Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers International Union v Imperial Oil Limited et al

Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers International Union v Imperial Oil Limited et al

In 1961 the BC Legislature prohibited trade unions from using membership fees paid under a collective agreement checkoff provision for political purposes. The OCAW challenged the statute on the grounds that only Parliament has constitutional jurisdiction to restrict a union's federal political activities. The majority of the Supreme Court of Canada rejected the union's argument and held that the legislation was within provincial jurisdiction as it concerned the control of labour relations in the province. This decision upheld a major restriction on trade-union political activity.