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ARTICLE · 31 JANUARY 2022

Union Dues Are Getting (Less?) Political In Alberta

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Unionized employees will soon be able to choose whether they pay the portion of their union dues spent on political activities.

CanadaEmployment and HR
Aaron Marchadour
Aaron Marchadour
Jean Torrens
Jean Torrens
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Unionized employees will soon be able to choose whether they pay the portion of their union dues spent on political activities.

Legislative amendments relating to union dues and political activities are coming into force in Alberta on February 1 and August 1, 2022. These amendments are found in the Restoring Balance in Alberta's Workplaces Act  ("Bill 32"). Through Bill 32, the provincial government announced significant changes to Alberta's labour and employment legislation. Most of those changes took effect in summer and fall 2020, and other changes relating to union dues are coming into effect in 2022.

Union Dues and Political Activities

Bill 32 amends the Labour Relations Code (the "Code"), requiring unions to disclose spending on political activities and other causes ("Political Activities"), and requiring employees who are union members to make an election (i.e., opt-in) if they want to pay the portion of union dues being spent on Political Activities

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