New legislation being introduced Wednesday  would make changes to the Labour Relations Act that would end automatic certification and make a vote by secret ballot mandatory before a union can be certified as the bargaining agent for a group of employees, Growth, Enterprise and Trade Minister Cliff Cullen announced today.

Proposed changes would eliminate the option for the Labour Relations Board to automatically certify a union that has 65 per cent employee support and require all applications that have 40 per cent employee support to be approved by a secret ballot vote. 

“Secret ballots are recognized as a fair, accurate and democratic way for any group of individuals to make a decision,” said Cullen.  “The proposed legislation will enhance the legitimacy of all new union certifications by allowing all potential union members to exercise their democratic right to vote, and ensure that workers have the opportunity to participate fairly in the union certification process without fear of bullying or intimidation.”

Cullen also noted recent surveys have shown that mandatory secret ballot votes are supported by a majority of Manitobans.