The Province of British Columbia announced that it is mandating paid time off for all workers to get COVID-19 vaccinations. Workers will be able to take a 3-hour paid leave to attend vaccination appointments. This paid leave applies to all doses of the vaccine, not just the first. UFCW 1518 has been calling on the government to create paid leave for vaccines for several weeks. After granting workers job-protected ...read more 

UFCW 1518 is calling on BC municipalities to grant free short-term parking to app-based delivery drivers while they work. The request is made in partnership with drivers for Uber Eats, DoorDash, and other platforms who make a living bringing food and other supplies to people during COVID-19. These workers have told UFCW 1518 that they face significant challenges finding free parking when making deliveries. These drivers’ pay depends on ...read more 

UFCW 1518 is excited to welcome budtenders from the Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club this spring. Workers at the historic medical cannabis dispensary have won job protections and paid staff meetings while they discuss a future contract with their employer. The budtenders, the employer, and the union provided input to create a unique temporary agreement while the dispensary seeks a medical cannabis licence. “We’re excited to advocate on behalf of ...read more 

Today, the Province of British Columbia announced that they have temporarily paused the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine. Front-line workers were recently granted early access to COVID-19 vaccines. As the government has paused the AstraZeneca vaccine, the timeline for early vaccination may be temporarily slowed. We have been assured that front-line workers will be given the Pfizer vaccine in the meantime. If you have been vaccinated with the AstraZeneca ...read more 

Today, the provincial government announced that front-line workers in grocery stores will have early access to COVID-19 vaccines. UFCW 1518 has been advocating since January for early vaccination for front-line workers in grocery stores, industrial food plants, and pharmacies. “We are pleased to hear the announcement made today by Premier Horgan that our members in grocery stores will have priority access to vaccines as another important layer of protection against ...read more