Things Steelworkers need to know to get politically active!
Steelworkers can and should be very active during the Ontario provincial election
The Election Act and the Ontario Election Finances Act, updated by bills 257 and 307, set out the rules on union activities and communications during Ontario elections. Below are the main points guiding us.
All member-to-member activity is within our democratic rights
The Election Finances Act specifically mentions that political advertising does NOT include communication in any form directly by a trade union to their members.
While there are limits and rules on communicating with the general public or aiding candidates and parties (see below), Steelworkers are free to engage in any political communications and engagement with members:
- There are no outside limits on what money or resources we can spend on political activities and materials within our union, speaking to members.
- This includes handing out flyers, running phone banks, sending emails and posting on social media to encourage members to support the candidates and party the union supports and the party that supports working people.
Our union firmly believes that our union is free to engage in any political communications, mobilization and engagement with USW members including promotion of the Ontario NDP, its policies and candidates.
USW newsletters, leaflets, publications, email, social media and text messages are encouraged
Use email, newsletters, leaflets, publications, social media and text messages to talk to members about the election!
No restrictions or reporting is required, so long as we are communicating directly with members and not the public.
Steelworkers can release members as member mobilizers
USW members can be released (paid by the union) to contact other USW members about the election. This is not considered political advertising. Unions can release members to run phone banks, canvasses, distribute literature, etc., provided the activity is directed at members and not the public.
Steelworkers can run as candidates
USW members and staff can run as candidates. Unlike federal rules that clearly permit it, Ontario election financing rules don’t mention whether the employer or union is permitted to give staff paid leave during the nomination/campaign period.
Steelworkers can volunteer in NDP campaigns
USW members and staff can work in provincial campaigns as volunteers after work hours or using unpaid leave, vacation or accumulated overtime.
USW members and staff can work as paid campaign staff, but the campaign must pay or reimburse equivalent wages and benefits and declare the expense. Unions can’t send staff to campaigns. Our union is focusing on member-to-member efforts instead.
Websites, Facebook and social media
Use of union websites, Facebook and social media to promote political action is permitted, so long as the content posted is ‘organic,’ in other words, no payments are made to sponsor or ‘boost’ the content. Paid content would be third party advertising (see below).
Individual union members can donate
Individual union members can contribute to candidates and parties (under the normal election rules). Check the latest donation limits at elections.on.ca.
Unions can encourage individual members to make donations. Unions are not permitted to make any financial contributions to provincial candidates or parties.
Third party advertising
The USW is registered as a third party with Elections Ontario.
Any USW Local or other USW entity (e.g., Area Council) that intends to spend more than $500 (during the election period or the non-election period) on advertising directed at the public (rather than USW members) must contact the USW National Office, as these expenses count against our spending limit and must be included in our third party advertiser reports filed with Elections Ontario.
Third parties must not collude with each other or with any political party in order to circumvent the spending limits. Spending limits apply to political advertising. Learn more at elections.on.ca.
The “non-election period” began in May, 2021
Third party advertising spending limits apply to third parties during the non-election period. For the Ontario 2022 election, the non-election period began in May, 2021 (12 months prior to the election period).
Election-period phoning
If you are calling members during the election, Do Not Call rules do not apply, as we are calling our members with whom we have an existing relationship.
However, you must maintain Do Not Call records (DNC) – keep track of any phone numbers if the person has asked to be removed from our phone lists. Please forward DNC records to the USW National Office promptly so we can convey the records to USW in Pittsburgh so that it is updated centrally.
With recorded calls, include up front: a person’s name (on behalf of whom you are calling); identify the organization; provide a local or toll-free number; and an email or mailing address.
If the recorded message is longer than 60 seconds, repeat this information at the end of the call.
Use a valid call-display number that originates within Canada.
It is a good idea to keep copies of scripts or recordings, a log of the dates the scripts/recordings were used and a list of the phone numbers called.
If your local would like clarification on election rules, contact the USW Communications and Political Action department at vote@usw.ca