Union Yes! Welcome to our newest members

Another organizing victory for Olameter workers

Join us in welcoming more employees from Olameter to the Union! The most recent campaign, which lasted two weeks, brings more Olameter meter readers to our Union from the municipality of Chatham-Kent as well as Middlesex and Elgin Counties. These new members will join more than 140 other Olameter employees who gained the Union advantage by voting Union Yes back in December 2018.

Since that certification, the Union has been able to prevent changes to the working conditions of our members. Working conditions – including wages and other terms of employment – that exist at the time of application for certification are protected under Section 86 of the Ontario Labour Relations Act (OLRA).

Our newest members wanted that same protection for their current working conditions before any changes could be made.

Employees cited similar concerns to the previous Olameter gas and water meter readers who joined UFCW Local 175. Those reasons included wanting to address health and safety issues, wages, pensions, vision care coverage, and management style.

Maple Ridge Retirement employees join Union

In March, employees of Maple Ridge Retirement Services who work at Bayfield House Retirement Lodge in Penatanguishene voted to join UFCW Local 175.

The new members provides Housekeeping and Kitchen services at the retirement facility, whose employees also belong to our Local Union.

Not only did they see the benefits of belonging to the Union that the other employees at the home enjoyed, these workers specifically wanted to deal with scheduling issues to improve their quality of life.

Congratulations, and welcome to Your Union!

There are many reasons that workers across the health care sector, in all types of jobs, choose to join a Union. Since the beginning of 2018, Organizers at UFCW Local 175 have assisted about 500 workers at health care facilities in gaining the Union advantage.

View all of the Organizing victories we celebrate with workers at ufcw175.com/category/victories!

Organizing Incentive Program

Shirley Schueneman, pictured here at right, is a Personal Support Worker (PSW) and member of Local 175 from the Victorian Order of Nurses in Elgin County. Shirley and her co-workers joined the Union last year.

A Union member receives a cheque for providing a successful lead to the Union's organizing department.

The Organizing Team presented a cheque for $375 to Shirley for a lead she called in to the Team for Bonnie Place Retirement Home. The employees at that home celebrated their Union victory shortly after. Congratulations Shirley!

Learn more about our Organizing Incentive Program at ufcw175.com/honorarium.