Becoming a union member is taking the first step to ensuring dignity, respect, and fairness in your workplace. A union contract gives you a voice and say in your job, and it’s through negotiations that many members are able to obtain:
- seniority rights;
- job security;
- safe working conditions;
- grievance procedures to deal with unfair treatment, favoritism, or any violations of the Collective Agreement;
- benefits such as pension, dental care, prescription drugs, etc.;
- more paid holidays/vacation;
- paid coffee breaks/rest periods;
- higher wages;
Collective agreements vary and may not contain all of these provisions.
Your legally binding contact helps to eliminate empty employer promises and guarantees your rights and working conditions.
UFCW Local 1400 has full-time representatives to help enforce your contract by visiting the workplace and dealing with members’ concerns. The Local also trains members to be Shop Stewards to assist in handling problems.
Statistics Canada confirms that unionized workers earn on average 30% more than non-union workers in the same industry. This shows that the union dues members pay are not only tax-deductible but an investment in their future.
So take that first step. Pick up the phone and call a UFCW Local 1400 Union Representative at 1.855.UFCW.YES and let us help you make your workplace a better place to be!
Workers’ Rights
Section 6-4(1) of The Saskatchewan Employment Act states: “Employees have the right to organize in and to form, join or assist unions and to engage in collective bargaining through a union of their own choosing.” This means that you and your co-workers have the legal right to organize.
The first step to your workplace becoming organized is to contact the UFCW Local 1400 office and ask to speak to a union organizer. All calls to the the UFCW Local 1400 office or a union organizer are confidential. We are bound by law not to divulge any information you give us.
For your workplace to become organized, 45% or more of the employees must sign union cards. Signing a union card is confidential. The only people who know that you signed a union card are the people who directly witnessed you signing it and the impartial Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board, who will verify the cards against a list of employees provided by your employer once an Application for Certification has been made. Your Employer will not know who has signed a union card.
If over 45% of eligible workers have signed union membership cards, the Labour Relations Board will conduct a government-supervised vote in your workplace. The vote will be conducted by secret ballot. To form a union, a majority (50% +1) of the employees must cast ballots, and of those ballots cast, a majority (50% +1) must be in favour of the union.