Discrimination on the basis of union activity
Preamble
WHEREAS many workers in the private sector have been persecuted for their union activities or beliefs, some losing their jobs, some bullied by employers and fellow employees, others denied promotions; and
WHEREAS many employers refuse to promote union minded workers, in violation of their rights, and the process for prosecution is twisted and impossible to prove,
Operative
BE IT RESOLVED that the Green Party of Canada will support public relations campaigns to promote the Human Right of Collective Bargaining: and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Human Rights Code be amended to include discrimination on the basis of union activity.
Background
The process for proving one has been discriminated against on the basis of union activity is convoluted to say the least. One has to keep records of anti union activity on behalf of the employer and have witnesses willing to testify against the employer, often at risk of retaliation.
Often times, employers have taken business classes which state it is their duty to remain "union Free" . Some retailers have it as an unwritten policy that no one who is pro union shall be promoted to management positions of any sort. Finding said documents becomes a huge challenge.
Employers do have ways of recognizing union minded workers so they are not necessarily a non identifiable group.
Proving discrimination has happened would be easier if evidence based statistics were used to determine if union minded workers were equally represented in management positions. this would only happen if said discrimination was placed under the Human Rights code.
There is much evidence that union minded employees are bullied into leaving or shunned, at the direction of management, in order to stifle union activity. Such bullying in the workplace is unacceptable.
Companies that pride themselves as being " union free" imply that workers rights to unionize should be non existent and that companies should have a say in whether unionization takes place. Forming a labour union is a Human Right, not a company right, and trying to stop a union from forming is a suppression of Human Rights.
Code
Proposal Type
Submitter Name
Party Commentary
This motion is consistent with Green Party labour policy.
Preamble
WHEREAS many workers in the private sector have been persecuted for their union activities or beliefs, some losing their jobs, some bullied by employers and fellow employees, others denied promotions; and
WHEREAS many employers refuse to promote union minded workers, in violation of their rights, and the process for prosecution is twisted and impossible to prove,
Operative
BE IT RESOLVED that the Green Party of Canada will support public relations campaigns to promote the Human Right of Collective Bargaining: and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Human Rights Code be amended to include discrimination on the basis of union activity.
Sponsors
Background
The process for proving one has been discriminated against on the basis of union activity is convoluted to say the least. One has to keep records of anti union activity on behalf of the employer and have witnesses willing to testify against the employer, often at risk of retaliation.
Often times, employers have taken business classes which state it is their duty to remain "union Free" . Some retailers have it as an unwritten policy that no one who is pro union shall be promoted to management positions of any sort. Finding said documents becomes a huge challenge.
Employers do have ways of recognizing union minded workers so they are not necessarily a non identifiable group.
Proving discrimination has happened would be easier if evidence based statistics were used to determine if union minded workers were equally represented in management positions. this would only happen if said discrimination was placed under the Human Rights code.
There is much evidence that union minded employees are bullied into leaving or shunned, at the direction of management, in order to stifle union activity. Such bullying in the workplace is unacceptable.
Companies that pride themselves as being " union free" imply that workers rights to unionize should be non existent and that companies should have a say in whether unionization takes place. Forming a labour union is a Human Right, not a company right, and trying to stop a union from forming is a suppression of Human Rights.
Party Commentary
This motion is consistent with Green Party labour policy.