Secretary-Treasurer's Message

Strength and resolve continue to bring new members to the Union

Last year, our Organizing Team helped 752 workers join our Union. From healthcare to child education services, food production to not-for-profit work, and more: workers across all sectors are voting Union Yes.

It’s also encouraging to see that across Canada and the U.S., more young people – from cannabis workers to coffee baristas, and more – are discovering the advantages of joining a union. With a passion for social justice and incredible networks connected to causes that are close to their hearts, I believe the future of the labour movement is in enthusiastic and capable hands.

In 2021, among all permanent and temporary employees over the age of 15 across Canada, unionized workers made an average of $4.57 more per hour than non-union employees. 1 At 40 hours a week, that’s $182.80 more per week or just over $9,500 per year. And, dues are tax deductible.

But unionized workers achieve a better quality of life through more than just higher wages, and the pandemic seems to have brought about a resurgence in workers desiring more from their jobs. Workers organize because:

• Government isn’t protecting or improving workers’ rights;

• Bosses don’t follow through on their ‘promises’;

• They want and deserve fair wages, benefits, pensions, paid time off, better health and safety, and more;

• They want a way to seek recourse against injustice in the workplace, and;

• They understand that standing strong together and looking after one another is the best way to achieve gains that benefit everyone.

Solidarity, strength and resolve are what get workers through tough rounds of bargaining, whether for a first agreement or a renewal.

That doesn’t mean that workers will always get everything they asked for, but it’s about taking steps with each round of bargaining to level the playing field and, in particular, raise up and give a voice to those workers who might otherwise get left behind.

The importance of unions goes beyond bargaining too.

Many of the workers’ rights won over decades of hard-fought battles now benefit all kinds of workers. That includes minimum wage, the 40- hour workweek, paid vacation, parental leave, and much more.

From fighting back against antiworker legislation, to protecting existing rights like the ability to join a Union, and more, your Union will continue to use every opportunity to lobby all levels of government to ensure that workers have a voice at the table.

Congratulations to all of our newest members on their courageous victories, which you can read more about on page 8.

And to every new member who joins us – whether through a hard-won campaign or by starting a new job at a company where the employees are already members – welcome to Your Union.

In Solidarity,

Kelly Tosato treasurer@ufcw175.com

Statistics Canada. Table 14-10-0066-01 Employee wages by job permanency and union coverage, annual