Union News - April 2024
All of us have probably heard at one point or another “The union should…” or “Why isn’t the union... ? ”.
Friends, we are all the union. That is not cliché, that is fact. Certainly, there are elected union representatives at every level. Those representatives are there for you and because of you, but the real union is the membership. Your input is necessary to move forward. Without the membership the union is inconsequential.
You don’t have to agree with everything the union says or does, but it is founded by and is beholden to the democratic process. Every year your local holds an Annual General Meeting (AGM). This is precisely the time and place for you to be able to hold your representatives accountable and make decisions on matters that are directly related to you and your dues. This is the opportunity to voice your concerns and talk through them. Locals also hold membership appreciation events to engage with you. Local information should be readily available, posted online and on union bulletin boards within the workplace. Never hesitate to reach out and get to know your local representatives, as they are the conduit to the regional and national representatives.
Engagement is paramount in a member driven organization. You are not only allowed, but encouraged, to participate and ultimately unite for the greater good. There is nothing more satisfying to an unfriendly government or boss than a collective group that is divided. No boss in any organization is beholden to its employees. They may say so or even genuinely, and with good intent believe so, but at the end of the day they will do what their superiors say. Your power to improve working conditions and pay etc. is by being involved. There is nothing more powerful than showing the bosses that respect works both ways, and this is why your involvement matters.
Literally none of the benefits we have today came through the goodwill of the employer. They were either fought for at the bargaining table or achieved through legislation. In the past, if a worker wanted to take parental leave, they would have had to quit their job, like my mother did as a teacher. This is a foreign concept for us now, but again, this was fought for through strikes and legislation. No employer suggested it, no employer thought, “Hey, let’s give this to our employees”. This is the same with Workforce Adjustment provisions, bereavement leave, family leave, etc. The list goes on. The boss didn’t do that – the membership did.
All this to say, please get to know your local executive, attend AGMs to get info and provide your opinions, and most of all, please go out to your membership appreciation events – you are the power.
Adam Jackson
2nd Vice-president