CHECKOUT MAGA ZINE
DECEMBER 2017 - VOL XXVI NO 4
Happy Holidays
to the Members of UFCW Locals 175 & 633
inside this issue of Checkout you’ll find all the many reasons that and your contributions make this the best Local Union anywhere
YOU
UFCW LOCAL 175
UFCW LOCAL 633
President Shawn Haggerty
President May Chalmers
Secretary-Treasurer Kelly Tosato
Secretary-Treasurer Marylou Mallett
Recorder Karen Vaughan
Recorder Brian Koslowski
Executive Assistants Sylvia Groom Luc Lacelle Jim McLean HEALTH & SAFETY: Health & Safety Representative: Mary Shaw; Senior Health & Safety Representative: Chris Watson WORKERS’ COMPENSATION: Intake Representative: Georgina MacDonald; Workers’ Compensation Representatives: Joanne Ford, Phil Hames, Jennifer Hanley, Sarah Neath LEGAL: Director: Fernando Reis; Legal Counsel: Darcel Bullen, Saranjit Cheema, Matthew Jagodits, Jane Mulkewich ORGANIZING: Director: Rick Wauhkonen; Organizing Representatives: Joce Cote, Linval Dixon, Jeffery Lu, Meemee Seto, Amy Tran; Organizing Apprentice: Tim Hum TRAINING & EDUCATION: Director: Rob Armbruster; Coordinator: Kelly Nicholas; Engagement & Media Relations Strategist: Tim Deelstra COMMUNICATIONS: Communications Representative: Laurie Duncan; Senior Communications Representative: Jennifer Tunney
What’s Inside President’s Message
Page 3
Secretary-Treasurer’s Message
Page 4
Union News
Page 5
Welcome New Members
Page 6
Education at the Union
Page 7
Solidarity Scholarships
Page 8
REGION 1: Director: Kelly Tosato; Union Representatives: Colby Flank, Tracy Stubbs
Giving Back: Charitable Organizations
Page 10
REGION 2: Director: John DiNardo; Union Representatives: Farman Ali, Orsola Augurusa, Mona Bailey, John DiFalco, Tony Nigro, Anthony DiMaio, Mark Stockton, Dave White
Operation Christmas Cheer
Page 12
Strikes in the Last 10 Years
Page 13
Giving Back: Members in the Community
Page 16
Your Union Dues at Work
Page 17
Giving Back: Advocacy Groups
Page 18
REGION 3: Director: Daniel Mercier; Union Representatives: Shannon Epp, Paul Hardwick, Lionel MacEachern, Dean McLaren, Joe Tenn; Servicing Representative: Jacques Niquet REGION 4: Director: Chris Fuller; Union Representatives: Ron McGuire, Brenda Simmons; Servicing Representatives: Rick Daudlin, Virginia Haggith, Lee Johnson-Koehn, Casey Magee, Christina Mayberry, Arlene Robertson REGION 5: Director: Angela Mattioli; Union Representatives: Jehan Ahamed, Brad Morrison, Mario Tardelli; Servicing Representatives: Rolando Cabral, Dave Forbes REGION 6: Director: Rob Nicholas; Union Representatives: Wendy Absolom, Sam Caetano, Matt Davenport, Jose De Melo, Ashleigh Garner, Jason Hanley, Mike Mattioli, Melody Slattery; Servicing Representative: Fred Teeple REGION 7: Director: Sharon Kempf; Union Representatives: Diane Sanvido, Steve Springall; Servicing Representative: Dan Bondy REGION 8: Director: Sandra Rogerson; Union Representatives: Jeff Barry, John Beaton, Matt Belanger, Jim Hames, Derek Jokhu PROVINCIAL HEAD OFFICE 2200 ARGENTIA ROAD MISSISSAUGA, ON L5N 2K7 TEL: 905-821-8329 TOLL FREE: 1-800-565-8329 FAX: 905-821-7144
CAMBRIDGE OFFICE 6628 ELLIS ROAD, CAMBRIDGE, ON N3C 2V4 TEL: 519-658-0252 TOLL FREE: 1-800-267-1977 FAX: 519-658-0255
HAMILTON OFFICE 412 RENNIE STREET HAMILTON, ON L8H 3P5 TEL: 905-545-8354 TOLL FREE: 1-800-567-2125 FAX: 905-545-8355
LEAMINGTON OFFICE 261 ERIE STREET SOUTH LEAMINGTON, ON N8H 3C4 TEL: 519-326-6751 TOLL FREE: 1-888-558-5114 FAX: 519-326-0597
OTTAWA OFFICE 20 HAMILTON AVENUE N. OTTAWA, ON K1Y 1B6 TEL: 613-725-2154 TOLL FREE: 1-800-267-5295 FAX: 613-725-2328
ISSN No. 1703-3926 CHECKOUT is an official publication of Locals 175 & 633 of the United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW)
SUDBURY OFFICE 230 REGENT ROAD SUDBURY, ON P3C 4C5 TEL: 705-674-0769 TOLL FREE: 1-800-465-1722 FAX: 705-674-6815
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UUWO
President’s Message
Shawn Haggerty
Extending Union Solidarity throughout our Communities This issue of Checkout is a special thank you to you, the Members. For 10 years now it has been my privilege to represent you and I am proud to continue to lead this strong group of Union workers as we move forward. Sometimes it’s easy to forget about the things that happen outside our day-to-day experiences. Sometimes what’s happening outside our lives is too overwhelming to think about very often. The attempts to divide and conquer working people are everywhere and seem to be growing. Workers are struggling and the wealthy are striving. So I wanted to take this opportunity to remind everyone about the good that Union members do out in the world. Often, the generosity of Union members gets lost in the drama of strikes, battles against corporate greed, and finding ways to pit us against each other while the wealthy get richer. We can’t control the media or corporations. But we can control the way we think and speak about our Union and the labour movement. Our Members embody the spirit of giving back and raising those with less up out of the shadows. That, my Union Sisters, Brothers, and Friends, is solidarity. I’ve spoken before about the good I see every day in the things our Members achieve. Whether at work,
