Benefits of our Labour Union

• Canadians that are employed full-time on average make a little over 3 dollars an hour more than non-union workers
• 1 in every 3 working people in Canada are proud to call themselves union members.
• Unionization means that you are more likely to have a health, dental and employer contributed pension plan.
• Close to 83% of unionized workers in Canada are covered by some sort of pension plan compared to only 33% of non union workers.
• You are safer at work with a union on your side.

It’s your right to unionize in BC.

UFCW 1518 has a strong reputation for aggressively pursuing employers that breach any of the provincial or federal laws when employees unionize.

Here are some things that it is illegal for your employer to do:

• Threatening employees with discipline or termination if they are engaging with union activities.
• Insinuating or directly stating shut down of the business if employees unionize.
• Stop employees from talking about the union on non-working hours.
• Ask you if you support unionization.
• Ask how you plan to vote in the secret ballot.
• Cut hours or transfer employees to less desirable work.

UFCW Local 1518 will protect anyone that feels their rights are being violated during an organizing drive.

It is the right of all employees to join a union. It’s guaranteed in provincial legislation.

Your right to join a union is covered by the BC Labour Code, the Federal Labour Code and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

In general you can expect your employer to be opposed to you and your co-workers joining a union.  Regrettably some employers try to keep wages low and oppose any system that gives employees equal rights with management.

Fortunately joining a union at your workplace is easier than a lot of people think. Joining a union is up to you! Not Management!

First you contact an organizer at UFCW 1518 to discuss your workplace.

Then a majority of you and your co-workers sign a UFCW 1518 membership card.

After that, a vote is then scheduled. If a majority of you and your co-workers vote “yes”, you will have a union at your workplace.

Joining a union isn’t just about wages and benefits, it’s about taking an active role in our communities.

Feature Committee:
Women’s Committee

UFCW 1518′s Women’s Committee is currently working on some new projects for 2010, including planning an event to celebrate International Women’s Day in March 2010.

Most Committee members are involved in a variety of work in their communities. Some work on political campaigns to ensure the politicians that we elect are working on behalf of worrying people and their families, while others support initiatives such as Women’s Shelters for battered women, and other support systems set up for disadvantaged women such as food banks.

Some sit as members on their local Labour Councils, and have won election as school trustees. Each one of them makes a difference in their own way.