Ontario Labour Relations Board
2685-00-R National Automobile, Aerospace, Transportation and General Workers Union of Canada (CAW –Canada), Applicant v. Precision Plate Ltd., Responding Party v. Service Employees International Union, Local 183, Intervenor.
BEFORE: Laura Trachuk, Vice‑Chair, and Board Members J. A. Ronson and H. Peacock.
DECISION OF THE BOARD; December 11, 2000
1This is a displacement application for certification.
2The Board finds that the applicant is a trade union within the meaning of section 1(1) of the Labour Relations Act, 1995 (the “Act”).
3The employees are currently represented by the intervenor.
4It appears to the Board on an examination of only the information provided in the application and the information and membership evidence filed by the applicant (see section 8(3) of the Act), that not less than forty per cent of the individuals in the bargaining unit proposed in the application for certification were members of the union at the time the application was made.
5The responding party disputes the applicant's estimate of the number of employees in the applicant's proposed bargaining unit. Furthermore, the responding party proposes a different bargaining unit than that proposed by the applicant and it contends that the applicant's bargaining unit could not be appropriate. It gives notice under section 8.1 of the Act.
6The Board finds that the bargaining unit described in the application could be appropriate. After comparing the membership evidence provided by the applicant as against the information provided by the responding party, the Board finds that the numerical difference between the parties is not significant. The applicant has established sufficient membership support in its proposed bargaining unit for the purposes of obtaining a representation vote and having that vote counted. In any event, the responding party agreed that the ballots cast in the representation vote should be counted.
7The Board directs that a representation vote be taken of the individuals in the following voting constituency:
all employees of Precision Plate Ltd., save and except forepersons, persons above the rank of foreperson, office clerical and sales staff.
8The vote will be held on December 13, 2000. Other vote arrangements will be as determined by the Registrar and set out on the attached "Notice of Vote and of Hearing".
9All individuals who had an employment relationship with the responding party in the voting constituency on December 6, 2000, the certification application filing date, are eligible to vote. Employees having an employment relationship on December 6, 2000, the certification application filing date, include employees who were not at work on that date, so long as there is a reasonable expectation of their return to employment.
10There may be a dispute between the parties as to the geographical scope of the bargaining unit. If there is any employee of the responding party who does net work in Trenton and who wishes to cast a ballot, that person shall identify himself or herself as occupying a disputed position and such individual shall then be entitled to cast a ballot. Any ballot cast by such an individual shall be segregated and not counted until the Board so orders or the parties agree.
11Voters will be asked to indicate whether they wish to be represented by the applicant or the intervenor in their employment relations with the responding party.
12The responding party is directed to post copies of this decision and of the "Notice of Vote and of Hearing" adjacent to each of the posted copies of the "Notice to Employees of Application for Certification". These copies must remain posted for 30 days.
13Any party or person who wishes to make representations to the Board about any issue remaining in dispute which relates to the application for certification, including any matters relating to the representation vote, must file a detailed statement of representations with the Board and deliver it to the other parties, so that it is received by the Board within five days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays on which the Board is closed) of the date on which the vote is taken. Representations with respect to any status dispute must be made in accordance with the directions provided in Information Bulletin No. 4: Status Disputes in Certification Applications (Non-Construction).
14The matter is referred to the Registrar.
“Laura Trachuk”
for the Board