The Canadian Independent Union of Manufacturing Employees (CIUME) applied for certification to displace the United Steelworkers of America (USW) as the bargaining agent for employees at Waterloo Furniture Components Ltd. The Board first determined that CIUME is a trade union within the meaning of section 1(1) of the Labour Relations Act, 1995, finding that the steps taken at its founding meeting were sufficient to create a viable organization.
The Board then determined the appropriate bargaining unit, rejecting USW's argument to combine two existing units and holding that the established bargaining structure of the Manitou plant unit was presumptively appropriate for a displacement application.
