Reference no: EM132979533

CAW vs. SEIU

The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) represents employees in nursing homes and hospitals. The Canadian officers of the union became dissatisfied with the international union's representation and concluded that a Canadian union would better serve the interests of their members. In February 2000 a Canadian vice-president of the SEIU organized a meeting of eight SEIU locals at which the locals voted to leave the international union and join the Canadian Auto Workers. The CAW has a reputation as a more militant union.

In response to this move, the international union put the locals under trusteeship and filed a complaint with the Canadian Labour Congress. The CLC's constitution provides a procedure for locals of one union to join another union, a long process the CAW had ignored. An arbitrator found that the CAW was guilty of raiding-taking away members from another union. Raiding is frowned upon in the labour movement; it is argued that unions should spend time and energy organizing previously unorganized employees instead of taking away members from another union. The Canadian Labour Congress imposed sanctions on the CAW. CAW representatives were removed from executive bodies of the CLC and CAW members were barred from CLC activities. In turn, the CAW withheld over $1 million in dues from the CLC. The CAW has over 240 000 members, making up approximately one-tenth of the CLC membership. Two former CAW presidents had become presidents of the Canadian Labour Congress. The CAW publicly defended its action by claiming it was acting to defend union democracy and Canadian autonomy. The CAW reminded people about its own split from the international United Auto Workers union in 1985. Some critics claimed the CAW was after the dues revenue SEIU members would provide and wanted a foothold in the public sector.

Subsequently the Canadian Labour Congress announced that a resolution to the dispute had been found. Votes were held in 234 SEIU bargaining units, and all but 20 of them approved a move to the CAW.

Questions

1. Identify the elements of union structure and functions that are illustrated in this situation.
2. What concerns might employers with employees represented by the SEIU have with a change to the CAW?