WHY DOES MY EMPLOYER DEDUCT UNION DUES AND WHAT IS THE RAND FORMULA?

 (from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

 In Canadian Labour Law, the Rand Formula (also referred to as automatic check-off) is a workplace situation where the payment of union dues is mandatory regardless of the worker’s union status. This formula is designed to ensure that no employee will opt out of the union simply to avoid dues yet reap the benefits of the union's accomplishments (such as ensuring higher wages, better job security or other benefits). Supreme Court of Canada Justice Ivan Rand, the eponym of this law, introduced this Formula in 1946 as an arbitration decision ending the Ford Strike of 1945 in Windsor, Ontario. The Canada Labour Code and the labour relations laws of a majority of provinces contain provisions requiring the Rand Formula when certain conditions are met. In those provinces where the labour relations laws do not make the Rand Formula mandatory, the automatic check-off of union dues may become part of the collective bargaining agreement if both parties (i.e., the employer and the union) agree. If there are religious objections to paying dues the dues may be donated to a mutually agreed upon charity per Canada Labour Code Section 70 or per Alberta Labour Relations Code Section 29.

The Rand Formula applies to all employees whether they are Union Members or not. The Supreme Court of Canada has found that the freedom of association is not undermined by the Rand Formula.