Why Join UFCW 1518?
Cartems Donuts workers deserve fairness at work through improved wages and benefits, job security and a strong voice at work. Joining UFCW 1518 puts the power of a union behind you, protecting your rights in the workplace. We will work together to create long-lasting improvements to your job, using the collective agreement to protect your rights and outline a process for ensuring you are treated with respect & dignity. UFCW 1518 members work alongside with business owners to create positive changes in the workplace.
Your Rights
The most important thing to know is that every British Columbian has the right to join a union.
The BC Labour Relations Code ensures you have the following legal rights:
- You are free to decide to join or not join a union.
- Your employer cannot fire you, suspend you, transfer you, lay you off, refuse to continue employing you or otherwise discriminate against you for being involved with the process of forming a union.
- You are free to express your views on unionization without reprisal.
Mythbuster
Get the facts about joining a union
Across Canada, unionized employees earn better wages than non-unionized workers. The higher wages, benefits and improved working conditions are well-worth the small cost associated with participating.
You have control over strikes through a vote. For a strike to happen, 66% of your co-workers at Cartems would have to vote in favour of going on strike.
In the highly unlikely event of a strike, the union will provide you with strike pay.
HOW DO I JOIN UFCW 1518?
1. Union Support Cards
- Working with staff from our union, you and the majority of your co-workers (45%) sign a support card indicating you would like the BC Labour Relations Board to hold a unionization vote at your workplace.
- This process is confidential. Your employer will never have the right to know who did or did not sign. Your employer cannot legally take action against anyone for signing a card.
2. Secret Ballot Vote
- When a majority of your co-workers have signed a union card, the BC Labour Relations Board will hold a secret ballot vote to form a union at your workplace.
- Vote “Yes” to join the union.
3. Collective Agreement Proposals
- You and your co-workers submit proposals as to what should be the new collective agreement in your workplace.
- Your new contract will spell out wages, benefits, respect and job security.
FAQ
You have questions, we have answers:
UFCW 1518 was contacted by some of your co-workers and asked to assist them to gain the power to negotiate long-lasting improvements to their jobs. This is achieved by becoming unionized.
No, your employer will never see or find out who signed the cards, they wont even know how many were signed. The entire process is designed by the government to be anonymous.
No, this would be illegal. No one can be terminated or harassed for supporting a union. UFCW 1518 will not tolerate any employer violating workers’ rights and will take legal action if needed.
Securing what you have today into a legally binding contract ensures that what you like about your job stays that way even if there is a change of management and even ownership. Belonging to a union also creates a support network: Stewards, union representatives, negotiators and lawyers will be there to ensure your fair treatment at work.
You and your co-workers decide on what changes your union will try to make. Below are some of the things we are hearing from Cartems workers:
- An increase in wages
- Paid sick time
- Job security
- A stronger voice at the workplace
There is no cost to join until your first collective agreement is voted in. Once you start benefiting from it, your dues will be no more than 2% of your earnings. Union dues are 100% tax deductible. The higher wages, rights and benefits that come with unionization are well worth the small cost associated with participating!
No, we still need to win the secret ballot vote for that to happen. It is important that you show up and vote YES for your union to be formed.
Contact us in confidence
Your employer will never know that you contacted our union.
More questions? Concerns? Get in touch with our union organizer, Sartaj Birring, at [email protected] or call 604-345-5581. You can also contact us using the form below.