How can I form a union?

All workers in Canada have a fundamental legal right to join a union. If you and some of your co-workers want to form a union, you would first meet privately with a Unifor organizer to discuss the issues at work. If the union drive is ready to begin with majority support from your coworkers, we will then begin signing union membership cards. These cards indicate that employees are interested in forming a union.

The labour board verifies if the cards are valid and certifies the union as the employees’ representative. This means that the company is legally obliged to recognize the union and bargain with it.

In British Columbia, the law requires a minimum 55% of the workplace to sign cards before we proceed to apply to the BC Labour Relations Board--a neutral government body--for certification.

In Ontario, the law requires 40% of the workplace to sign cards before we can apply to the Ontario Labour Relations Board.  After the cards are verified by the OLRB, a confidential vote will be conducted by the board.  If 50%+1 of voters vote 'YES' to join a union, then the workplace is certified.