Glossary of Terms

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WHAT'S NEW? THE NASA CONTRACT REP'S COUNCIL STEWARD'S CORNER ABOUT NASA TRUST TOPICS UNION COMMITTEES AND REPORTS SOLIDARITY! SITE INDEX CONTACT US Last updated: 02/26/99	Often different terms are used at NASA meetings, when discussing our association, the contract, grievances, and negotiations, and when we consider the rest of organized labour in Canada. The following list provides a brief description of terms that should be useful for those unfamiliar with them.
Adjudication Agreement, Collective Alberta Federation of Labour Alberta Union of Provincial Employees Arbitration Bargaining Agent Bargaining Unit Board of Governors Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) Certification Closed Shop Collective Bargaining Company Union Conciliation and Mediation Contract Contract Proposals Contracting Out Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) Craft Union Dispute Settlement Mechanism Dues, Service Fee Fringe Benefits Grievance Industrial Union Injunction Interest Arbitration International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) International Labour Organization (ILO) Job Classification	Job Evaluation Job Security Jurisdictional Dispute Labour Council Labour Relations Board Local Lockout Management Rights Master Agreement Mediation Picketing Public Service Employee Relations Act (PSERA) Public Service Employee Relations Board (PSERB) Raiding Rand Formula Reopener Seniority Shift Differential Shop Steward Slowdown Strike Strikebreaker (SCAB) Technological Change Unfair labour practices Union Union Label Union Shop Workers' Compensation Working Conditions
Adjudication Equivalent to a grievance arbitration; a method under the Public Service Employee Relations Act of providing a settlement of disputes arising out of the terms of any Agreement. Agreement, Collective A contract (agreement and contract are used interchangeably) between one or more unions/associations acting as bargaining agent, and one or more employers, covering wages, hours, working conditions, fringe benefits, rights of workers and employee organizations, and procedures to be followed in settling disputes and grievances. Alberta Federation of Labour A federation, chartered by the Canadian Labour Congress, grouping local unions, associations and labour councils in Alberta. NASA is not an affiliate. Alberta Union of Provincial Employees Alberta's largest union, formed by an Act of the Legislature in 1976. It contains most employees of Provincial Government Departments as well as Boards and Agencies, including the support staff of universities in Athabasca, Calgary and Lethbridge. Arbitration A method of settling disputes through the intervention of a third party whose decision is final and binding, rarely being overturned except on errors of law made by the third party. Such a third party can be either a single arbitrator or a board consisting of a chairperson and one or more representatives. The arbitration process is often used to settle major grievances and for settling contract interpretation disputes. Interest Arbitration is for disputes arising out of the interests of the parties (employee organization and employer) before an agreement has been signed. Rights arbitration, or grievance arbitration, is for disputes that arise over the interpretation of an existing agreement. Employees governed by the Public Service Employee Relations Act like NASA's and AUPE's, for example) are denied the right to strike in this legislation and, therefore, must resort to binding arbitration. The same is true of certain major groups designated under the Alberta Labour Relations Act (e.g., Hospital Workers). Bargaining Agent Employee organization certified by a labour relations board or similar government agency as the exclusive representative of all employees in a bargaining unit for the purpose of collective bargaining. NASA is the certified bargaining agent for support staff at the U of A. Bargaining Unit Group of workers in a craft, department, plant, firm, industry or occupation, certified by a labour relations board or a similar body as appropriate for representation by an employee organization for purposes of collective bargaining. Board of Governors NASA bargains with the University of Alberta Board of Governors. During contract negotiations, the Board of Governors Team is usually comprised of two members of the Board of Governors: the Vice-President of Finance and Administration (who also acts as spokesperson for the Board), and the Director of Personnel. Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) The central labour congress made up of approximately 70 percent of the organized labour force in Canada. It holds biennial conventions and employs a permanent staff to maintain various departments such as Publicity, Research, Organization and Education, to serve its various affiliates. NASA is not affiliated with the CLC. Certification Official recognition by a labour relations board or similar government agency of a union or association as sole and exclusive bargaining agent, following proof of majority support among employees in a bargaining unit. NASA received certification from the Public Service Employee Relations Board on 26 September 1978, giving it exclusive right to bargain for and represent most support staff at the U of A. Closed Shop A provision in a collective agreement whereby all employees in a bargaining unit must be union members in good standing before being hired, and new employees hired through the union. Closed shop is not applicable in the public sector. Collective Bargaining Method of determining wages, hours and other conditions of employment through direct negotiations between the employee organization and employer. Normally the result of collective bargaining is a written contract which covers all employees in the bargaining unit, both members and non-members. Company Union A one-company group of employees, frequently organized or inspired by management and usually dominated by the employer. Conciliation and Mediation Processes which attempt to resolve labour disputes by compromise r voluntary agreement. Unlike arbitration, recommendations by a mediator, conciliator or conciliation board are not binding and the parties are free to accept or reject the recommendations. The conciliator is often a government official while the mediator is usually a private individual appointed as a last resort, sometimes even after the start of a strike. Contract - see Agreement, Collective Contract Proposals Proposed changes to the collective agreement put forward by the union/association or the employer and subject to collective bargaining. Contracting Out Practice of employer having work performed by an outside contractor and not by regular employees in the unit. Not to be confused with subcontracting, which is the practice of an employer, delegating part of his work to a subcontractor. Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) Periodic pay increase based on changes in the Consumer Price Index. Craft Union A trade union which organizes on the principle of limiting membership to some specific craft or skill, i.e., electricians, plumbers, etc. Also called Horizontal union. In practice, many traditional craft unions now also enrol members outside the craft field, thereby resembling industrial unions. Dispute Settlement Mechanism Any one of a variety of methods for breaking a dead-lock in collective bargaining and reaching a collective agreement, .g., strike, arbitration. Dues, Service Fee Monthly payments made by all employees in NASA's bargaining unit (Rand formula). Under a clause in the collective agreement the employer deducts dues (or service fees) from monthly pay cheques and remits them to the union/association (Dues checkoff). Fringe Benefits Non-wage benefits, such as paid vacations, pensions, health and welfare provisions, life insurance, etc., the cost of which is borne in whole or in part by the employer. Grievance Complaint against management by one or more employees, or a union or association, concerning an alleged breach of the collective agreement or an alleged injustice. Procedure for the handling of grievances is usually defined in the agreement. The last step of the procedure is usually arbitration. Industrial Union A trade union which organizes on the principle of including all workers from one industry, regardless of their craft or whether they are skilled or unskilled. Also called Vertical union. Injunction A court order restraining an employer or employees' organization from committing or engaging in certain acts. An ex parte injunction is one in which the application for an injunction is made in the absence of the party affected. Interest Arbitration - see Arbitration International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) An international trade union body, formed in 1949, composed of a large number of national central labour bodies such as the Canadian Labour Congress. It represents 50 million members in 96 non-communist countries. International Labour Organization (ILO) Tripartite world body representative of labour, management and government; an agency of the United Nations. It disseminates labour information and sets minimum international labour standards, called conventions, offered to member nations for adoption. Its headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland. Job Classification A process whereby employees are assigned to different positions which determines their level of work, their job duties, their pay, and their work titles. Job Evaluation A system designed to create a hierarchy of jobs based on factors such as skill, responsibility or experience, time and effort. Often used for the purpose of arriving at a rational system of wage differentials between jobs or classes of jobs. Job Security A provision in a collective agreement protecting a worker's job, as in the case where the introduction of new methods or machines that may eliminate a position. Jurisdictional Dispute A dispute between two or more unions/associations as to which one shall represent a group of employees in collective bargaining or as to whose members shall perform a certain kind of work. Labour Council Organization composed of locals of CLC-affiliated labour groups in a given community or district. The Labour Council in Edmonton is the Edmonton and District Labour Council. Labour Relations Board A board established under provincial or federal labour relations legislation to administer labour laws, including certification of employee organizations as bargaining agents, investigation of unfair labour practices and other functions prescribed under the legislation. Local Also known in some unions as lodge or branch. It is the basic unit of union organization. Unions/associations usually divide into a number of locals for the purposes of local administration. These locals have their own constitutions and elect their own officers. They are usually responsible for the negotiation and day-to-day administration of the collective agreements covering their members. Lockout A phase of a labour dispute in which management refuses work to employees or closes its establishment in order to force a settlement on its terms. Management Rights According to present law, management has unilateral rights to make decisions and act in any area unless specifically limited by a Collective Agreement or a Statute. For example, Universities are not required to comply with the Employment Standards Act. But they must comply with the Workers Compensation Act, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, and the Public Service Pension Act. Management is also constrained on the grounds of its acts having to be reasonable, clear and unequivocal. Any decisions they make must be brought to the attention of the employees affected before management can act on those decisions. Master Agreement A contract setting basic standards for employers and employees covered by the contract. Alberta government employees are covered under such a contract and it usually sets the general pattern that will be followed by other public sector contracts. Mediation A means of settling labour disputes whereby the contending parties use a third person - called a mediator - as a neutral go-between. Picketing Patrolling near the employer's place of business to publicize the existence of a labour dispute, a union's desire to represent the employees, or the fact of non-union working conditions. The