The PC government this week introduced legislation to mandate a secret-ballot vote before a union can be certified in Manitoba.
“Reinstating secret ballot votes would bring Manitoba in line with the majority of Canadian provinces, and ensure the rights and freedoms of workers are protected,” said Growth, Enterprise and Trade Minister Cliff Cullen.
“Secret ballots are recognized as a fair, accurate and democratic way for any group of individuals to make a decision.”
Under current legislation, when the Manitoba Labour Board receives an application for the certification of a new union, the board is required to do one of three things:
• automatically certify the union if the board is satisfied that 65 per cent or more of the employees wish to have the union represent them;
• conduct a vote among the employees if the board is satisfied that at least 40 per cent, but fewer than 65 per cent, wish to have the union represent them; or
• dismiss the application if the board is satisfied that fewer than 40 per cent of the employees wish to have the union represent them.
The proposed changes would eliminate the option for the Labour Relations Board to automatically certify a union that has 65 per cent employee support and require all applications that have 40 per cent employee support to be approved by a secret-ballot vote.