in the community, or on the other side of the world, UFCW Locals 175 & 633 Members do amazing things. Your Local Union continues to have a healthy budget and it’s only right to ensure we do what we can to raise others up as well. In these pages you’ll see just how much good can come from your Dues. We take pride in helping others in our communities as well. You help send students to college and university. You help your Sisters, Brothers, and Friends on the picket line stand strong and united through the strike fund. When members fall on particularly hard times, you help get them back on their feet through hardship donations and fundraisers. You help rebuild communities after wildfires, hurricanes, and floods. You bring medical services, shelter, food, and security to those in need in times of crisis. When disasters happen – whether forest fires obliterating homes to ash or hurricanes flooding entire communities – you’ll see Union members showing up to help, to support, and to get people back on track. When Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico in September, some media reported that unionized truck drivers on the island went on strike. But that wasn’t the truth. In fact, local union members were on the ground getting supplies to the people who needed them and overcoming challenges like washed away bridges and zero electricity.
We forget that first responders are often Union members. We forget that the truck drivers who get supplies to people in some treacherous conditions, are often Union members. We forget that our children are taught by Union members, that Union members check us out at the grocery store, that Union members drive our buses and our trains. We forget that Union members work almost everywhere. So let’s take this time to focus on the good. Know that your dues support the real lives of workers because they go toward so much more than day-to-day servicing. We have the ability to build the fair and just society that we envision. But we must continue to fight for it. Whether it’s taking on corporations for anti-worker practices, holding our government accountable to a higher standard, or those vital dayto-day acts of kindness, it’s on all of us to work together. I hope you enjoy this issue of Checkout because it truly is about all the good that comes from your Membership in this Union. I wish all of you and your families a wonderful holiday season and all the best in the year to come. In Solidarity, Shawn Haggerty president@ufcw175.com
December 2017
3
Secretary-Treasurer’s Message
Kelly Tosato
Empower and Uplift We often talk about new Union members: Empowering non-Union workers to stand up to their employers. Lifting them up out of precarious circumstances to recognize the true benefits of belonging to a Union. But the work of Unions quite often goes beyond the walls of the workplace. I’m happy that our Local Union recognizes that it’s important that we continue to work to make sure those who have the least are not left behind. Take pride in your Union membership. You are part of more than 140 years of Union activism in Canada. From the Toronto Printers’ Strike in 1872 fighting for a shorter workweek, the Winnipeg General Strike almost 50 years later, right up to now when workers across this province made their voices heard to get Bill 148 passed into law. Of course, we still face challenges. We need to be more outraged when we see executives taking home millions while workers are left bearing the brunt of cost-cutting measures. We must hold corporations and the government accountable. You work hard for what you earn. But in the search for that almighty dollar, many get left behind. Our laws and underfunded programs don’t protect the most vulnerable. I’m proud to be part of a Union that understands the bigger picture. We 4