purpose is often to discourage customers from buying or using employer's goods or services, etc. Public Service Employee Relations Act (PSERA) Bill 41, the Public Service Employee Relations Board Act was passed in 1977.This act governs all public sector employees in Alberta (including support staff of the University of Alberta). It denies public employees the right to strike. It also excludes from the bargaining process such matters as: the organization of work; assignment of duties; determination of the number of employees of an employer; systems of job evaluation and allocation of individual jobs and positions within the system; election, appointment, promotion, training or transfer; and pensions. Any disputes between management and the labour during the bargaining process over matters that could be negotiated in a contract (wages, benefits) can be taken to binding arbitration at the request of either management or the union/association. Such requests are brought before the Public Service Employee Relations Board, which is a board appointed by the government to interpret and enforce the Act. Public Service Employee Relations Board (PSERB) Established by PSERA (above), consisting of five people appointed by Cabinet with powers to interpret the Act, to decide how and when it applies to government employees, to hold hearings, investigate complaints, and deal with any other matters under the Act. Its decisions are final and binding. Raiding An attempt by one labour group to induce members of another group to defect and join its ranks. Rand Formula A union security plan developed by Judge Rand which is included in a collective agreement stating that the employer agrees to deduct an amount equal to union dues from all members of the bargaining unit, whether or not they are members of the union, for the duration of the collective agreement. Reopener A provision calling for reopening a collective agreement at a specified time prior to its expiration for bargaining on specific items only such as a wage increase, pensions, health and welfare, etc. Seniority System granting preference in security and rewards to employees in accordance with their length of service. It is used to designate an employee's status relative to other employees, for determining order of layoff, promotion, recall, transfer, vacations, etc. Depending on the provisions of the collective agreement, seniority can be based on length of service alone or on additional factors such as ability or union/association duties. Shift Differential Added pay for work performed on shifts other than regular daytime hours. Shop Steward An official who represents a specific group of members and the union/association in its duties, grievance matters, and other employment conditions. Stewards are usually part of the work force they represent. NASA does not have shop stewards, though Reps do perform some of their tasks. Slowdown A deliberate lessening of work effort without an actual strike, in order to force concessions from the employer. A variation of this is called a work-to-rule strike - a concerted slowdown in which workers, tongue in cheek, simply obey all laws and rules applying to their work. Strike A cessation of work, a refusal to work or to continue to work by employees in combination or in accordance with a common understanding, or a slowdown, or other concerted activities by employees for the purpose of compelling an employer to agree to terms or conditions of employment. Usually the last stage of collective bargaining when all other means have failed. Except in special cases, strikes are legal when a collective agreement is not in force. A rotating strike is a strike organized in such a way that only some of the employees stop work at any given time, each group taking its turn. A sympathy strike is a strike by workers not directly involved in a labour dispute an attempt to show labour solidarity and bring pressure on an employer in a labour dispute. A wildcat strike is a strike violating the collective agreement and usually not authorized by the union/association. Strikebreaker (SCAB) A person who continues to work or who accepts employment to replace workers who are on strike. By filling their jobs, the strikebreaker may weaken or break the strike. Technological Change Technical progress in industrial methods such as the introduction of labour-saving machinery or new production techniques. These often result in manpower reductions. Union Workers organized into a voluntary association, or union, to further their mutual interests with respect to wages, hours, working conditions and other matters of interest to workers. NASA is a union because it has been recognized as the designated bargaining agent for almost all support staff of the U of A. (excluding management and employees paid from a trust). We receive dues from all those in our bargaining unit to operate the Association. The dues checkoff is based on the Rand formula which requires management to collect this for NASA. Unfair labour practices Those employer or employee activities that are classed as unfair by labour relations acts. Union Label Imprint on a product indicating the item is made under union conditions. Called a bug in the printing industry. Union Shop Form of union security under which an employer may hire non-union workers who must, however, become members after they are employed as a condition retaining their employee status. modified union shop is one where non-union workers already employed need not join the union, but all new employees must join, and those already members must remain in the union. Workers' Compensation Compensation payable by employers collectively for injuries sustained by workers in the course of their employment. Each province has a Workers' Compensation Act. The industries covered by the Act are divided into groups. The employers in each group being collectively liable for the payment of compensation to the workers in their group. Working Conditions Conditions pertaining to the workers' job environment, such as hours of work, safety, paid holidays and vacation, rest period, free clothing or uniforms, possibilities of advancement, etc. Many of these are included in the collective agreement and subject to collective bargaining.

