Just Because it CLACs Like a Duck...
Jan 29, 2008
Not all unions are what they appear to be. Or what they claim. A case in point involves the Christian Labour Association of Canada (CLAC). Although they call themselves a union, they really have very little in common with other organized labour movements.
CLAC is in reality an association and not a union at all, but has spent the past 50 years trying to get recognized as a “union” by provincial and federal labour relations boards. Formed in 1952 by Dutch immigrants affiliated with the Christian Reformed Church, CLAC rejects basic union principles in favour of a more business-oriented “unionism” that sacrifices the best interests of its members. Employers are increasingly favouring CLAC in order to keep their workplaces union-free, leaving employees with little input in to their working conditions. Although they are not officially or legally affiliated with any religious organizations, CLAC maintains close ties with the Canadian Reformed Church and reform church-inspired organizations.
CLAC’s ideals are very much in line with conservative and business philosophy. Their research arm, the Work Research Foundation (WRF) lobbies governments on issues related to labour relations, and supports policies that harm the interests of workers. The WRF and CLAC support back-to-work legislation, oppose anti-scab legislation, and promote union busting through their support of open shops. In fact, CLAC also supports getting rid of the Rand Formula, whereby once a union has 51 percent of the employees support all employees are represented by the union.
Whereas members of real unions vote to ratify collective agreements and have significant input into the bargaining process, members of CLAC do not necessarily get to vote. CLAC staff have the authority to “conclude, execute or administer collective agreements” without having to go to a membership vote. Furthermore, instead of open and transparent organizing drives, 25% to 40% of CLAC’s recruitments are “voluntary recognitions,” which are basically behind closed door deals between employers and CLAC staff. A recent trend has seen anti-union businesses (such as Save On Foods in BC) consummating deals with CLAC in order to keep real unions out of their workplaces.
If all of this is not bad enough, CLAC also negotiates substandard agreements that are below industry standards in all areas, including wages, benefits, and overtime and vacation pay. CLAC’s primary agenda seems to be to undercut the work of legitimate, democratic and representative unions and to roll back the clock on gains made over decades. In the words of the Canadian Labour Congress, “Real trade unions pride themselves on the fact that union democracy is not a hollow concept, but a living reality that members experience and practice at the work-site, union office and at the convention floor.” Beware of phony unions that claim to have the best interests of working people at heart. Because some of them don’t.
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