Referral Union Program

Members of unions in the Referral Union Program can count union dispatch and referrals as their weekly job search requirements.

Full referral unions maintain out-of-work lists and dispatch eligible members to available jobs. Your membership in a participating union meets your job search requirements unless your union says otherwise. You do not need to seek work outside of your union, but you need to meet your union's rules for dispatch or referral.

Member eligibility

You may meet the weekly job search requirements if you are both:

  • A member of a union participating in the program.
  • Actively seeking dispatch by your union.

Your union may have members bid on available jobs rather than referring them directly. In this case, you need to bid on at least 3 jobs. You also need to have a reasonable expectation of getting those jobs based on your seniority or union rules.

If you refuse a dispatch or refuse to bid on a job, we may deny your benefits because you refused suitable work.

Union membership

Membership in a participating union applies to:

  • Journeymen.
  • Apprentices.
  • Members in travel status as allowed by union guidelines.
  • Those eligible for and actively seeking dispatch for suitable work through the union.

We will not consider you a member if you:

  • Are not a registered union member.
  • Only pay a fee so the union places you on their out-of-work list.
    or
  • Are not actively seeking work through the union dispatch process.

Member responsibilities

You need to let us know if any of the following things happen:

  • You are not available for dispatch or referral.
  • You refuse a dispatch or referral.
  • You are no longer registered or eligible for dispatch during any week you claim.

If your occupation requires a license, certification or permit, you need to keep it current.

Union application

If your union is not yet part of the program, your union needs to submit a Referral Union Program application form (PDF, 641KB). We need to approve them for the program before you can take part.

Union responsibilities

Your union needs to notify:

  • You that you need to be available for suitable work to be eligible for benefits.
  • Us about your availability for dispatch.
  • Us if you refused a dispatch or referral.

To stay eligible in the program, your union needs to give us records showing you are able and available for work, and actively seeking work. The only exception is if disclosing that information would violate state or federal law.