Ontario Labour Relations Board
1142-01-R National Automobile, Aeropace, Transportation and General Workers Union of Canada (CAW-Canada), Applicant v. Muskoka Ambulance Service 299340/1339175 Ontario Limited, Responding Party v. The Employees Association of Muskoka Ambulance Service, Intevernor.
BEFORE: Stephen Raymond, Vice‑Chair, and Board Members J. A. Ronson and H. Peacock.
DECISION OF STEPHEN RAYMOND, VICE-CHAIR, AND BOARD MEMBER H. PEACOCK; July 20, 2001
This is a displacement application for certification.
The Board finds that the applicant is a trade union within the meaning of section 1(1) of the Labour Relations Act, 1995 (the “Act”).
The employees are currently represented by the intervenor.
It 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.
The responding party proposes a different bargaining unit from 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.
The 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.
The applicant and the responding party submit different bargaining units are appropriate. However, in a displacement application, it is the practice of the Board, to set the voting constituency in accordance with the scope and recognition clause of the most recent collective agreement. The Board directs that a representation vote be taken of the individuals in the following voting constituency:
all employees employed in ambulance service and dispatch operations, save and except the Owner/Operator and such persons as she shall designate as her replacement in times of her absence and all persons employed in a managerial capacity and office and clerical personnel.
The vote will be held on July 24, 2001. Other vote arrangements will be as determined by the Registrar and set out on the attached "Notice of Vote and of Hearing".
All individuals who had an employment relationship with the responding party in the voting constituency on July 17, 2001, the certification application filing date, are eligible to vote. Employees having an employment relationship on July 17, 2001, 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.
There appears to be a dispute among the parties as to whether or not the position of such persons as the Owner/Operator shall designate should be included in the bargaining unit. If any individual holding such a position wishes to cast a ballot, the individual 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.
Voters will be asked to indicate whether they wish to be represented by National Automobile, Aerospace, Transportation and General Workers Union of Canada (CAW-Canada) or The Employees Association of Muskoka Ambulance Service.
The 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.
Any party or person who wishes to make representations to the Board about any issue remaining in dispute which relates to the application for certification, other than status disputes, 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).
The matter is referred to the Registrar.
“Stephen Raymond”
for the majority
DECISION OF BOARD MEMBER J. A. RONSON; July 20, 2001
I dissent.
A plain reading of sections 8 and 8.1 of the Labour Relations Act, 1995 (the “Act”) requires the Board to seal the ballot box, when as in the instant matter, an employer has given notice that it disagrees with the trade union's estimate of the number of individuals in the unit described in the application for certification.
Subsection 8.1(4) requires the Board to seal the ballot box unless the trade union and the employer agree otherwise. Accordingly, I would have directed the ballot box to be sealed.
“J. A. Ronson”