Common use of STRIKE POLICY Clause in Contracts

STRIKE POLICY. The Labour Laws of this Province provides for a strike or a lockout to be the ultimate actions to be taken by a Union or an Employer respectively to break an impasse in an effort to conclude a collective agreement. • The policies and disbursement of Union Funds apply only after the strike action has been sanctioned by the Board of Directors, or Executive Director, acting on behalf of the Board, or in case of a lockout by an Employer. • The Board of Directors will be responsible for communicating strike plans with the members involved. • Committees will be formed at the local level after direction from the Board: • The Committee keeps daily accounts of who is actively participating in the strike action and who is therefore eligible for strike pay. • Reports to Strike Steering Committee. • Establishes a budget and budget control for each of the various committees (ie: amount allowed from local funds for picket signs, beverages, etc.) • Locates and leases on a short-term basis suitable space for use as a strike headquarters. • Obtains equipment and furnishings (ie: telephones, coffee urns, etc.) as necessary as well as materials for picket signs. • Ensures that necessary supplies are maintained for the duration of the dispute. • Ensures picket duty committee supply the Finance Committee with copies of picket duty schedules. This will assist in the determination of eligibility for strike pay. • Ensures that proper forms for strike pay are completed on a daily basis. • Distributes strike pay and ensures that the guidelines for distribution of strike pay are followed. • Signs up people who are not already members and places their name on the list for strike pay. • Keeps a record of all financial transactions including donations. • Establishes proper controls and mechanisms for disbursement of strike pay. • Identifies members with special needs and communicates these to the special Provincial Committee established to deal with such needs. In this role, in particular, the subcommittee would exercise discretion and maintain as much confidentiality as possible. • Picket schedules should be drawn up for seven (7) day periods with adequate days of rest for members. • One picket-line captain is in charge of the pickets for each shift. • Responsible for ensuring that picket lines are established and adequately staffed at the times required by the Local Strike Steering Committee. • Inform members of strike activities and progress in negotiations. • Reports to Local’s Strike Steering Committee. • Establishes picket lines during the hours determined by the Local’s Strike Steering Committee. • Establishes shifts and transportation for picketers. Staffing of the picket line should result in the maximum number of individuals picketing at peak traffic periods and shift changes. • Scheduling of members should be done after consultation with the Local Steering Committee and Communications Committees. • Instructs picketers regarding proper picket-line decorum, such as: ▪ No obstruction of movement of people or vehicles. ▪ No trespassing on institution property. ▪ Keep in motion on the picket line. “Bunching” minimizes the number of picketers to on-lookers and it gives the appearance of attempts to obstruct movement. • Originates slogans for pickets (impact and originality in ten words or less). The purpose of a picket is to inform the public that a strike is in progress as well as the reasons behind the strike. • Creates automobile and store-front display signs. • Organizes any other public demonstrations under the direction of the Strike Steering Committee. A demonstration may require a parade permit - check with the police. If you are having a rally, hold it in a central location and provide a megaphone for speakers. • To maintain a high level of morale among the members. • Organize events that will keep the members together such as rallies, information meetings and social events. • Provide refreshments to members working in the headquarters and on the picket lines. • Direction from the Provincial Office and will be based on any agreement to provide essential services. • There will be no loans from Provincial funds to any members during a strike or lockout. • Locals shall submit strike pay claims to NSNU Provincial Office. NSNU shall issue cheques to the Local for distribution. • Each Local shall be given a small strike fund grant when a strike or lockout occurs. The amount will be determined by the Provincial Finance Committee, and will be based on the size of the Local. This grant shall be used to finance strike setup (ie: rent, coffee, phones, etc.) • All Locals participating in a strike shall receive grants from the Emergency Fund on the following basis: ▪ Locals with greater than 750 members shall receive fifteen hundred dollars ($1,500) ▪ Locals with 500 - 749 shall receive one thousand ($1,000) ▪ Locals with 50 - 499 members shall receive seven hundred ($700) ▪ and Locals with less than 50 members shall receive three hundred ($300) • The Provincial Secretary/Treasurer will send a letter along with the grant explaining other aspects of the policy including appropriate use of this grant, necessity of recording the use of this grant and the return of unused funds. • Locals receiving grants from the Strike Fund for strike related expenses shall keep strict records of the use of such funds, and further, at the end of the strike shall return any unused monies from the strike fund, and on the “appropriate forms” shall itemize the use of such funds.