Here are some questions we have been asked

by our co-workers at Bee Clean

1. What can the union guarantee?With a Union we are guaranteed a direct voice in our benefits and working conditions. Our pay rates, benefits and working conditions will be spelled out in writing in a legally-binding contract which cannot be changed by the company without our agreement. We will have the legal right to negotiate changes with the company. We will have a grievance procedure, a legal mechanism for challenging unfair or arbitrary decisions of the company.

2. But the company says that a collective agreement gives them the right to run the company any way the please? Is this true?

No. Read the first line of their statement: “Except to the extent explicitly abridged by specific written provision of this agreement…”What this means is that they have the right to run their business except where those rights are limited by the collective agreement!In other words if it’s covered in the collective agreement, they have to follow the collective agreement. Only where things are not covered by the collective agreement do they have the right to conduct their business. It is the collective agreement, negotiated by us, that will guarantee our rights. Without a union, nothing is guaranteed. The company can change any of our benefits or working conditions at any time, for any reason – and there is nothing we can do about it!

3. Why is the company so concerned about how much we will pay in dues?

The average dues paid by CEP members is between 1.5 and 2% of regular wages. The dues rate will be set by us – it is money used to run our own organization.No union dues are paid until we have a signed collective agreement and union dues are tax deductible.Has the company ever been concerned about how you spend your money before? Of course not! But now we are deciding to pool our resources to fund an organization to fight for our rights at work, Bee Clean is suddenly very concerned about how we spend our money. Why do you think that is?

4. Can we lose what we already have?No. As of the date that we applied for certification all conditions are frozen by law. Once we are certified conditions continue to be frozen for an additional 30 days; and once we begin negotiations conditions are further frozen for another 60 days. Those conditions stay frozen until we have reached a deal. So nothing can be changed unless we agree, by majority vote, to those changes.

Without a union the company can make any changes they want, at any time, for any reason.

5. Will we be strong enough to negotiate a good contract with Bee Clean?

The more support we have the stronger we will be! We urge you to vote YES for union representation so we go into negotiations with a large majority. And remember – we have the support of 3000 Suncor plant workers – all members of CEP.

It’s about Respect, Fairness, Having a Strong Voice in Our Workplace and Controlling our own Destiny.

Don’t get stung!Join us and help us achieve a better future at Bee Clean!

Your Organizing Committee:Asad Ayub cell: 780-215-2407

Fadel Ibrahim cell: 780-381-7407Abdelaziz Souadi 780-607-1871Jane Chitura cell: 780-838-1505Mark McNamara 780-743-8604Ian Beaton cell: 780-714-4672

Kim Conway cell: 780-713-9165Jim Cardinal cell: 780-792-8374

Walter Ewanicke 1-888-819-3208CEP Union Hall 780-743-3933