Resolution No. 5-03M

WHEREAS, it has become increasingly common for municipal employees to unionize; and

WHEREAS, The Trade Union Act and the union certification and collective bargaining process are not common knowledge for most councils and administrators; and

WHEREAS, many rural municipalities have preconceived notions of how they will deal with a Union Certification Order, which may not be permissible pursuant to The Trade Union Act; and

WHEREAS, it has become necessary for rural municipalities to seek legal advice which can result in a costly expense to many rural municipalities; and

WHEREAS, SARM has employed the services of a solicitor to provide legal advice to rural municipalities on other matters;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that SARM begin immediately to have their solicitor, or obtain the services of another solicitor, trained in the areas of labour relations, The Trade Union Act and union negotiations; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the services of this trained solicitor and a regulatory committee be readily available to all rural municipalities struggling through the union certification and contract negotiation process.