Notice From the Saskatchewan Labour Board
Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board, February 25, 2022
This directive replaces the Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board notice respecting COVID-19, dated June 24, 2021. The Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board has commenced the redeployment of regular operations in concert with the removal of the Public Health Orders. The Board continues to monitor the situation and may update the information in this Notice as circumstances require.
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Board Offices - Access to the Board office in Regina is not restricted and documents may be filed in‐person.
This Notice is subject to change from time to time and may be amended to apply to specific circumstances, at the discretion of the Board.
Additional Notes From the Saskatchewan Labour Board
You may file a completed Application form to the Board by the following methods:
- Emailed as an email attachment sent to Board's document filing email address: SLRBfiling@gov.sk.ca
- Faxed to (306) 787-2664
- In-person or Mailed to:
Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board
1600-1920 Broad Street
Regina, Saskatchewan, S4P 3V2
Overview
Decertification basically means getting rid of a union. It happens when a majority of employees do not want to be unionized. If you can prove this you may be able to Decertify the union. But, there are rules you must follow.
Using our step-by-step instructions, you should be able to apply to the Labour Board. If you need help, go to our "Contacts" pages and get in touch with someone listed there. By the way, others may call Decertification "revocation of bargaining rights" or "termination of bargaining rights". In Saskatchewan it may also be referred to as “rescission”.
Timing your Decertification
You can only apply to Decertify the union during an Open Period. The Open Periods stay open once they begin. They are:
- Two years after the first Certification Order was issued by the Labour Board. The Open Period for an employee begins 2 years after certification. The Open Period stays open until an Application is made and is unsuccessful and then a new Application to Cancel a Certification Order cannot be made for 12 months.
- One year after an unsuccessful Application to Cancel a Certification Order. An Application could be unsuccessful because the union wins the vote. Another reason: the Board dismisses the Application because the Board decides the employer and / or the employees did something wrong.
Get the Forms
In Saskatchewan there are 3 Forms to be completed. The Applicant, (the employee who is in the Bargaining Unit and is going to officially file the Application with the Board), completes the Form 3 in point 1 below. Everyone who supports the Application has to complete their own Evidence of Employee Support Card (EESC) in point 2. Thirdly, while not actually a "Form" (you have to make it yourself) the List of Evidence of Employee Support Cards in point 3 must be completed. Finally, the Applicant must also request the original certification for the bargaining unit from the Labour Board Order and we recommend that email is the simplest way to make this request. See point 4 below.
- Form 3 - Application to Cancel Certification Order. Only one of these is needed for the overall Application to Decertify the union. This is a standard Labour Board Form that is also on the LabourWatch website.
- Evidence of Employee Support Cards (EESC). These are used because you need to prove that 45% or more of your co-workers support the Application. To do this, you need to have them sign a Form that includes certain information. The Labour Board does not have a Form for you to use. LabourWatch has made one based on what the Board says (on Form 3) that it requires as "evidence of employee support". Our Form is included with our Decertification Download. The Board says you must not use a petition because that is not as confidential as a single Card for each employee. NOTE: the Employee Support Cards must all be collected within 90 days of the Application date so it is important to know that the time is limited.
- List of Evidence of Employee Support Cards. You have to make this list of certain information on the Evidence of Employee Support Cards that you and your co-workers filled out (see the example below).
- As per the Form 3, paragraph 4, you need a copy of "The order applied to be rescinded (which) was made by the board on". You will need to email the board to request the order at this email address: SLRB Inquiry LRB (inquiry.slrb@gov.sk.ca)
Suggested email subject line and email body:
(Subject) Request for order certifying (UNION NAME) for (EMPLOYER NAME)
(Email Body)
Hello
Can I get a copy of the order certifying UNION NAME as representative for employees at EMPLOYER NAME please.
Thank you
You must determine how many employees there are in the Bargaining Unit that you wish to Decertify. It is a good idea to have as many Evidence of Employee Support Cards as possible, since there can often be a dispute about how many employees are included in the Bargaining Unit, for example, an employee on maternity leave counts, but others on other types of leave may not count. You may not know about new hires.
