*** Judge issues verdict March 30, 2009 -- dodges issues of workers rights. See ICBA news release. ***

** ICBA calls for governments to stand up for workers rights on union dues in Vancouver Sun op-ed March 31, 2009.**

My dues for collective bargaining only

To practice many professions like teaching, nursing etc, individuals must join a union and must pay union dues. These dues are for collective bargaining purposes, but union leaders are using that money to support causes unrelated to determining wages and benefits in the workplace, causes many union members may not even know about and many they do not support.

Two union members don’t think this is right, so they asked the B.C. Supreme Court to hear their voices in a case brought by their unions challenging the limits on election advertising. Click here to see updated media coverage of their action.

Gloria is a Special Education Assistant and a member of CUPE, and Wendy is an Integrated Support Teacher and a member of BCTF. They strongly believe that union dues should be used for collective bargaining only, not for political advertising. They at least want to limit how much of their dues can be spent on political causes during an election campaign. That is why they sought status in their unions’ lawsuit.

Union leaders spend dues on causes members don’t support

In the 2005 election, four B.C. unions spent nearly $3 million during the 2005 election trying to get the NDP elected. Four of these unions have launched a legal challenge against Bill 42 in B.C. Supreme Court. Under Bill 42, in British Columbia third parties are limited to spending $150,000 during the 88-day period leading up to the election. The Court has now given Wendy and Gloria standing as full parties against the unions' challenge.

It’s time British Columbia’s labour unions stopped using the dues of working men and women to finance their political agenda. Join us in supporting Gloria and Wendy. Click here to show your support.