What Are My Rights?
When you decide you want to join AUPE, Aberta’s labour laws protect you. The Alberta Labour Relations Code and the Alberta Labour Relations Board protect your right to join a union and take part in the union activities free of harassment, intimidation, coercion and threats from your employer.
It is illegal for your employer to:
- Discharge, suspend, transfer lay off or otherwise discipline workers who join a union or promote union membership to their coworkers.
- Favor employees who oppose the union over ones who support it. This includes promotions and special treatment.
- Promise raises or other favorable treatment if you oppose joining a union.
- Intimidate, fire or threaten to fire workers in an effort to stop them from becoming members of a union.
- Threaten to close your place of employment or take away benefits because you and co-workers support joining a union.
- Ask you your opinion of the Union.
- Impose conditions that keep workers from exercising their right to organize.
You have the legal right to:
- Join together with co-workers and form a union.
- Participate in meetings to discuss joining a union.
- Distribute union flyers, sign petitions and ask your coworkers to sign petitions at work during breaks and lunch and before and after work.
- File legitimate complaints against your employer with the Alberta Labour Relations Board with help from the union.
- Vote YES for the union.
You have the right a voice in your workplace, to improve your wages and working conditions, and to build a better life for you and your family.
If you feel like your rights have been violated during an organizing drive, call your organizer immediately. AUPE can file an Unfair Labour Practice Complaint with the Labour Relations Board, who has the authority to address and remedy the violation.