0210-01-R Industrial, Wood and Allied Workers of Canada (I.W.A. Canada) Local 2995, Applicant v. Elk Lake Planning Mill LTD, Responding Party v. Elk Lake Planing Mill Employees Association, Intervenor.
BEFORE: Caroline Rowan, Vice-Chair, and Board Members J. A. Ronson and H. Peacock.
DECISION OF THE BOARD; April 25, 2001
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. Further, this application appears to be timely.
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. The responding party, in any event, agrees 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 Elk Lake Planing Mill Ltd. in the Town of Elk Lake, Ontario, save and except foremen, persons above the rank of foreman, office staff, sales staff, students, and any salaried and part-time employees.
8The vote will be held on April 27, 2001. 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 April 20, 2001, the certification application filing date, are eligible to vote. Employees having an employment relationship on April 20, 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.
10There is a dispute between the parties as to whether or not sales staff and part-time employees 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.
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, 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.
"Caroline Rowan"
for the Board