Last updated: 02/26/99

Often different terms are used at NASA meetings, when discussing our association, the contract, grievances, and negotiations, and when we consider the rest of organized labour in Canada. The following list provides a brief description of terms that should be useful for those unfamiliar with them.

Adjudication
Agreement, Collective
Alberta Federation of Labour
Alberta Union of Provincial Employees
Arbitration
Bargaining Agent
Bargaining Unit
Board of Governors
Canadian Labour Congress (CLC)
Certification
Closed Shop
Collective Bargaining
Company Union
Conciliation and Mediation
Contract
Contract Proposals
Contracting Out
Cost of Living Allowance (COLA)
Craft Union
Dispute Settlement Mechanism
Dues, Service Fee
Fringe Benefits
Grievance
Industrial Union
Injunction
Interest Arbitration
International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU)
International Labour Organization (ILO)
Job Classification

Job Evaluation
Job Security
Jurisdictional Dispute
Labour Council
Labour Relations Board
Local
Lockout
Management Rights
Master Agreement
Mediation
Picketing
Public Service Employee Relations Act (PSERA)
Public Service Employee Relations Board (PSERB)
Raiding
Rand Formula
Reopener
Seniority
Shift Differential
Shop Steward
Slowdown
Strike
Strikebreaker (SCAB)
Technological Change
Unfair labour practices
Union
Union Label
Union Shop
Workers' Compensation
Working Conditions

Adjudication

Equivalent to a grievance arbitration; a method under the Public Service Employee Relations Act of providing a settlement of disputes arising out of the terms of any Agreement.

Agreement, Collective

A contract (agreement and contract are used interchangeably) between one or more unions/associations acting as bargaining agent, and one or more employers, covering wages, hours, working conditions, fringe benefits, rights of workers and employee organizations, and procedures to be followed in settling disputes and grievances.

Alberta Federation of Labour

A federation, chartered by the Canadian Labour Congress, grouping local unions, associations and labour councils in Alberta. NASA is not an affiliate.

Alberta Union of Provincial Employees

Alberta's largest union, formed by an Act of the Legislature in 1976. It contains most employees of Provincial Government Departments as well as Boards and Agencies, including the support staff of universities in Athabasca, Calgary and Lethbridge.