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fight for things that benefit most people because those things benefit workers and the families of workers. We strive to raise the quality of life for the people we know and love, and the people we interact with every day. In fact, many of our Members go out of their way to organize, run, and volunteer at events to raise money for various charities and to support their communities. Firefighters in Owen Sound cook breakfast at an annual event to raise funds for children whose lives have been altered by fire. Money raised also goes toward Christmas hampers and a toy drive for the community. Susan Pritchard, a Union Steward at Food Basics in Kitchener, organized a golf tournament in memory of a co-worker who passed from Epilepsy. She and her supporters raised $600 for the Epilepsy Foundation. Read more about some of the inspiring things Members are achieving for charities and their communities on page 16. The Local Union supports a number of organizations and causes, which you can read more about on page 18. When we support special interest groups and equity-seeking organizations, it’s important to remember that what they fight for benefits all of us. Those battles for basic human rights, equality, pay equity, and protection for the most vulnerable raise the social consciousness of us all. They
shed light on parts of life that we might not experience ourselves, but that have life and death consequences for others. They tell us that things are not okay as they are, and they tell us why. We fight to raise everyone up, and when someone achieves success, it let’s us all take a step forward with them, united. Think about the recent achievements in Bill 148.
Bill 148 includes a likely life-saving five days paid leave for victims of domestic or sexual violence. What an important step toward protecting many people, especially women and children. I look forward to what we can achieve next. I’m proud of the work your Local Union does in communities and through other organizations fighting for social justice or charities doing amazing work to save lives. None of it would be possible without you. So, thank you all for your ongoing participation in your Union. I hope all of you have a peaceful and happy holiday season and a happy New Year spent with family and friends. In Solidarity, Kelly Tosato treasurer@ufcw175.com
Welcome New Staff & Executive Board John Beaton has been a UFCW Member for 18 years. Recently, John became a Union Rep in Region 8 where he’ll get a chance to put his years of Union experience to work on the job. John’s interest in activism and social justice began at the University of Toronto where he attended various rallies and marches to protest the then-newly elected Harris government. For 12 years, John served as a Steward, Vice-Chairperson, Chief Steward and Plant Chairperson at the Cargill Dunlop facility in Guelph. In 2015, he joined the Local 175 Executive Board as a Vice-President in the Industrial Sector. Over his years as a Member, John attended Stewards’ training seminars and served as a delegate to a number of conferences. He assisted with the Sobeys Milton Distribution Warehouse strike in 2013 too. In addition, he has volunteered at many events like Labour Day, Ride for a Cure, and Family Day, and he has taken part in rallies, protests, and more. “I was once a single father raising two boys, so I’ve experienced the struggles that face a working parent firsthand,” explained John. “My work as a Steward taught me to handle many grievances and arbitrations, assist injured workers, and help members with their STD and LTD issues.” “John’s experience and his dedication to his co-workers and the labour movement will make him an excellent Union Representative,” said President Haggerty.
Jim Hames recently joined the staff in Region 8. He says he was kind of ‘born’ into the labour movement: The day he was born, his father had been on strike for seven months. His parents even considered naming him Striker. Jim got involved in activism at Western University, where he received an undergraduate degree in Social Justice and Peace Studies, and Political Science. “I’ve always wanted to help people and work in the pursuit of justice and fairness,” he said. “I worked at a homeless shelter for nearly four years, and a food bank. I also assisted with a program giving people no-interest loans to reconnect their hydro or catch up on rent.” Jim was a street outreach worker too, and he helped manage a program that found homes for more than 230 people living on the streets. “The work was rewarding and eye-opening, but it was emotionally challenging too,” he said. He wanted to learn more and get involved in the labour movement, so Jim decided to pursue a graduate degree in Work and Society through McMaster University’s School of Labour Studies. “Organized labour is our greatest infrastructure in the struggle against rampant and growing economic inequality,” he explained. “I am incredibly excited to begin working with UFCW and devoting myself to improving working conditions for our Members.” “I welcome Jim to Local 175,” said President Haggerty. “His passion for helping people will serve the Members of this Union very well.”
