Forming a union can seem overwhelming – below we’ve outlined a clear roadmap to help you navigate this process. From the early set-up phase of the campaign to achieving formal recognition, each stage plays a crucial role in empowering you and your colleagues to create positive change in your workplace. Explore the information provided here and take the first step toward creating better working conditions for all Graduate Research Assistants at UVic.
1. Set-up a union organizing committee
- Organize UVic is a student-led movement seeking to unionize Graduate Research Assistants (GRAs) at the University of Victoria under CUPE Local 4163.
- The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) is supporting and providing resources for the campaign.
2. Sign confidential union cards
- Through formal and informal networks, workers talk to their friends and co-workers about joining CUPE 4163.
- In order to file an application with the BC Labour Relations Board to form a union, we need at least 45 percent of eligible GRAs to sign a confidential union card.
- Signing a union card officially indicates your support for forming a union in your workplace. All union cards are confidential, and the university never finds out who signed a card. That includes your professor, supervisor, or manager.
3. File an application with the BC Labour Relations Board
- When we are confident we have enough union cards signed, CUPE will file an application with the BC Labour Relations Board for certification of the union.
- Once an application is submitted the Labour Relations Board will review the union cards we’ve submitted and will confirm the percentage of workers who have signed union cards.
- There are two possible paths to forming a union depending on how many union cards are signed:
- If more than 55% of workers sign union cards we automatically form a union.
- If between 45% and 54.9% of workers sign a card, we can still file an application for certification but a representation vote is also required. To win a representation vote (and have GRAs join CUPE 4163) more than 50 percent of voters need to vote ‘yes’ to joining CUPE 4163.
4. GRAs join CUPE 4163
- Once GRAs have either automatically formed a union or officially voted YES to joining CUPE 4163, the Labour Relations Board will notify the union and the employer.
- Prior to starting negotiations there are some procedural meetings that need to happen through the Labour Relations Board between the union and the employer.
- Sometimes the employer may have an objection (or objections) to the union’s application and these need to be resolved before workers are officially union members.
5. Negotiate a first collective agreement
- CUPE will support GRAs as you and your colleagues join CUPE 4163 and negotiate your first collective agreement.
- Local members have full autonomy over what you negotiate – bargaining priorities are democratically determined by you, the membership.
6. Vote and ratify your new collective agreement and get engaged in CUPE 4163
- Once a new tentative agreement has been reached by CUPE 4163 and UVic, GRAs get to vote to accept or reject that contract (formally called ratifying your collective agreement). If more than 50 percent of workers vote in favour of the contract, then it is ratified.
- From here, CUPE 4163 helps you and your colleagues ensure the employer is honouring the collective agreement using the mechanisms (such as grievance filing) outlined in the contract. This will ensure fairness and accountability for you and your colleagues at work.
- Union representatives will be available to you and your colleagues to help resolve workplace issues and ensure all GRAs understand their rights and responsibilities under the new contract.
- All workers can get involved in the union local to help represent their colleagues and help improve working conditions for everyone.