Next, complete a Form 3 and send it to the Labour Board along with all the Evidence of Employee Support Cards and the List of Evidence of Employee Support Cards.
The list mentioned in point 2 above must be typewritten and the Board does not provide you with a Form to use, so we have a sample Form with instructions attached to this package, but you will have to make the list yourself by using ours as a guide.
If you have access to a computer that has Microsoft Excel© or any spreadsheet program, that would be the easiest type of program to use. Create the list with four columns: name, address, job (the Board calls it an "occupational classification") and the last column is for the date the Card was signed.
Once your list is finished you should have one line for each Card you collected.
Collecting Evidence of Employee Support
Using Evidence of Employee Support Cards (EESC) as evidence means you have one Form for each person who supports the Application.
TIP:When using the Evidence of Employee Support Card, print one page (3 Cards per page) and pre-fill in the employer and union name, (don't forget the union Local number if there is one) before making copies. Then, when you give the Cards out, you have made sure everyone has the correct employer and union information. Don't pre-fill any more than the union's name (and Local) though. Read more about Avoiding Mistakes below.
Avoid Mistakes
General Mistakes
To succeed, you may have to show that your employer wasn't illegally involved in getting your Application started or in getting signatures. You should make sure that:
- It was not your employer's idea to start the Application.
- No one from Management offered anyone any reward or benefit for starting or continuing the Application.
- No one from Management threatened anyone, if they would not support the Application.
- You have not been led to believe your Application will be funded in whole or in part by your employer if you have any expenses.
- It is better to avoid using equipment at work such as computers, copiers and fax machines for your paperwork. It's a good idea that if you make copies at a store where you have to pay for them - keep all receipts as further proof that you did not use employer equipment. The union can accuse you of doing that as part of their effort to use a minor technicality to stop your Application.
- You should not approach fellow employees on employer premises during working hours - but meal or coffee breaks is okay and of course, before or after work.
NOTE: It is not always illegal to collect Cards on work time or to use employer equipment. This becomes illegal when your employer knows and other employees know that your employer is involved.
Application Support Form Mistakes
- The forms for Decertification must be filled out fully and accurately.
- On the Form 3 you must use the full, correct name address and contact information of the union.
- You must have each employee date Individual Decertification Form at the same time as it is signed. DO NOT date the Form yourself before or after the employee signs.
If you need help, consult our web site or ask for advice from someone who does not work for your employer. You can ask a lawyer for legal advice, if necessary, but the lawyer should be aware that your employer should not pay your legal fees. Hopefully, the instructions on this web site are all that you will require.
Build Support
You should not use threats or promises or pressure to get fellow employees to sign their Evidence of Employee Support Card. You should think of 2 or more good reasons why you believe the union should be decertified. A businesslike and friendly approach works best. Remember, once more than 45% of your group sign an EESC and you file your Application, there will hopefully be a secret ballot vote. It will be supervised by the Labour Board and where every employee in the group can vote in private. Not everyone who signs will necessarily vote for Decertification, but some who are reluctant to sign may vote for Decertification in the secret ballot vote.
Check your Collective Agreement and read the section or definition about "Bargaining Unit." This is often called the "Recognition" clause, and is usually located near the beginning of the Collective Agreement. You will need to collect the names and signatures of 45% or more of the group mentioned in that section.
Sometimes you may have to prove the signatures on your EESC's were given "freely" and "voluntarily" if the union files evidence of illegal employer involvement .
You should assure employees that if they sign a Card, it will be confidential. The Labour Board is required to protect the confidentiality of your Cards and your List of Evidence of Employee Support.
As mentioned above, people who support your Application should not sign an EESC when they are working - they must be on a break during work or do it before or after work. The reason is that you are supposed to be working. If the employer knows it is happening on working time and does nothing, the union might accuse the employer of supporting the Decertification by "turning a blind eye" to your efforts during work time suggesting that the employer wants everyone to know they support the Decertification campaign.
NOTE: it is important to vote, since the decertification is based on those who come out to vote. Remind those who support the Application that if they don’t vote, then they do not get a say. Even with a large bargaining unit, the success or failure can be decided by a small percentage of the workforce if people do not show up to vote.