At the regular November meeting of your Local Union Executive Board, the group welcomed two Vice-Presidents. Executive Assistant Sylvia Groom led Glen Avila and Joy Searles in their Pledge of Obligation. Joy, Local 175, served previously on the Executive Board, including a number of years with the Board of the former RWDSU. She works at Dionne’s Valumart in Cochrane. Guillermo (Glen) Avila, Local 175, is the Chief Steward at Maple Lodge Farms in Brampton. Congratulations and welcome to Joy and Glen!
Welcoming New Members to the Union
20%
of Dues go toward ORGANIZING NEW MEMBERS
The size of Locals 175 & 633 dedicated membership allows us to reach out and help non-Union workers realize the benefits of belonging. Our Organizers continue to be one of the most successful teams out there. And it’s because of you that they can go out there and do their jobs. Organizing takes time and staff to make it happen. Campaigns can be long and difficult. But because of your support and the leads you call in, the Local Union continues to welcome victorious groups of workers into our ranks.
80 DEC Fleet Services workers join Local 175
Union Yes! for teachers at TAIE International Institute
Over several months, employees at DEC Fleet Services at a Scarborough warehouse for Amazon, had been rallying to bring a Union into their workplace. On October 3, 2017, those workers celebrated as they won their Union vote.
Over the last two months, teachers at the TAIE International Institute in Toronto fought to achieve the benefits of Union representation with UFCW Local 175.
During the campaign, the employer fired 15 employees for their participation in the Union drive, including the Key. So, the Union filed charges at the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) and had each of those employees reinstated. Among the top concerns for these workers were very long hours – sometimes 15 – 17 hours per day. “Some drivers were on the road for more than 12 hours a day, sometimes nine days in a row,” explained one of the workers, who was a Key during the organizing campaign. “It’s dangerous to mix exhaustion and driving. Your risk of having an accident goes way up,” he added. Often, workers faced poorly maintained vehicles without working signals or horns, bald and under-inflated tires, bad brakes, and more. “We still had to drive them,” he said. Favouritism played a large part in the assigning of routes as well. Other issues included respect, job protection, wages, benefits, and more. “The employees were determined to succeed despite the employer’s attempts to scare them,” said Organizer Tim Hum. “After we succeeded in getting the fired employees back to work, the campaign picked up momentum. I want to congratulate them on their victory.” 6
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Finally, on October 24, that hard work paid off when they won their certification vote 20 to 1. The 15 full-time and 11 part-time employees teach at a private school in the downtown area. A lack of job security was the major concern that led the teachers to seek out our Union. Some of the teachers are on short fixed-term contracts or part-time with no guarantee of re-employment from term to term. Additionally, other issues of concern included harassment, violence, and other health and safety concerns. Wages, benefits, and favouritism played a significant role in bringing the workers to the Union as well. “Congratulations to all of the teachers at TAIE,” said President Haggerty. “We are more than happy to welcome more professional educators to our Local Union and we look forward to getting to the bargaining table promptly for these Members.” Teachers at the school provide courses in English as a Second Language (ESL), Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) classes, and University Preparation Courses (UPC). The teachers at TAIE join educators from several other private schools who joined UFCW Local 175 over the past year.
Welcome to Your Union!
Courses & Educational Opportunities for Members The Dues collected from our great Membership allow the Union to extend training and educational opportunities to Members, family, and to the larger community. These opportunities come in a variety of forms. Many members take part in First Aid training, which the Local Union offers regularly. Over the years, courses in self-defence, computer skills, healthy living, and much more have been available as well to the entire membership. The Local prides itself on its annual Stewards training too. This year’s Cell-style one-day classes saw many Stewards attend training that hadn’t attended before. Your dues allow the Local Union to keep your Stewards trained and knowledgeable so they can, in turn, do their best to assist you and your co-workers at work. Your Stewards’ generosity also raised $7,200 this year for the LLSC. Through the UFCW Canada National office, to which the Local Union remits a portion of its dues, Members and family can take advantage of an extensive online course catalog. From Labour Studies to retail-focused courses, health and safety to personal development, thousands of Members each year benefit from these opportunities to complete courses at home. Visit ufcw.ca for info. Another opportunity, the annual Youth Internship Program (YIP), brings young workers and activists from regions across the nation together to learn what it means to be a Union member today. We are lucky to be able to extend solidarity and support to other organizations seeking educational opportunities. Your Union supports groups like the Rainbow Health Coalition at Sherbourne Health Centre and the OUTShine summit, both of which aim to bring people together for discussion and education. One educational experience that the Local Union was proud to support this summer was an Indigenous Cultural Training Camp for young adults. A Laurentian University student had planned the Manitoulin Island event for the Civic holiday long weekend 2017. “The organizer had been unable to gather enough funding for the event and we were able to step in and provide her with the money to carry through with her amazing idea,” said President Haggerty. The weekend camp included about 10 participants, who were mostly non-Indigenous, who joined together to learn more about some of the history and current matters of the Indigenous people in Canada. The participants learned about medicine teachings, made medicine pouches and discussed Indigenous governance. “There is a huge gap in the education that non-Indigenous people receive about Indigenous history,” said President Haggerty. “I am happy we could help take a step forward toward reconciliation, mutual respect, and a deeper understanding of how we can create positive change.”
