JOIN US

Joining a labour union is one of the best and influential decisions a worker can make in his or her life. Unions have a long history of protecting the rights of workers, fighting for social justice and equality, and bettering the working lives of millions of Canadians.

The long-term benefits of becoming a member of a union are enormous. Statistics show that, in Canada, workers have far better working conditions, an average of 29% higher pay, superior benefits and pensions, longer paid vacation time, and safer and more democratic and egalitarian workplaces.

This so-called “union advantage” is even higher for women, people of colour, persons with special needs, and part-time employees.

Why Join a Canadian Union?

National Independence

If we believe that Canada should resist the constant efforts of other nations to control our economic and political affairs, then we must also subscribe to the position that the Canadian workers have control of their own affairs.

Canadian Union Control

It is to the credit of the PPWC and the Confederation of Canadian Unions (of which we are a member) that over 70 per cent of Canadian workers now belong to Canadian-based unions.

Membership Control

Canadian union members should have the right to make any and all decisions concerning their welfare. That can only come about when the leaders of our unions are regularly elected by the rank-and-file members.

Benefits to Canadian Workers

Only with the establishment of democratically-controlled Canadian unions will workers be able to formulate policies and bargaining demands in tune with Canadian needs.

The PPWC constitution ensures that our union will be controlled by rank-and-file workers. We believe in full voice for our membership. Elections for PPWC officers are by referendum secret ballot vote at the plant level.

The PPWC places emphasis on the membership not on top officials. We keep new people moving into office to prevent stagnation.

There are no trusteeship or administration provisions in our constitution enabling national union officers to come into a local and throw the local officers out of office or interfere with any decisions made by the local union.

Each local union elects a member to sit on the National Executive Board (NEB) ensuring that the local unions have direct involvement in the operation of the national union. The NEB is charged with the administration and management of the national union between conventions.

CONSTITUTIONAL SAFEGUARDS

Officers

President, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, and Secretary-Treasurer are elected biennially in referendum election. All members are entitled to vote by secret ballot at their workplace. If successfully elected for five consecutive years to any full-time officer’s position, the individual is ineligible to run again before spending at least one year in his/her home local before seeking re-election for national office.

Executive Board

The national officers and one member elected by each local union are responsible for the affairs of the union between conventions. This body, the National Executive Board, meets at least four times per year to conduct the union’s affairs and direct the national officers.

Conventions

Held once per year, delegates are elected by local unions to set policy and direction at these conventions.

Recall

All national and local officers are subject to recall by the membership at any time.

Salaries

Full-time officers’ salaries are equal to a tradesperson’s wage in the pulp and paper industry. The salaries are discontinued during a work stoppage at the officer’s home plant.

Audit

All financial accounts are audited four times per year by a convention-elected committee and are audited annually by a registered outside chartered accountant chosen by convention delegates.

Dues

Dues are set by local unions, paid from employer check-off directly to the local union, and are controlled locally by the local union. The majority of dues dollars stay within the local union.

Per Capita

Money paid to the national office to run the national union office affairs is set by convention delegates annually.

Local Autonomy

Local officers are elected by secret-ballot vote at the local level. Every local has the right to negotiate independently.