THE TEAMSTERS: BUILDING FOR GOOD JOBS AND A BETTER FUTURE
The Teamsters Union is made up of working men and women, just like you. In Alberta, there are over 8,000 Members. We are over 100,000 strong in Canada and 1.4 million across North America. We are truck drivers and public employees, firefighters and nurses, police officers and food workers, airline employees, construction workers and movie board workers, and dozens of other occupations. We speak many languages, and represent all races and nationalities. We join together with a common goal - to build a better future for ourselves, our families and our country.
WHAT MAKES TEAMSTERS DIFFERENT FROM YOU?
We are organized. We join together to negotiate with our employers. That makes our voice stronger. We have legally binding contracts with our employers. We decide what to negotiate into our contract - and we win better wages and benefits, and improve our working conditions. We win respect and dignity on the job. We gain protection against unfair treatment by our employer. We run our Union as a democracy - from the top to the bottom. We elect our Local Union Officers, and our International Union General President. We use Members on negotiating committees where needed, to help communicate information during contract talks, who work for us and with us, to win a better deal for Teamsters working men and women.
HOW CAN THE TEAMSTERS HELP YOU?
As Teamsters, we have power and a voice on the job. Voting to become a Teamster is the first step in winning a legal and binding Union contract. According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics Report for 1995, Union workers in private industry make 38% more in wages than non-Union workers, and receive 54% more in benefits.
As Teamster Members, we decide what should be in our contract, and we vote on it. Our Local Union and our International Union back us up, with independent research on our employer and our industry, with lawyers to assist in negotiations and to represent us in the workplace, and with expert assistance on health and safety issues.
We have the support of 1.4 million working men and women, just like us - fighting to protect our jobs, our families future, and to build a Canada that works for working people - not just for special interest groups.
Are you satisfied with the way things are? Do you need the better wages and benefits, the job security, and the respect on the job, that a Teamster contract can bring?
ORGANIZE - What does it mean?
Workers organize because they are dissatisfied with the terms of their employment, and their working conditions. With this apparent general explanation however, three specific bread and butter issues are most important.
Workers organize over issues that affect them daily on the job. There can be many different issues, but wages, benefits, favoritism, unfairness and job security are the usual categories. Unorganized workers lack representation in the making of decisions regarding their complaints. Often, there is no method to settle grievances. Supervisory staff can be abusive, and play favourites among the workforce.
ORGANIZE - Why?
Together we have the ability and the power to change things.
ORGANIZE - How?
First and foremost, you need to have the desire to organize. Secondly, you should talk to your fellow employees and see if you have the support of at least half of them in your quest to be organized. Keep in mind that management employees and certain other employees are excluded by the Labour Code(s), and would or could not be included in your bargaining unit. To clarify these positions, call General Teamsters, Local Union No. 362 offices (Calgary 403-259-4608, cell 403-861-1823, Edmonton 780-455-2255) and talk to our Organizer (John Doerksen in Calgary) or any of the Business Agents, who will help determine the number of employees you would need to have supporting your bid to be organized.
If one or more employees on your job site wish to be organized, form a small committee of employees dedicated to the idea. Be sure to talk with employees you can trust. Even though your right to organize is protected by the Labour Codes, the longer it takes management to realize you are attempting to organize, the more successful you will be.
Next, you must decide which Union you want to approach. Once you have decided on the specific Union you wish to have represent you, and the bargaining unit you wish to have represented, the next step is to sign Union cards. These may be actual cards or it may be a petition. The cards or petition will indicate that the person signing desires to have a Union represent him or her in contract talks regarding wages, benefits, and working conditions. These cards are completely confidential, your employer will never see them. As a rule of thumb, at least 60% of the employees in your proposed Bargaining Unit should sign these cards. When this has been accommplished, you are ready to apply to the Labour Board for certification.
In Canada, there are two separate jurisdictions which govern the Labour Codes. The Canada Industrial Relations Board which is under Federal jurisdiction, and the Alberta Labour Relations Board which is under Provincial jurisdiction. What type of business, and where, and how your employer conducts business, determines what jurisdiction you will fall under.
To make an application to either Board there are certain criteria to meet:
Provincial:
Federal:
In closing I would like to thank you for taking the time to read this. If you have any questions regarding organizing please contact us and ask for John Doerksen, or call John's cell 403-861-1823 or email John jdoerksen@gtl362.ca