SOLIDARITY S Between 2007 and 2017 your Local Union was able to give
800
Nearly Members and their children received Solidarity Scholarships since 2007.
$796,000
in scholarships to Members and their children.
Average debt among students reporting any debt is
$26,819
**
2017/2018 average estimated Ontario undergraduate tuition & living costs
$8,454
*
The average Canadian tuition increased by
40%
in the last 10 years
Ontario has the
HIGHEST average
TUITION
of any province in Canada*
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Sources: * CANSIM table 477-0077 ** Canadian University Survey Consortium (CUSC) 2015 Graduating Student Survey
SCHOLARSHIPS
Region 2
Region 4
Region 6
Erickson Anupol Alex Chau Austin De Groot Oliver Flis Emma Lalonde Amanda Lewis Jay Amit Kumar Pandya Riddhiben Patel Sheena Mae Racelis Lauryn Ramdeen Becky Shields Li Han Zheng
Patricia Ashford-Smith Alexis Bergasse Stephanie Camp Joshua Coppola Eileen Dancel Andrew Horne Sarah Hoskins Patrick Lenover Brittany Little Clayton Mackney Stacey Schroeder Cindy QianYing Zhang
Megan Bumstead Patricia Colaco Kayla Cookson Katherine Cornwall Marley Drummond Fadi Fransawy Jessica Ford Jane Hallett Vaidehi Misra Christine Nguyen Alisha Sharma Cassandra Sum
Region 1
Region 3
Region 5
Region 7
Region 8
Nina Buchanan Elizabeth Favreau William Gamboa Divya George Brina Gosbee Kayla Makkinga Jordan Schepanik Jayden Tucker
Erin Crawford Spencer Griffin Julien Halliday Jorden Hannafin Ajdin Huskic Joanna Hyderman Ronald Hyslop Samantha Malham Jennifer Snell Krista Vankleef Amandine Videgnanou Chelsea Watts
Arslan Ahmed Jamie Armstrong Stephanie Bellaire Leaha Capriotti Cleopatra Chamushala Nia Julien Leena Maraj Adam Maunsell Margaret Rogerson Joshua Serro Callie Symmers Judy Wiebe
Briana Bortolin Jasmine DeLeon Sydney Duquette Alex Evans Zack Gowland Amanda Hawkins Jaspreet Kalsi Sierra McDonald Katrina Nadvornik Alisha Sorbara Li Tao Julia Veber
Hanna Conrad Karly Labbe Amanda Matthews Gabrielle Raymond Brayden Riggs Ashley Stevens Sydney Tytler Carrie Vandeberg
2017 WINNERS!
December 2017
9
Last year in May, massive wildfires forced many from their homes in Fort McMurray, Alberta.
Evacuees included hundreds of UFCW Members and staff from the area. Local 401 and Local 1118 requested assistance. Your Executive Board pledged up to $300,000 to support relief efforts for those Members. The final amount donated came to $105,000. Your support provided shelter, food, medical supplies, and more to thousands of Union members and their families affected by these devastating tragedies. In 2012, Thunder Bay issued a State of Emergency when heavy rains caused extensive flooding throughout the city. The flooding even affected the sewage treatment plant.
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Because of your dues, your Local Union was able to donate $5,000 to relief. Relief funds went to many in the city, including Members of UFCW Locals 175 & 633 whose homes and lives had been affected. And just this past Spring, many people in the Rockland area were affected by severe flooding. About 100 Members of Locals 175 & 633 joined together with their employer at Parent’s YIG to help raise money for those who needed assistance.
Thank you.
