Frequently Asked Questions
GLOSSARY OF LABOUR TERMS
Affiliate Union: A Union that is a member of a group of Unions, such as the Ontario Federation of Labour.
Arbitration: A method of settling disputes through the intervention of a “third party” whose decision is final and binding. The Union and the employer are the first two “parties” to an agreement. An outside person such as a neutral arbitrator is called a “third party”. Most common is a single arbitrator, or a board consisting of a chairperson and a representative from each the union and employer. Arbitration is often used to settle major grievances and to settle contract interpretation disputes. Voluntary arbitration is that agreed to by the parties without statutory compulsion. Compulsory arbitration is that imposed by law. Governments sometimes impose it to avoid a strike or to end one.
Assessment: Special charges levied by unions to meet particular financial needs, in addition to regular union dues.
Back Pay: Wages due for past services – often the difference between money already received and a higher amount resulting from a change in wage rates.
Bargaining Agent: Union designated by the labour relations board as the exclusive representative of all employees in a bargaining unit for the purpose of collective bargaining. Individual employees are thereby prohibited from bargaining individually with the employer.
Bargaining Unit: Group of workers in a craft, department, plant, firm industry, or occupation determined by a labour relations board or similar body as appropriate for representation by a union for the purpose of collective bargaining. Defines which employees are members of the union(s).
Base Rate: Is the straight-time rate of pay per hour, job or unit, excluding premiums, incentive bonuses, etc.
Blue-Collar Workers: Production and maintenance workers, as contrasted to office and professional personnel.
Canadian Labour Congress (CLC): Canada’s National labour body representing over 60% of organized labour in the country.
Certification: Official designation by the labour relations board of a union as sole and exclusive bargaining agent following a proof of majority support among employee in a bargaining unit.
Check off: A clause in a collective agreement authorizing an employer to deduct union dues and sometimes other assessments, and forward those funds to the union.
Closed Shop: A provision in a collective agreement whereby all employees in a bargaining unit must be union members.
Collective Agreement: A contract (agreement and contract are used interchangeably) between union(s) acting as bargaining agents, and employer(s) covering wages, hours, working conditions, fringe benefits, right of workers and union, and procedures to be followed in settling disputes and grievances.
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