Prepare the Forms
1. FORM 3 – APPLICATION TO CANCEL CERTIFICATION ORDER.
To properly complete your Application Form, you will need to collect or prepare the following information:
- The name, address, and phone number of the Applicant, the union and your employer.
- Approximate number of employees in your "Bargaining Unit".
- The date of the Certification Order you are Decertifying (rescinding) and the “effective provisions” of the Certification Order. A copy of this is available from the Labour Board, just by telling them the name of your employer and union. You should attach a copy to the Form 3 (Then you can just enter the date and write "See Attached").
- The date of the Collective Agreement (from a copy of your Collective Agreement).
- The relevant section of the Employment Act (see below).
The Saskatchewan Employment Act - relevant sections:
- 6-14 Application to cancel certification order – union ceases to be a union
- 6-15 Application to cancel certification order unfair labour practice
- 6-16 Application to cancel certification order – abandonment
- 6-17 Application to cancel certification order – loss of support
You need to submit one original of the Form 3 (also keep a copy for yourself). You have to swear the Form 3 in front of a Notary Public, Justice of the Peace or Commissioner for Oaths in and for the Province of Saskatchewan.
2. EVIDENCE OF EMPLOYEE SUPPORT CARDS (EESC)
For each individual employee signing to support the Decertification Application, the Form must:
- Be dated by the person signing it and that date must be within 90 days of when you file the Application to Cancel Certification Order (Form 3 above).
- Include the full name of the union (and local if applicable). You may want to do a master Evidence of Employee Support Card with the proper union name, and Local (if applicable), then photocopy it for everyone who supports you to fill out.
- State that the individual signing the Card wants a secret ballot vote about whether they want the union to represent them any longer and the employee supports the Application, (our standard Form does this).
- The employee must sign the document.
You will be submitting the original of each individual employee's signed Card, so keep a copy of each one for yourself. Also, include one blank "sample" of the Card for the Labour Board.
3. A TYPEWRITTEN LIST OF EVIDENCE OF EMPLOYEE SUPPORT CARDS
As mentioned above, this list should have one line for each of the cards you have to support the Application.
- The list should include their names, job title ("occupational classification"), address, and the date they signed their Card.
- See the attached sample Form so you know how it should look.
Deliver the Forms
Once you have gathered Evidence of Employee Support Cards from 45% or more of your Bargaining Unit, and you have filled out and sworn a Form 3, and made a list of the names of people who have signed cards, you are ready to make your submission to the Labour Board.
If you file your Application by email or fax you must keep the original copies and be ready to make them available to the Board if they request them. If you send in your Application by email, the Board requests that all of your Application is in one PDF file.
If you are sending your Application in by mail or courier, or dropping it off by hand, don't forget to keep a copy for yourself of everything you file. The Labour Board allows you to drop documents off at the location listed below. You can use regular mail, a courier or you can deliver them by hand. The advantage of going in person is that a Labour Board official might go over the documents you are handing in and help you correct any errors, but they might not so don't count on that.
Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board
1600-1920 Broad Street
Regina, Saskatchewan, S4P 3V2
Conclusion
Once the Saskatchewan Labour Board gets your Application, they will contact the union and your employer to inform them about the Application. If the union or the employer has any concerns, they can send them to the Board.
Next, the Board will review your Application.
If no objections are received, any hearing can be canceled or never rescheduled. But, if there is a hearing the Board will contact you to find out how many witnesses you plan to call and about how long they will each talk.
VOTING
If the Board agrees your Application was voluntary, it was made at the right time and 45% or more employee support it the Board will announce a vote of all employees. If a majority of employees (50% + 1), who actually vote, vote for Decertification, your Application will be successful and the union will be decertified.
Anyone who is in the union’s bargaining unit is eligible to vote. The Board may order an in-person vote, or a mail-in vote. At this time, the Board does not use electronic voting.
It is important for as many people as possible to vote, so that you have a vote that is reflective of the workplace. If people choose not to vote, then they don’t get a say (it doesn’t count for one side or the other). Basically, a union can be certified, or decertified, in a vote where only a small percentage of the workforce actually votes. It is very important to make sure that you, and your fellow employees, exercise their rights to vote.