Charitable Organizations & Disaster Relief The Local Union supports a number of charities in addition to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada (LLSC). Below are some of the charities that benefit from donations from the Local Union. There are many smaller donations made to charities, individuals, organizations, local unions, and labour councils as well. • • • • • •
Gillian’s Place - St. Catharine’s Women’s Shelter Faces of Our Children UFCW Hurricane Sandy Relief The Stephen Lewis Foundation Racing Against Drugs Jack Layton Memorial
• • • • • •
UFCW Midwest Disaster Relief Thunder Bay Flood Relief Youth Without Shelter Wellington Hospice Sudbury Foodbank Toronto Women’s Bookstore
In addition, keep an eye on myunion.ca, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for stories of how you are making a difference in your communities every day. In the last year we’ve featured stories about Members organizing tournaments for Epilepsy, walk-a-thons to support transplant patients, and other events to raise money for causes in memory of a loved one. We’ve seen Members collect donations for women’s shelters, travel around the world to work in schools, go out of their way to help injured animals, and much, much more. We have the BEST Union Members.
RAISING PEOPLE UP December 2017
11
Speaking of giving back... Life on the picket line can be a difficult adjustment for many. While receiving Strike Pay, families might have to delay bill payments, avoid extra purchases, and tighten budgets all around for what could be a long or short strike action. Operation Christmas Cheer is a Union driven grassroots support system for those on the picket line through the holiday season. The group delivers food hampers, grocery gift cards, and toys to people on strike or locked out. Their mission is to make sure that every Union Sister, Brother, and Friend walking a picket line in Ontario during the holidays receives support and cheer. UFCW Local 175 Members from Wings’ and the Ramada in Trenton received a helping hand from Operation Christmas Cheer during their holiday seasons spent walking the picket line a few years ago. In fact, the Members at Wings’ spent TWO Christmases on strike. Local Union staff often volunteer to help pack the food hampers and work with some of our employers to arrange donations to ensure the hampers are well-stocked. Please show your support to any workers on a picket line by honking, waving, and maybe bringing them coffee or hot chocolate through the cold winter months. To find out more visit www.operationcheer.com.
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Strikes Over the last 10 years, your Negotiating Committees achieved about 1,150 new agreements for the Membership. Of those, only 10 rounds of bargaining led to a lockout or strike.
That’s less than 1%. But even though it rarely happens, strikes and lockouts are hard on the Members on the picket line. Did you know that 2% of the dues collected by the Local Union go to the Strike Fund?
At the end of 2016, the Strike Fund had almost $8 million available. When workers exercise their right to strike, it’s a demonstration of the freedoms we have. “A lot of people take the right to strike for granted,” said President Haggerty. “Labour rights are repressed in many countries and no matter where a strike takes place, those workers haven’t given up regular work and income for nothing.”
COURAGE
STRIKE STRENG T H
unity
protest
SUPPORT
Dollar Thrifty Fifty-four members at Dollar Thrifty at Pearson Airport Terminal One lost 46 days of work in the fall of 2007.
2007
They stood united on the picket line and won substantial wage increases, the continued right to grieve issues with the incentive plan, and a number of other improvements.
Enterprise/Alamo/National The strike for 95 members at Enterprise, Alamo, & National Car at Pearson Airport lasted 98 days in the spring of 2011. The company wanted to gut wages, vacation and sick days, and demanded that employees pay 100% of their benefits premiums.
2011
Sobeys Distribution The 428 members at Sobeys Milton Distribution Centre lost 29 days of work as they walked the picket line through the cold. The employer wanted a 9-year contract term and attempted to erode language including the excessive use of part-time workers.
2013
Wing’s Members at Wing’s Food Products in Etobicoke went on strike starting in August 2013. Ahead of them was an almost two-year battle.
2013
Workers achieved victory in the Spring of 2015 after spending two winters, and a total of 22 months, walking the picket line.
Good Humor-Breyers
For 56 days, about 350 Members at Good Humor-Breyers in Simcoe stood strong on the picket line. The employer had demanded concessions including a $4.50/ hr wage cut for about 100 workers in a female-dominated job classification and a wage freeze on all other classifications, plus a reduction in hours.
2013
Ramada Inn Trenton The 35 members at the Ramada Inn in Trenton took strike action through October and November 2013.
2013
Employees had been without a contract for almost seven months leading up to the strike and the employer tried to impose deep concessions.
