Before a collective agreement is in place, you and your coworkers are protected by Employment Standards and the Workers Compensation Act. Here are a few rights that are frequently raised:
| ◆ | You have the right to talk about the union in your workplace. You cannot use the employer’s phone or computer for union business. | |
| ◆ | No one is allowed to read your personal texts or emails sent and received on your personal cell phone. | |
| ◆ | An employee must not work more than five hours in a row without a 30-minute unpaid meal break. | |
| ◆ | Daily overtime pay is time-and-a-half after eight hours worked in a day, and double time after 12 hours worked in a day. Weekly overtime is time and a half after 40 hours worked in a week. | |
| ◆ | An employer cannot deduct any business costs from wages. This includes cash shortages, breakage, damage to company property or loss resulting from a customer leaving without paying. | |
| ◆ | Qualified employees who work on a statutory holiday must be paid time and a half for the first 12 hours worked and double time after 12 hours, plus, an average* day's pay. | |
| ◆ | Qualified employees who are given a day off on a statutory holiday must be paid an average* day's pay. | |
| ◆ | Vacations must be scheduled in periods of one or more weeks, unless the employee requests otherwise. | |
| ◆ | You are entitled to the following unpaid leaves (# of days or weeks): Pregnancy Leave (17 weeks), Parental Leave for both males (37 weeks) and females (35-37 weeks), Family Responsibility Leave (5 days), Compassionate Care Leave (8 weeks), Bereavement Leave (3 days), Jury Duty (full duration), Reservists' Leave (full duration). |
