- Workers contact the union and meet with a union organizer.
- Workers sign cards applying for membership in the union and authorizing the union to represent them in negotiations with their employer. Alberta labour law requires CUPE to collect $2 from each worker when they sign a membership card.
- To obtain certification, there are two possibilities:
- If at least 40% of the workers sign membership cards, the Alberta Labour Relations Board (ALRB) will hold a vote to see if workers want a union (Go to step 4) OR
- If over 65% of the workers sign membership cards, no vote is required, and certification is automatic. (Go directly to step 5)
- The Labour Board holds a secret ballot vote. Anyone who is in the bargaining unit the union applied to represent can vote. If the majority (50% +1) of workers who cast ballots vote to unionize, the union is certified.
- Congrats! The union will serve notice to your employer to begin bargaining your first contract.
The ALRB keeps confidential the information on those who signed union cards. Employers never get to see the cards.
Join CUPE today
Contact: albertaorganizer@cupe.ca