We held a strike vote because it’s become very clear that GDI is not respecting the issues members have identified as priorities. After four days of bargaining, we have not gotten anywhere on these issues.

It’s when the majority of ballots cast approve a strike, and the bargaining committee is able to return to the bargaining table with majority support for a strike. This provides your committee with more power and puts the employer on notice that we are ready to take action.

No. While voting to approve a strike does mean you may go on strike, it does not mean you go on strike right away or for certain. In fact, there is a process before picket lines go up.

1. First, we go back to negotiations with a strike mandate and try to win a fair deal.
2. If we can’t come to an agreement, we file for conciliation. This means someone assigned by the Minister of Labour tries to help us reach a deal.
3. If after conciliation meetings we still can’t reach an agreement, the conciliator files a report stating that the two sides are at an impasse (i.e. can’t agree on a deal).
4. From there we have a two-week “cooling off” period. During that time, we may still try to reach a deal with GDI.
5. If we still don’t have a deal after that the cooling off period, we go on strike after issuing a 48-hour notice.

Yes. You get strike pay if you actively picket.

Under our Union’s constitution, you get paid:

• $300 per week after two weeks on the picket line, and
• $350 per week after four weeks on the picket line.
• However, in this case, your Union siblings will authorize to subsidize strike pay by another $100 so that you are paid $400 and $450 respectively.

NOTE: You DO NOT pay taxes on strike pay.

The employer can choose to continue paying for your benefits, but that is unlikely to happen, meaning your benefits will be paused. However, the Union will cover emergencies that would have been covered by benefits.

Not necessarily. When we go on strike we can strategically choose to picket where we will have the biggest impact. The idea is also to have an element of surprise in what we sometimes call “rolling strikes.”

Crossing the picket line is a serious matter. Union members can be fined up to the sum of their wages for working while there is a strike taking place.

Yes. We will provide strike and picket line training for members prior to starting a strike. As you can see in the previous Q&A, that could still be weeks away. This training is important so that you are well prepared and can get answers to questions you may have.

No. That would be illegal. It is your legal right to strike. If you are reprimanded, terminated, or threatened with either, please contact the Union office immediately.

You do not have to answer that question and cannot be disciplined or reprimanded for refusing to answer. Ask your supervisor to contact the Union office for all work stoppage-related questions. If you are reprimanded, terminated, or threatened with either, please contact the Union office immediately.

This behaviour constitutes an Unfair Labour Practice. It is illegal for the company to threaten your job in any way because you are exercising your legal right to strike. Please contact the Union office immediately.

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