Arbitration

A method of settling disputes through the intervention of a third party whose decision is final and binding, rarely being overturned except on errors of law made by the third party. Such a third party can be either a single arbitrator or a board consisting of a chairperson and one or more representatives. The arbitration process is often used to settle major grievances and for settling contract interpretation disputes. Interest Arbitration is for disputes arising out of the interests of the parties (employee organization and employer) before an agreement has been signed. Rights arbitration, or grievance arbitration, is for disputes that arise over the interpretation of an existing agreement. Employees governed by the Public Service Employee Relations Act like NASA's and AUPE's, for example) are denied the right to strike in this legislation and, therefore, must resort to binding arbitration. The same is true of certain major groups designated under the Alberta Labour Relations Act (e.g., Hospital Workers).

Bargaining Agent

Employee organization certified by a labour relations board or similar government agency as the exclusive representative of all employees in a bargaining unit for the purpose of collective bargaining. NASA is the certified bargaining agent for support staff at the U of A.

Bargaining Unit

Group of workers in a craft, department, plant, firm, industry or occupation, certified by a labour relations board or a similar body as appropriate for representation by an employee organization for purposes of collective bargaining.

Board of Governors

NASA bargains with the University of Alberta Board of Governors. During contract negotiations, the Board of Governors Team is usually comprised of two members of the Board of Governors: the Vice-President of Finance and Administration (who also acts as spokesperson for the Board), and the Director of Personnel.

Canadian Labour Congress (CLC)

The central labour congress made up of approximately 70 percent of the organized labour force in Canada. It holds biennial conventions and employs a permanent staff to maintain various departments such as Publicity, Research, Organization and Education, to serve its various affiliates. NASA is not affiliated with the CLC.

Certification

Official recognition by a labour relations board or similar government agency of a union or association as sole and exclusive bargaining agent, following proof of majority support among employees in a bargaining unit. NASA received certification from the Public Service Employee Relations Board on 26 September 1978, giving it exclusive right to bargain for and represent most support staff at the U of A.

Closed Shop

A provision in a collective agreement whereby all employees in a bargaining unit must be union members in good standing before being hired, and new employees hired through the union. Closed shop is not applicable in the public sector.

Collective Bargaining

Method of determining wages, hours and other conditions of employment through direct negotiations between the employee organization and employer. Normally the result of collective bargaining is a written contract which covers all employees in the bargaining unit, both members and non-members.

Company Union

A one-company group of employees, frequently organized or inspired by management and usually dominated by the employer.

Conciliation and Mediation

Processes which attempt to resolve labour disputes by compromise r voluntary agreement. Unlike arbitration, recommendations by a mediator, conciliator or conciliation board are not binding and the parties are free to accept or reject the recommendations. The conciliator is often a government official while the mediator is usually a private individual appointed as a last resort, sometimes even after the start of a strike.

Contract - see Agreement, Collective

Contract Proposals

Proposed changes to the collective agreement put forward by the union/association or the employer and subject to collective bargaining.

Contracting Out

Practice of employer having work performed by an outside contractor and not by regular employees in the unit. Not to be confused with subcontracting, which is the practice of an employer, delegating part of his work to a subcontractor.

Cost of Living Allowance (COLA)

Periodic pay increase based on changes in the Consumer Price Index.

Craft Union

A trade union which organizes on the principle of limiting membership to some specific craft or skill, i.e., electricians, plumbers, etc. Also called Horizontal union. In practice, many traditional craft unions now also enrol members outside the craft field, thereby resembling industrial unions.

Dispute Settlement Mechanism

Any one of a variety of methods for breaking a dead-lock in collective bargaining and reaching a collective agreement, .g., strike, arbitration.

Dues, Service Fee

Monthly payments made by all employees in NASA's bargaining unit (Rand formula). Under a clause in the collective agreement the employer deducts dues (or service fees) from monthly pay cheques and remits them to the union/association (Dues checkoff).

