Tuesday, August 24, 2021 Taking a Stand for Workplace Democracy A recent and still on-going raid attempt by the United Steelworkers (USW) union at Niagara- and Burlington-area Conmed long term care homes has driven home, yet again, why long term care workplaces require specialized and knowledgeable representation Newsletters Ontario Healthcare Sectors Healthcare By Roberta Vriesema, Representative On June 8, the USW applied to displace CLAC as the union for these 550+ employees. But it did so by understating the actual number of employees eligible to participate in the vote that would determine which union will represent these members. The matter is currently tied up before the Ontario Labour Relations Board on a question of whether an employee who was forced to select a single work site is still an employee at the workplace they did not choose to work at during the pandemic. USW is seemingly unconcerned that these workers were promised job-protected leaves of absences as an employment right at the outset of the pandemic. That legal protection was reiterated and made even stronger when the province issued emergency orders that forced long term care workers to choose a single work site. CLAC believes that workplace democracy—and especially the right for workers to collectively choose the union that represents them—is an important feature of Ontario’s labour laws. But we also assert that all workers, especially those on legally protected leaves of absence, should be entitled to cast a ballot in that decision. On this principle, CLAC is demonstrating with this labour board fight that it is prepared to take a stand. It’s very concerning that a competing union would try to prevent workers from legally participating in such an important decision. Long term care is a comprised of primarily female workers where pregnancy and parental leaves regularly last a calendar year or more. Additionally, the very physical and emotional nature of end-of-life care provided results in both emotional and physical injury that leads to extended leaves of absence where the caregiver needs time to heal themselves before being able to work again. To witness another union fail to recognize the importance of job-protected leaves—in an industry in which that right is so important—is at best bewildering and indicates that this is an industry in which that union likely has little experience. Worker choice ensures that unions are responsible and adaptive and that they remain informed and relevant to their members. But a union that attempts to force that choice, by trampling the employment rights of its prospective members, is cause for serious concern. The labour board hearings in this matter continue, and CLAC remains actively engaged with our Conmed members. You might be interested in Why We Work Safely 5 Jun 2026 Standing Your Ground, and Staying Steady on the Job 4 Jun 2026 CLAC Partners with Alberta Government to Advance Skilled Trades Training and Accelerate Certification 4 Jun 2026 Strathcona Mechanical Workers Ratify New Agreement Providing Wage, Scheduling Improvements 3 Jun 2026