CHATHAM – Office and clerical
members at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance have voted to keep the
Ontario Public Service Employees Union as their union after an
unsuccessful raid attempt by the Christian Labour Association of
Canada (CLAC).
“We are very pleased that our
members chose to remain with one of the best health care unions in
Ontario,” said OPSEU President Leah Casselman. “It is unfortunate
that this so-called association feels the need to try to steal
members from other unions, but I guess that’s why they choose to
operate outside the policies of Ontario’s labour movement.”
CLAC, an organization well-known
for raiding other unions and certifying members without votes
through voluntary employer recognition, is not affiliated with
either the Ontario Federation of Labour or the Canadian Labour
Congress. Unions affiliated with these bodies have strict rules and
policies that prevent union raids such as these.
Steve Nield, OPSEU’s Staff
Representative in Chatham, is proud of his members who stood firm
against the raid. “Our people were able to see through CLAC’s
rhetoric and choose to remain with the superior, more powerful
union,” Nield said. “We will now continue to build on the strengths
of our members and ensure their rights are protected.”
