Ontario Court Sides with IU
Calls BACU Evidence “Self-Serving”

On April 24, the Superior Court of Justice of Ontario, Divisional Court ruled in favor of the International Union in a case brought by the OPC/BACU leadership. After a two-hour hearing, the Court announced its decision from the bench, in which it described the OPC/BACU evidence as “self-serving.” The OPC/BACU had sought to overturn a 2001 decision of the Ontario Labour Relations Board, which found that those who had been members of the International would continue to be IU members, set the dues rate that they would pay to the IU, and required the OPC to provide the International with the current addresses of all members. This judicial review upholds the OLRB decision and requires the OPC/BACU to pay the fees for the lawyers who represented the International as well as BAC Locals 6, 7 and 25 of Ontario, amounting to more than $60,000, in addition to the fees for their own lawyers. While IU President John J. Flynn was pleased with the result, he said, “This conflict has gone on far too long. It would be much better if the leaders of the OPC and their locals sat down with the IU and settled their differences, so they could stop wasting dues money on lawyers and use it for the members instead.”