[ 12 June 2007: Message edited by: kropotkin1951 ]

Thanks for responding. To date, my information is that no individual with any CLAC experience can ever remember getting notice of a Local meeting, much less attending one. Unfortunately, my informants are neither numerous or a broad cross-section. I would very much like to know if I can have this verified by others. If you can help, email me directly at [email protected].

Here's some info about CLAC from the other thread. If you need more info, send me a message off-list.

The "Christian" "Labour" Association of Canada isn't a union. It's a money-grubbing racket run out of the extreme right-wing Dutch Reform Church, which also runs numerous businesses and contractors, especially in the construction sector. CLAC is its pretend "union" used to try to block legitimate efforts in organizing workers.

It holds no elections, practically no meetings; no ratification of contracts, etc.

Here's more info on them. They are a racket and an opponent to workers' rights and freedom to associate, and literally support the enslavement of workers to the boss.

Here's some more info on them:

Corrupt Fraudulent "union" in bed with boss

Grassroots Labour Group Targets CLAC

Any attempt to rid themselves of CLAC by the workers is met with collusion between CLAC and the company.

Fortunately, trade unions are familiar with the modus operandi and if the workers have the spine,can assist in decertifying CLAC and certifying a union that will negotiate a good agreement.

Once the dirty deed was done, he become the Company's new HR Manager.

(Just an expression...)

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Is that true about the Dutch Reformed Church? The same ones who were the bastion of apartheid in South Africa?

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Unfortunately whenever the company finds out they are about to lose their faux union, they immediately clamp down and do everything in their power to keep CLAC in.

These workers are in for a really tough struggle to free themselves from this scourge.

SA is correct they were established and funded by the Dutch Reformed Church. To this day, many of their "business agents" would fit right in with most white male only Conservative party functions.

Maybe I can help fill in some details. CLAC is an organization that has been legally recognised as a "union" on the narrow grounds it commits to engage in "collective bargaining". It is actually quite secretive and avoids any discussion of its development and method of operating. CLAC does make claims about its democratic and non-partisan nature, but it is possible to expose these myths.

As a starting point, it is important to puruse the philosohy of the Christian (not Dutch) Reformed Church. It sees its role in reforming society by participatng in that society through arms-length organizations, run by its adherents. These include research, educational and labour organizations. The two most important of these in our context are CLAC and the Work Research Foundation. They are separated, but highly cross-fertilized operations. I might add in passing that certain Christian post-secondary institutions, in particular Redeemer College are a part of this circle.

As a labour organization, CLAC is highly deserving of all of the blunt critiques made in the other posts. It is growing rapidly but not by organizing and winning hearts and minds, but by standing behind employers who are bastardizing and manipulating existing labour law. I would need to write a book to give you the details.

CLAC is highly autocratic. It has a constitution that is not open to debate or change by the rank and file membership. It is run by appointed staff. The staff representatives ONLY can recommend new staff reps and engage in recruiting almost exclusively from Christian post-secondary colleges. For example last year, a CLAC rep while recruiting at Redeemer told the graduating class that 16 of its current reps came from Redeemeer. Te reps have complete control over every aspect of the organization from chartering locals through to bargaining and conract administration decisions.

It is a political organization, but its politics are practiced for the most part through the WRF. The WRF has published tracts ranging from general praise for the arper budget through to a presantation to government OPPOSING anti-scab legislation. Amongst the leading lights are Peter Menzies who was Editor in Chief of the Calgary Herald during the ugly strikes that took place in the late 90's and Ray Penning, a former CLAC Rep and failed candidate for both the Christian Heritage Party and the Canadian Alliance.

If I can be of assistance with more info and details, please send me an email.

I have helped out with organizing efforts that successfully got CLAC booted from tow construction firms, a waste disposal service and a food and building service firm here in the Lower Mainland, as the workers organized into a legitimate union and succeeded in gaining boss recognition.