Fringe Benefits

Non-wage benefits, such as paid vacations, pensions, health and welfare provisions, life insurance, etc., the cost of which is borne in whole or in part by the employer.

Grievance

Complaint against management by one or more employees, or a union or association, concerning an alleged breach of the collective agreement or an alleged injustice. Procedure for the handling of grievances is usually defined in the agreement. The last step of the procedure is usually arbitration.

Industrial Union

A trade union which organizes on the principle of including all workers from one industry, regardless of their craft or whether they are skilled or unskilled. Also called Vertical union.

Injunction

A court order restraining an employer or employees' organization from committing or engaging in certain acts. An ex parte injunction is one in which the application for an injunction is made in the absence of the party affected.

Interest Arbitration - see Arbitration

International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU)

An international trade union body, formed in 1949, composed of a large number of national central labour bodies such as the Canadian Labour Congress. It represents 50 million members in 96 non-communist countries.

International Labour Organization (ILO)

Tripartite world body representative of labour, management and government; an agency of the United Nations. It disseminates labour information and sets minimum international labour standards, called conventions, offered to member nations for adoption. Its headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland.

Job Classification

A process whereby employees are assigned to different positions which determines their level of work, their job duties, their pay, and their work titles.

Job Evaluation

A system designed to create a hierarchy of jobs based on factors such as skill, responsibility or experience, time and effort. Often used for the purpose of arriving at a rational system of wage differentials between jobs or classes of jobs.

Job Security

A provision in a collective agreement protecting a worker's job, as in the case where the introduction of new methods or machines that may eliminate a position.

Jurisdictional Dispute

A dispute between two or more unions/associations as to which one shall represent a group of employees in collective bargaining or as to whose members shall perform a certain kind of work.

Labour Council

Organization composed of locals of CLC-affiliated labour groups in a given community or district. The Labour Council in Edmonton is the Edmonton and District Labour Council.

Labour Relations Board

A board established under provincial or federal labour relations legislation to administer labour laws, including certification of employee organizations as bargaining agents, investigation of unfair labour practices and other functions prescribed under the legislation.

Local

Also known in some unions as lodge or branch. It is the basic unit of union organization. Unions/associations usually divide into a number of locals for the purposes of local administration. These locals have their own constitutions and elect their own officers. They are usually responsible for the negotiation and day-to-day administration of the collective agreements covering their members.

Lockout

A phase of a labour dispute in which management refuses work to employees or closes its establishment in order to force a settlement on its terms.

Management Rights

According to present law, management has unilateral rights to make decisions and act in any area unless specifically limited by a Collective Agreement or a Statute. For example, Universities are not required to comply with the Employment Standards Act. But they must comply with the Workers Compensation Act, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, and the Public Service Pension Act. Management is also constrained on the grounds of its acts having to be reasonable, clear and unequivocal. Any decisions they make must be brought to the attention of the employees affected before management can act on those decisions.

Master Agreement

A contract setting basic standards for employers and employees covered by the contract. Alberta government employees are covered under such a contract and it usually sets the general pattern that will be followed by other public sector contracts.

Mediation

A means of settling labour disputes whereby the contending parties use a third person - called a mediator - as a neutral go-between.

Picketing

Patrolling near the employer's place of business to publicize the existence of a labour dispute, a union's desire to represent the employees, or the fact of non-union working conditions. The purpose is often to discourage customers from buying or using employer's goods or services, etc.

Public Service Employee Relations Act (PSERA)

Bill 41, the Public Service Employee Relations Board Act was passed in 1977.This act governs all public sector employees in Alberta (including support staff of the University of Alberta). It denies public employees the right to strike. It also excludes from the bargaining process such matters as:

the organization of work;
assignment of duties;
determination of the number of employees of an employer;
systems of job evaluation and allocation of individual jobs and positions within the system;
election, appointment, promotion, training or transfer; and
pensions.

