To give you an idea of the volume of work done by the union on behalf of our members, here is a sketch of the union's activities.
Workers Compensation Department
This department processes between 350-500 files each year, and on average processes about 100 cases per week for members regarding Workers Compensation Board (WCB) matters. WCB Department Representatives attend several hundred WCB Appeal Panel Hearings each year in representing our members. All of this activity on behalf of UFCW Local 1518 members generates well in excess of $1,000,000 each year for our members.
Education Department
The Local 1518 Education Department provides courses and seminars for thousands of members from around the province. The Education Department is continually developing and expanding its program of educational opportunities for Local 1518 members.
The UFCW Education Centre offers state-of-the-art resources including computer courses and Internet rooms, and provides skills training, union education, and a strong program of community-based education and outreach.
With the introduction of Online Computer Courses, the Centre's operations have expanded to reach all members and their families throughout BC.
Arbitrations
Local 1518 processes over 100 arbitrations for members each year, at a cost of hundreds of thousands of dollars. These arbitrations typically put in excess of $2,000,000 in the pockets of our members.
Grievances
Hundreds of grievances are processed by Local 1518 Union Representatives and Shop Stewards each year. While these grievances are settled before the cost of arbitration, it is still an expensive process.
Negotiations
On average, Local 1518 negotiates between 50 and 60 new collective agreements per year. This does not include the number of first time collective agreements negotiated for new members. The cost of winning good collective agreements is high. Hundreds of thousands of dollars are spent each year directly on negotiations.
Work Place Servicing Calls
Local 1518 Union Representatives make 12,000 -15,000 workplace visits to members each year. These services provide Local 1518 members with the security and protection they are entitled to receive.
Additional Benefits
In addition to the above-described primary benefits, Local 1518 staff work hard to obtain many other benefits that are made available to as many members as possible.
These are additional benefits that all cost money to negotiate and administer.
Education
As noted earlier, Local 1518 has one of the most extensive education programs of any union in British Columbia. A combination of classroom training sessions, seminars, and conferences provide thousands of our members with the knowledge, information, and skills they need to be more effective in protecting the rights of their co-workers, as well as enhancing their personal and professional development. The UFCW Education Centre is a tremendous resource, and provides up-to-date computer technology and courses to members.
Local 1518 offers the following courses to any member who is interested in taking them:
In addition to classroom instruction, the Education Department also holds conferences on an as needed basis for members employed in:
These conferences allow members from across the province to address common issues and seek common solutions to issues facing them in their specific workplaces.
Conferences are also held on Women's Issues, Workplace Health and Safety, and a myriad of other topical concerns for union members. It is a portion of your dues that pay for these educational programs and conferences.
Online CoursesIt pays to belong to Local 1518!
First of all, your union dues are tax deductible, so the Income Tax you have to pay is reduced. But aside from this advantage, national studies of compensation (wage and benefit costs combined), show that the average union member earns 26-30 percent more than the average non-union worker in Canada. After they have paid their union dues, even the lowest-paid workers in our union earn substantially more than non-union workers in the same industry.
Local 1518 recognizes that some members who work only a few hours per week while attending school or to augment other income may be unfairly burdened by the dues structure applied to other members. Therefore, a special dues formula for these members has been established.
Members who earn less than $80.00 per week (gross pay) will pay only $5.75 per week dues. Members earning less than $40.00 per week (gross pay) will pay only $3.00 union dues.
Good value for your dues
The services outlined provide you with a 'thumb-nail' sketch of how your dues dollars are spent. 26,000 Local 1518 members receive valuable direct and indirect services from highly skilled, experienced, and professional staff. Local 1518 is dedicated to providing the highest level of service to our members in the most cost-effective way possible.