification may be delayed if a hearing is needed. It is the Labour Board that will have the final say on the composition of the bargaining unit.
After certification, with the support of PSAC you will build your Local and the work towards your 1st collective agreement will begin.
