3 minute read
Secretary-Treasurer's Message
The benefits of belonging: Our commitment to servicing and representation
Your Union membership is an important part of your working life and we take the responsibility of representing our members seriously.
At the core of our Union’s structure is a substantial servicing policy in place, among other services, that you won’t find at a lot of Unions.
Our servicing policy means that your Representative visits the members in the workplaces on their routes on a regular basis. And any member who reaches out to their Reps to ask any questions or discuss concerns can expect a timely response.
The benefits of being a part of this Local Union continue with our representation for members whose injury claims have been denied by the Workplace Safety & Insurance Board (WSIB). In the December 2024 issue of Checkout, we reported that last year $1.1 million went back into our members’ pockets through the services of our Workers’ Compensation specialists.
Again, this is a benefit that not many Unions provide to their members. But the WSIB system can be profoundly difficult for our members who are recovering from an injury while trying to earn a living, and President Tosato and I believe that this is an invaluable service that helps our members when they may be at their most vulnerable.
Your Union membership also comes with the resources of a substantial strike fund to support you and your co-workers should you find yourselves on the picket line. We have the funds to help our members stand strong during a strike or lockout to help them achieve a fair agreement back at the bargaining table.
In recent issues of Checkout, I’ve also discussed this Union’s dedication to workplace health and safety and to providing training and educational opportunities to members, and the importance of the collective agreement language negotiated into your contracts by our expert negotiators.
All of these benefits are available to you as members of this Union. And as we welcome new members through our Organizing efforts (see pages 10-11), I know that these services and values will continue to help working people build a better life through collective bargaining and solidarity.
The labour movement works hard to lift people up, fight for human rights, and build community. These principles are at the very heart of what we do and what makes our Union a strong choice for representing workers.
That strength allows your Union to continue providing these enhanced services, bargaining good collective agreements, and advocating for our members’ rights every day.
Our commitment is, and always will be, to provide the best service and representation to the members of UFCW Locals 175 & 633.
In Solidarity,
