Final ballots opened: Canada Royal Milk workers are now members of the Union
January 11, 2023
Two years and nine months after the Union filed its application to represent the workers at Canada Royal Milk in Kingston, the workers can finally call themselves members of UFCW Local 175.
On Friday, December 16, 2022, the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) finally opened the remaining segregated ballots in the case, resulting in a win for the workers at the plant.
These workers could have had Union representation more than two and a half years ago, but instead they faced a long, drawn-out process marked with a number of challenges from the employer.
Workers sought representation from UFCW Local 175 in early 2020 because they had many serious health and safety concerns stemming from poor safety standards and a toxic work environment.
They wanted the protection, security, and fairness of a collective agreement to improve their workplace.
The bargaining unit originally included 57 workers at Canada Royal Milk. The number of employees at the plant has since grown and the Union will now represent approximately 190 workers.
“This decision took a very long time because workers’ rights in Ontario continue to be delayed or set aside in the interest of business,” said President Haggerty. “The system unfairly places the burden on working people to prove twice that they want to join a Union. When a worker signs a Union card, it should be enough. This province needs to bring back card-check certification.”
Read more stories of workers who celebrated organizing victories and joined UFCW Local 175!
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