Horizon Plastics
2014
More than 150 workers were on strike through 22 cold days in Cobourg in the winter of 2014.
After 22 days on strike, workers achieved a four-year agreement that addressed a number of the issues that took the members to the picket line.
Hagi’s
2014
With incredible support from their clients and the community, more than 80 Members at Hagi’s Independent Living in Thunder Bay took strike action in May 2014. They had been without a contract for seven months and hadn’t had a raise since 2009. After 11 days, Members ratified a two-year agreement.
Zehrs/RCSS Windsor-Area
2015
On July 2, 2015, about 1,600 members at nine Zehrs and RCSS in Kent, Essex, and Lambton counties began strike action. The picketers received lots of community support during the 8-day strike. Members ratified an agreement that included a letter of agreement recognizing the need for a relationship building program between the employer and its employees.
Rona Sudbury
2015
The group of Members at Rona in Sudbury were locked out by their employer for five days in the fall of 2015. The employer was attempting to force some long-service employees with seniority to work Sundays. With great community support, the members achieved an agreement which addressed their concerns.
Members giving their time to raise money for the LLSC UFCW members have raised more than $38 million for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada (LLSC) since the Union began fundraising for that organization. That’s an incredible achievement. It wouldn’t be possible without the dedication and generosity of the Members. The Members at Locals 175 & 633 continue to raise a lot of money each year for this cause.
Thank you for all the work you do, the money you give, and the time you volunteer. Here are just a few examples of how Members of UFCW Locals 175 & 633 are giving back to their communities in amazing ways! Please visit myunion.ca regularly to see more features on Members’ community work!
Linda Souliere, Executive Board VP and Steward at Metro 181 in Sault Ste. Marie, has organized annual Bake Sales & Penny Tables outside the Metro store in the Market Mall. The event has phenomenal volunteers from the Members at the store and the community as well. In 2016, the event raised $9,500! Elaine Collier, Steward at The Barn 214 in Oakville, has been a co-ordinator for more than 15 years on the Metro Payroll Deduction committee for the Local Union. Elaine’s grand-niece Lia was diagnosed with Leukemia at three years old so it is a cause close to her heart. In fact, Lia was the poster child for the LLSC a few years ago. View an interview with Elaine & Lia at bit.ly/2AbOtaG. For 10 years in a row, Minute Maid member Ted Dawes was on the roof, on the road, and at your door raising money over the May long weekend for the LLSC. And with the help of Sue Amsbury, a JHSC member at Minute Maid, other members, and his family, he raised more than $157,000 doing all that. Since his last weekend on the roof in 2011, Ted and his family, as well as JHSC member Marc Duquette and many others, continue to support the LLSC during Peterborough Cares. Lee-Anne Carew, a Member at the Comfort Inn Airport in North Bay, organized her first karaoke fundraiser in September 2017. She raised $650! Congratulations on your success and thank you to everyone who came out to show their support.
Franca Johnston, a Steward at Ross’s YIG in Ottawa, along with her family and friends organizes and runs Arts for Leukemia each year! This wonderful night features local artists, donated artwork and baked goods, and a lot of fun. This year marked their seventh event and they raised $2,200! 16
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Another first was the Bowl for a Cure event in Thunder Bay in November. Congratulations to Rick Szyja, Local 175 Executive Board VP and Steward at Metro 422, for raising more than $600 for the LLSC. Stewards Tyler Colwell and Ross Fraser from Metro Cumberland in Orléans have volunteered on their days off to help sell 50/50 tickets to raise money for the LLSC.
Your Union Dues at Work: In-house Legal staff, WSIB Specialists, and Health & Safety Experts Not many Local Unions can brag that they have in-house specialized staff dedicated to assisting members with WSIB claims and appeals, addressing health and safety issues on the job, and providing legal counsel for arbitrations, negotiations, and organizing drives.
