Messages from your President & Secretary-Treasurer
President’s Message
A renewed sense of Union spirit: Celebrating Labour Day 2024
Labour Day is a rallying call. It is political.
The everyday decisions made by our elected politicians have an impact on all our lives in many ways, and that includes our jobs. A strong presence at Labour Day is a reminder to everyone that workers are here and we are united.
I’m always encouraged by the number of members, family, and friends who come out to labour day events every year.
Watching you all march proudly in parades or enjoy a barbecue together, proudly wearing your Union shirts or hats, is a reminder of what’s important about the labour movement: unity and strength.
Whether you’re from a small town or a big city, it feels good to know that the people in your life, in your community, and in your Union support the cause and have your backs.
During the six-week strike at Cargill, I know our members felt the wonderful support of their community every day. People showed up to talk to our members, bring them food and water, and ask them about their strike. That kind of solidarity runs deeper and stronger than any corporate slogan or politician’s promises, and it is those strong connections we all hold on to in difficult times.
Earlier this year, the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) conducted a poll that found 62% of Canadians believe that belonging to a Union is a good thing.1
And it is a good thing. Because our rights as working people have never just been handed to us easily. It has taken generations of hard work and sacrifice to achieve what we have.
And it will continue to take persistence and commitment from all of us and working people everywhere to protect, build on, and improve our rights.
We should also celebrate the hard-won achievements and advancements made by the labour movement. Whether a win at the bargaining table, resolving everyday workplace issues that arise, or making big gains in workers’ rights, every step forward is an important one.
The labour movement is about workers. It’s about you. It’s about connection and unity. And your Union is here to support and empower each and every one of our members.
We must continue to have each others’ backs, and provide a place of support and empowerment for those in need of it.
Please continue to be vigilant at work and look out for each other. And remember that a group of workers united together to build better lives will always be a force of good in this world.
I hope this Labour Day has reinvigorated your Union spirit and hope for a better future for working people in this province, and across this country.
In Solidarity,
Kelly Tosato
president@ufcw175.com
Secretary-Treasurer’s Message
Achieving positive change every day: The Importance of Collective Agreement Language
There have been many times, and I expect we’ll continue to see times ahead, when passionate protest and legislative reform have been the only way to protect and improve workers’ rights.
Whether in the form of large, long-lasting, impactful strike action; judicial decisions on the legitimacy of laws enacted by politicians who are not worker friendly, or; real improvements to protections for working people across the country or province, these milestones are vital to our history as working people.
But not every substantial win comes with sweeping legislative changes or as a result of thousands taking to the streets in protest.
The day-to-day wins are often overlooked by history even though they can mean the most to working people.
As President Tosato noted, our rights have never been just handed to us. The fact that working people still have to fight for decent wages, job security, and often their very own safety and health, is evidence that corporate greed is not going anywhere anytime soon.
This is why having a collective agreement is incredibly important. Because even good laws can be undone by politicians in an instant.
But, to change your collective agreement, you and your co-workers have to vote to approve those changes.
In fact, one of the first things I encourage any Union member to do, especially new members, is to read their collective agreement and to ask questions.
Every bit of language in your agreement is a piece of history.
Collective agreement language has been built off the hard-fought wins of the past and enshrined in contract after contract across many industries and sectors.
And, some of the language in your agreement is more specific to your workplace, job, and sector. Those provisions are also built off hard-fought wins at the bargaining table with each and every round of negotiations.
I encourage you to check out the negotiation updates on pages 12 – 16 of the Fall issue of Checkout magazine. It’s important to see and understand these examples of the day-to-day wins that can be achieved through collective bargaining.
And on page 10, you can learn more about ‘Minimum Wage +’ language, which is a good example of how a Union contract can be proactive and help future-proof your wages.
I was so happy to see so many Members out to celebrate Labour Day this year. Whether at the bargaining table or marching in the streets, the commitment and solidarity of our members is always inspiring.
In Solidarity,
Jim McLean
treasurer@ufcw175.com