Party convention also issues overwhelming endorsement of union financial transparency.
OTTAWA – Several resolutions passed by delegates at this past weekend’s Conservative National Convention would bring fairness and democracy into the workplace if adopted. Merit Canada applauds these appeals from the Party’s grassroots and encourages their swift implementation.
Resolutions demand that union dues that are used for political purposes be made voluntary and that union certification votes be held by secret ballot. In addition, delegates offered overwhelming support for a resolution on union financial transparency – the focus of Bill C-377, which awaits consideration by the Senate.
“Delegates representing ridings across Canada reflect the national consensus: Canadians support worker choice,” stated Terrance Oakey, President of Merit Canada. “A recent opinion survey by Leger Marketing confirms that and shows 83% of working Canadians agree that unions should be required to publicly disclose detailed financial information.”
“Merit Canada encourages the government to enshrine these measures in legislation,” continued Oakey. “Conservative Members of Parliament and Senators should consider the results of these resolutions when considering Bill C-377 and the newly introduced Bill C-525, the Employees’ Voting Rights Act.”
Merit Canada is the national voice of Canada’s eight provincial Open Shop construction associations. Open Shop companies and workers build more than 70% of the industrial, commercial/institutional and residential construction projects coast-to-coast-to-coast. As of June 2011, the Canadian construction sector employed 1.26 million Canadians with 900,000 working in the Open Shop sector.