Welland Typographical Union, Local 927 v. Welland Evening Tribune
[1982] OLRB Rep. April 648
2460-81-R Welland Typographical Union, Local 927, Applicant, v. Welland Evening Tribune, a Division of Canadian Newspapers Company Limited, Respondent, v. Group of Employees, Objectors
BEFORE: M. G. Picher, Vice-Chairman, and Board Members J. A. Ronson and S. Cooke.
DECISION OF THE BOARD; April 27, 1982
1Pursuant to its order dated March 26, 1982, upon the agreement of the parties the Board conducted a vote of the editorial employees of the respondent to determine their wishes respecting the bargaining unit.
2The vote was held on April 5, 1982. Of 15 ballots cast 12 favoured a bargaining unit of all editorial, circulation advertising and administration employees. Three ballots favoured a bargaining unit of editorial employees only.
3It is, of course, for the Board to determine the scope of the bargaining unit or units in every application for certification. The wishes of the employees is a factor that may be considered, however, in making the Board's determination. In the instant case, because the Board is charting new directions for bargaining units in the newspaper and printing industry, it was felt that, given the agreement of the parties, the evidence of employee wishes might prove helpful in considering whether editorial employees should bargain separately or with other employees of the respondent newspaper. Given the overwhelming margin of support among the editorial employees for bargaining in a more comprehensive unit with other employees the Board is inclined to give substantial weight to the evidence of the employees' wishes. The result of the vote, moreover, concides with the Board's general preference for broader based, more comprehensive bargaining units.
4Pending the resolution of the status of the sports editor, interim certification hereby issues to the applicant in respect of all employees of the respondent whose main office is located at 228 Main Street, Welland, including employees at the Port Colborne district office save and except employees covered by a collective agreement, the publisher, managing director, city editor, news/wire editor, accountant, advertising manager, advertising manager (Port Colborne Office), classified advertising supervisor, circulation department manager, secretary to the publisher, students employed for the school vacation periods and persons regularly employed for not more than 24 hours per week.