OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS Thank you to everyone who sent in nominations and to all the nominees for the service and care you provide to your Union, your co-workers, your communities, and beyond. You are all Outstanding Members of the Union. The 2022 Nominations will be open from August 1 to November 1, 2022. Visit ufcw175.com/scholarships-awards for details.
Miriam Vargas
Karen Vaughan
Achieving Improvements in Workplace Health & Safety or Workers Compensation
Manifesting Leadership & Advancement of the UFCW
Miriam works at Maple Lodge Foods in Brampton. In 2015, Miriam was injured at work and she filed a WSIB claim but was denied. She is still in the appeals process for that claim. After the injury, Miriam realized how easily injuries could happen to other members.
Karen is a nurse who works at Maplewood Nursing Home in Brighton. She has been a steward for many years and is the Recorder for Local 175.
She joined the Health & Safety committee to make a difference and fix the problem she encountered that caused her injury. While it still took until 2020 for her concerns to be heard, understood and ultimately implemented, if it weren’t for Miriam fighting, it’s unlikely these changes would have been made at all.
She is a tireless advocate for the Union, a vocal supporter of all healthcare workers, and a proponent for many much needed reforms to our healthcare system. Karen never shies away from an opportunity to promote the Union. She is often asked to speak on behalf of Unionized workers at a press conference or rally and is always fighting to improve working conditions for all workers.
Miriam remains a strong advocate for her co-workers. She helps them fill in Form 6s, stays in touch with the Union Rep, and contacts the Union’s Workers’ Compensation department when needed.
Karen is very involved in Health and Safety and has instructed on behalf of the Local many times. She is a consistent advocate for her co-workers, and a dedicated caregiver for the residents at Maplewood.
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Checkout Spring 2022