Because of your dues, UFCW Locals 175 & 633 can provide all those services. Your Workers’ Compensation department has full-time representatives working with Members of the Local Union who have been injured or made ill on the job. Last year, the department had more than 760 cases. Just over 100 received decisions. Appealing claims is a long process under the current system. Over the years, the department has helped many Members navigate the tricky and daunting WSIB system throughout the lengthy process of appealing decisions. Tens of thousands of dollars have been won back for Members through this process. Look for #workerscompisaright on your social media feeds to keep up on the most recent campaign to ensure injured workers get fair compensation. Your Health and Safety staff works closely with many Members and Joint Health & Safety Committees across the province. They assist Members in dealing with hazards that arise in the workplace. Whether it’s a new chemical, an old machine, a potentially harmful kind of register tape, or a poorly designed workspace, they can get you the information you need and help you work with the employer to put things right. Each year, the department offers H&S training through the Weeklong Paid Training programs, Stewards seminars, and specific workplace meetings. They also make available many H&S insight pamphlets, information posters, and regular newsletters. Your Legal Team includes dedicated labour lawyers who handle numerous arbitrations, provide counsel to Reps and other staff to advise them of current arbitration decisions, precedence on certain issues, and much more. About 72% of their cases are grievances and arbitrations; 6.7% of their work is on Organizing campaigns; another 6.4% is spent on Human Rights cases, and about 3% is spent resolving health care collective agreements through an arbitration process.
ACHIEVEMENTS A 2017 interest arbitration set precedent for health benefit premiums not being lumped in with wage increases for health care workers. Local 175 Members at Birchwood Terrace in Kenora were awarded agreed-to wage increases of 1.5% and 1.3%, plus .5% toward the Benefit Trust Fund.
A Member whose WSIB appeal had been in the hands of multiple UFCW Reps over many years, finally ended up at the Workplace Safety and Insurance Tribunal (WSIAT). The Member was awarded loss of earnings from 2013 to 2017 and then forward for another 6 years, until they reach 65 years of age. The total compensation is more than $300,000.
A retail grocery Member with 24 years at the company was terminated by the employer. The loss of their full- time job could have been financially devastating. Through the grievance procedure, the Union was able to bring this Member back to work successfully.
New Members, who were assisting with organizing campaigns at their various workplaces, were terminated by their employers for participating during the Union drives. The Local Union filed charges, including Unfair Labour Practices at the OLRB and an interim Order. Settlements were reached to bring these terminated workers back to work, if they wanted their job back.
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Advocacy Groups Through your Dues, the Local Union supports organizations that strive for equality and social justice. Here are some of the groups your Dues supported through donations and sponsorships over the last 10 years.
Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) • Raises money for relief and assistance in places like Barbuda where the island was devastated by recent hurricanes; • Provides scholarships to Black Canadian youth; and • Works to advance the status and representation of Black Canadians in the Trade Union movement and throughout Canada.
Sherbourne Health Centre • Employs more than 100 Members of UFCW Local 175; • Improves access to service and promotes the health of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer (LGBTQ) communities; • Trains service providers and consults on public policy issues; and • Hosts Canada’s only LGBTQ health conference.
UFCW Minority Coalition • Promotes diversity and inclusion within the labour movement and the UFCW; • Provides resources and support for communities in need; and • Provides a $5,000 post-secondary scholarship each year to Washington-area Union members and their families.
Mayworks Festival • Showcases artistic work created and produced by diverse artists and workers to advance social justice and the labour movement. • Focuses on the common goals of working people to struggle for decent wages, healthy working conditions and a vibrant, living culture.
Center for Community Change • Empowers low-income people, especially low-income people of colour, to change their communities and public policies for the better; • Encourages people most affected by injustice to lead movements to improve the policies that affect their lives; and • Focuses on jobs and wages, immigration, retirement security, affordable housing, racial justice and barriers to employment.
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Checkout Magazine
and much more
Rainbow Health Coalition African Caribbean Association UFCW Women’s Network United Latinos of UFCW Women & Liminal Committee Queer Voices of the North Agricultural Workers’ Alliance The Learning Disabilities Association of Sudbury LGBTQ Wellness Centre EGALE Canada UFCW OUTreach Toronto Reel Asian Film Festival OFL Workers of Colour Assembly Pride Ottawa OUTshine 2017
WIN ONE OF THREE PRIZES! 128 GB iPad Wi-Fi Braven HD Wireless Speaker Sennheiser RS125 RF Wireless Headphones Visit ufcw175.com/ipadcontest Contest closes at Noon on January 22, 2018. Winners will be drawn from all eligible entries on January 22, 2018. Only Members of UFCW Locals 175 & 633 are eligible to win. Membership will be verified before the prize is awarded. Winners will be notified by email.
If you have moved please make sure you notify the Union Office at membership@ufcw175.com or call 1-800-565-8329
Return postage will be paid by: United Food and Commercial Workers Locals 175 & 633 2200 Argentia Road Mississauga ON L5N 2K7
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