Any disputes between management and the labour during the bargaining process over matters that could be negotiated in a contract (wages, benefits) can be taken to binding arbitration at the request of either management or the union/association. Such requests are brought before the Public Service Employee Relations Board, which is a board appointed by the government to interpret and enforce the Act.

Public Service Employee Relations Board (PSERB)

Established by PSERA (above), consisting of five people appointed by Cabinet with powers to interpret the Act, to decide how and when it applies to government employees, to hold hearings, investigate complaints, and deal with any other matters under the Act. Its decisions are final and binding.

Raiding

An attempt by one labour group to induce members of another group to defect and join its ranks.

Rand Formula

A union security plan developed by Judge Rand which is included in a collective agreement stating that the employer agrees to deduct an amount equal to union dues from all members of the bargaining unit, whether or not they are members of the union, for the duration of the collective agreement.

Reopener

A provision calling for reopening a collective agreement at a specified time prior to its expiration for bargaining on specific items only such as a wage increase, pensions, health and welfare, etc.

Seniority

System granting preference in security and rewards to employees in accordance with their length of service. It is used to designate an employee's status relative to other employees, for determining order of layoff, promotion, recall, transfer, vacations, etc. Depending on the provisions of the collective agreement, seniority can be based on length of service alone or on additional factors such as ability or union/association duties.

Shift Differential

Added pay for work performed on shifts other than regular daytime hours.

Shop Steward

An official who represents a specific group of members and the union/association in its duties, grievance matters, and other employment conditions. Stewards are usually part of the work force they represent. NASA does not have shop stewards, though Reps do perform some of their tasks.

Slowdown

A deliberate lessening of work effort without an actual strike, in order to force concessions from the employer. A variation of this is called a work-to-rule strike - a concerted slowdown in which workers, tongue in cheek, simply obey all laws and rules applying to their work.

Strike

A cessation of work, a refusal to work or to continue to work by employees in combination or in accordance with a common understanding, or a slowdown, or other concerted activities by employees for the purpose of compelling an employer to agree to terms or conditions of employment. Usually the last stage of collective bargaining when all other means have failed.

Except in special cases, strikes are legal when a collective agreement is not in force. A rotating strike is a strike organized in such a way that only some of the employees stop work at any given time, each group taking its turn. A sympathy strike is a strike by workers not directly involved in a labour dispute an attempt to show labour solidarity and bring pressure on an employer in a labour dispute. A wildcat strike is a strike violating the collective agreement and usually not authorized by the union/association.

Strikebreaker (SCAB)

A person who continues to work or who accepts employment to replace workers who are on strike. By filling their jobs, the strikebreaker may weaken or break the strike.

Technological Change

Technical progress in industrial methods such as the introduction of labour-saving machinery or new production techniques. These often result in manpower reductions.

Union

Workers organized into a voluntary association, or union, to further their mutual interests with respect to wages, hours, working conditions and other matters of interest to workers. NASA is a union because it has been recognized as the designated bargaining agent for almost all support staff of the U of A. (excluding management and employees paid from a trust). We receive dues from all those in our bargaining unit to operate the Association. The dues checkoff is based on the Rand formula which requires management to collect this for NASA.

Unfair labour practices

Those employer or employee activities that are classed as unfair by labour relations acts.

Union Label

Imprint on a product indicating the item is made under union conditions. Called a bug in the printing industry.

Union Shop

Form of union security under which an employer may hire non-union workers who must, however, become members after they are employed as a condition retaining their employee status. modified union shop is one where non-union workers already employed need not join the union, but all new employees must join, and those already members must remain in the union.

Workers' Compensation

Compensation payable by employers collectively for injuries sustained by workers in the course of their employment. Each province has a Workers' Compensation Act. The industries covered by the Act are divided into groups. The employers in each group being collectively liable for the payment of compensation to the workers in their group.

Working Conditions

Conditions pertaining to the workers' job environment, such as hours of work, safety, paid holidays and vacation, rest period, free clothing or uniforms, possibilities of advancement, etc. Many of these are included in the collective agreement and subject to collective bargaining.

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