FAQs
YOUR QUESTIONS, ANSWERED
Explore some of the most frequently asked questions about joining a union, including dues, how strikes work, and why you should join the Public Service Alliance of Canada.
What exactly is a union?
A union is a democratic organization formed by employees who join together and use their strength to have a voice in their workplace. Through a union, employees have the ability to negotiate from a position of strength with employers over wages, benefits, workplace health and safety, job training and other work-related issues. Unions use employees’ collective strength to ensure management acts fairly and treats them with respect.
Will my employer know that I signed a union card?
No. Union cards are completely confidential. Employers are never notified of who signs union membership cards.
Employers are legally prohibited from interfering in a union organizing drive – this includes intimidating employees who support a union. Employees have the right to organize a union and PSAC will vigorously defend this right. PSAC should be notified of any signs of intimidation or interference.
How much are union dues?
Union dues are approximately 1.6% of gross salary.
Nobody pays union dues until we have bargained a first collective agreement and have voted to accept it..
Union dues are a pool of resources for members to use for: negotiations, bargaining, member education and legal resources. Union dues are fully tax deductible.
How do strikes work?
Members vote whether to strike or not. No strike can occur without a democratic majority vote by secret ballot.
Although the vast majority of contracts are achieved without a work stoppage, a strike vote raises the stakes in negotiations and is often used as bargaining leverage.
Will unionizing mean that we are covered by the same union contract as federal government workers?
No.
Once CMHC employees successfully unionize, we will elect a bargaining team made up of our colleagues. This bargaining team, together with a PSAC negotiator will begin with the employment agreements we already have and compare these with other unionized workplaces in our sector. This will create foundation from which to advocate for specific workplace issues.
Together, CMHC employees will provide input and determine our priorities. The negotiations will reflect those priorities. Members have the right to ratify any settlement that is reached by secret ballot vote.
Why join PSAC?
PSAC already represents employees in federal crown corporations and agencies — including the CMHC employees at Granville Island. PSAC is one of the largest public sector unions in Canada, representing over 240,000 workers.
Creating a PSAC bargaining unit at CMHC means we have autonomy over bargaining decisions and support from the PSAC as a whole. PSAC has fought hard against federal government return-to-office mandates and has considerable experience navigating this issue.
Years before the pandemic, CMHC was proud to offer a flexible, results-oriented work environment. Hybrid work arrangements were a major job benefit advertised by the employer. With PSAC’s expertise, a union of CMHC employees will challenge “return-to-office” mandates and seek to negotiate remote work provisions that support both our productivity and our work life balance.
Click here for more information about the remote work campaign
Federal unions join forces to launch new remote work campaign | Public Service Alliance of Canada
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Our Victories
PSAC has a long history of securing important wins on behalf of its members and all Canadians. Click below for more information about PSAC’s history and victories.