Know Your Laws
This document outlines the minimum standards for things like hours of work, overtime, and vacation.
What is Employment Standards Legislation?
You’ll find the time limit for filing a grievance in this document.
What is the collective agreement?
This is what the Duty of Fair Representation requires of unions.
What is to represent members in a way that is not discriminatory, arbitrary, or in bad faith?
This is the first thing you should do when a member approaches you with a concern.
What is listen and gather the facts?
This is the name of the national union that represents federal public service workers in Canada.
What is the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC)?
This legislation protects individuals from discrimination in employment and services.
What is Human Rights Legislation?
If you miss a time limit, this is the best first step.
What is ask the Employer to agree to an extension of time limits in writing and forward the grievance through the process?
A steward can say “no” to representing a grievance only under this condition.
What is after considering all aspects of the grievance and the effect on the membership as a whole?
This meeting is a regular opportunity to raise workplace issues with management.
What is a Union-Management Consultation Committee meeting?
This person is your first point of contact in the union structure.
Who is your Chief Steward?
This legal document overrides all others in Canada when it comes to fundamental freedoms.
What is the Charter of Rights and Freedoms?
This is the term for the responsibility to prove your case in a grievance.
What is the burden of proof?
This is who you should not seek advice from when wording a grievance.
Who is your employer’s labour relations officer or Human Resources?
This is a key skill for stewards when listening to members and gathering facts.
What is active listening?
This is the term for a temporary assignment to a higher classification.
What is acting pay?
These workplace rules are the lowest in the legal hierarchy: Employer Policies, Workplace Practices, Collective Agreements.
What are workplace practices?
This type of grievance usually places the burden of proof on the union.
What is a discipline grievance?
These two sources secure your right to represent members.
What are the Collective Agreement and Labour Legislation?
This is the term for resolving issues informally before filing a grievance.
What is informal resolution?
This is the name of the process used to resolve disputes when grievances are not settled.
What is arbitration?
Put these in the correct order from highest to lowest authority: Collective Agreement, Employment Standards Legislation, Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Human Rights Legislation.
What is: Charter of Rights and Freedoms → Human Rights Legislation → Employment Standards Legislation → Collective Agreement?
This clause may be violated if a member is denied representation during an internal harassment investigation.
What is a violation of the principles and practices of due process?
This is the term for ensuring a member has a fair chance to respond to allegations or discipline.
What is due process?
This is the best way to document a conversation with a member or management.
What is taking detailed notes or writing a summary email?
This is the term for a group grievance filed on behalf of multiple members.
What is a policy or group grievance?