TTUTA AGENCY SHOP
About the Agency Shop Order Application
“A recognised majority union may at any time apply to the Board for an agency shop order”
–Industrial Relations Act Chapter 88:01 section 73 (1)
As the recognised majority union for teachers, the TTUTA is duly authorized to apply for an Agency Shop Order. The application was officially made on the 17th of June 2022 to the RRCB, and the Chief Personnel Officer (CPO) was subsequently notified. The order is made for 1% of the minimum salary of a Teacher1 in the last year of the collective agreement, rounded upwards to the nearest five ($5) dollars and become payable on the 1st day of the month once the application is approved. The order applies to all members of the Bargaining Unit which is defined as All members of the First Schedule, Division 2 and Third Schedule members of the Teaching Service.
About the Ballot
Where the Board makes a provisional order, it shall, within twenty-eight days of the making thereof, proceed to take a ballot to determine the number of workers comprised in the bargaining unit for which the union is certified who are in favour of the making of a final order on the relevant date determined in accordance with section 36 (2) of the Act. Where two-thirds or more of the workers comprised in the bargaining unit for which the union is certified vote in favour of the making of a final order the Board shall confirm the provisional order in terms and thereupon the agency shop order shall enter into force, and otherwise the provisional order shall be cancelled.
– Industrial Relations Act Chapter 88:01 section 73 (7)(8)
The RRCB will conduct the ballot electronically to ensure efficient operations, easy access, and the highest integrity of the ballot. The ballot empowers the workers in the bargaining unit to determine the confirmation or cancellation of the provisional shop order. The Agency Shop Order is enforced providing that the approval of a two-thirds majority of the bargaining unit.
After the Ballot
“the employer shall comply with the terms and conditions thereof; and all workers comprised in the bargaining unit for which the union is certified shall pay the sum specified in the order and in the manner therein provided.”
– Industrial Relations Act Chapter 88:01 section 74 (1)
The employer for the bargaining unit must pay to the union the sum described in the order. The specified sum is the contribution deducted from each employee in the bargaining unit. 50% of the contribution is due to the union by default. However, the other 50% must be authorized to go to the Union. If no authorization is given, the Industrial Relations Act section 74(5) outlines an alternative.
How to Vote
A secure link will be sent to your email address at the opening of the Ballot. You may access the link from any Desktop or Mobile device. Access to the internet is required to vote. You are advised to read the email and ballot carefully before voting.