It’s tough to do in any case, since the labour laws have such a poor definition of what a union is, and, given the current fascistic regime here, CLAC has a lot of sympathizers among the Liar-appointed senior corporate hacks in the labour ministry. In fact, CLAC has been described as operating much like the bogus “official unions” set up and largely controlled by various totalitarian/corporatist regimes throughout the globe.

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It is actually quite secretive and avoids any discussion of its development and method of operating.

CLAC is highly autocratic. It has a constitution that is not open to debate or change by the rank and file membership. It is run by appointed staff. The staff representatives ONLY can recommend new staff reps and engage in recruiting almost exclusively from Christian post-secondary colleges.

Te reps have complete control over every aspect of the organization from chartering locals through to bargaining and conract administration decisions.

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Some years ago, CLAC mailed an information kit to me. The kit included a copy of CLAC's constitution dated April 8, 2000. The CLAC constitution like most union constitutions can only be amended at its conventions. Also like most unions the national board is the highest authority in CLAC, between conventions. National board members are elected at the biennial national conventions.

Local boards can make final and binding decisions, overruling decisions which were made by staff representatives. Local boards are elected by rank and file members.

Auditor's reports and audited financial statements are available to members upon request.

[ 25 June 2007: Message edited by: CUPE_Reformer ]

Thanks for the info. I've spent time with the CLAC Constitution as well. What you say is true, but needs to be qualified.

The constitution may be amended at convention, true-with one year's notice as I recall. Also, you must consider what constitutes a "convention". All Staff Reps (about 120) are delegates and the formulas for delegates for Locals virtually ensures that staff make up half the number. Remember, staff must be nominated ONLY by existing staff (by the self-same constitution). Further there are numerous Locals that are not composed of workers, but rather for either students or "supporters". Democratic control by workers of "their" organization appears to be a myth.

The Local structure is also unusual. To run as a Board member, you apply and the existing Local Board vets the applicants. The existing Board then sets out who may run. Have a peek at the Jan Noster case out of Alberta. A minority of Locals list the actual Board members on the CLAC website. One thing that is noticeable is that there are Staff Reps on these Boards - Reps that for the most part have not "come up through the ranks".

You suggest that Local Boards can overrule Staff Reps. The only reference I recall to support this thought is that a grievance appeal may go to a Local Board (it may also go to a committee of Staff Reps). There is no indication of how the choice is made, and if you have facts on any specific case I'd appreciate hearing them.

Please note that the appeal may only be on the basis of whether the Rep's decision was "arbitrary, discriminatory or bad faith", the same words used in fair representation complaints at a Labour Board. The "correctness" of the decision is not subject to review.

Finally, Local Boards must snt all of their money to CLAC National (save $100 I believe) every six months. If members want to have a social event, then there needs to be a special assessment referendum to raise the money.

Try as I might, I can find no reference to Locals actually meeting. From time to time, there may be a meeting of an individual bargaining unit, but never of a Local (except those for students). Even elections are done by mail ballot. If you have information on Local meetings, please post it. If you have information on specifics of cases that deviate from the above, that info would also be welcomed. It would be appreciated.

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The constitution may be amended at convention, true-with one year's notice as I recall.

You suggest that Local Boards can overrule Staff Reps. The only reference I recall to support this thought is that a grievance appeal may go to a Local Board (it may also go to a committee of Staff Reps). There is no indication of how the choice is made, and if you have facts on any specific case I'd appreciate hearing them.

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Proposed amendments to the CLAC constitution (except Articles 1-5, Supplement A or Article 14),
only require at least two months notice. Only proposed amendments to the other articles and Supplement A, require at least twelve months notice.

Members of locals can appeal to either their local board or the Staff Council Executive Committee.

[ 26 June 2007: Message edited by: CUPE_Reformer ]

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Cupe Reformer

Do you have information, anecdotal or otherwise, on Local meetings?

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