Delegates attending the National Policy Conference today heard from a panel of members who shared insights on engaging their co-workers and the challenges workers face when organizing.
Isabelle Chayer (USW Local 1944) spoke about the process workers at ADT Security (now Telus) faced. “We organized virtually during the pandemic and that was a challenge as the organizers had to drive to every corner of the city to get cards signed,” said Chayer. “It took us 18-months and we were made to jump through many hoops by Telus and ADT. We ultimately had the majority of votes and the USW was amazingly supportive throughout the process.”
The introduction of an automatic card-check system saw British Columbia join a minority of other provinces with better unionization laws, such as Quebec, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, as well as federally regulated employers.
By contrast, in Alberta Starbucks workers faced numerous challenges. “Having to mail-in ballots made things just take longer, even digital would have been better because a lot of people got bullied out of voting,” shared Chey Watson (USW Local 1-207), a barista from the Calgary Millrise Starbucks.
For Liezsel Cariaso (USW Local 8300), a lead server from the Russellhill Retirement Residence in Toronto, the week after filing cards led to a very challenging week. “The employer tried their dirty tactics by catering food for the whole week. I carpooled to and from work with members. to talk to them about how we are going to benefit from having the union in our workplace. It was important to talk to them in their own language about what we are fighting for and what we need for our workplaces.”
Martin Laberge (USW Local 3953), an organizer for District 5, found engaging young people beneficial in the process. “Young people bring a lot of creativity, a new way of seeing things. You have to involve them and get to know their reality. It’s important to stay with them, to keep them on board, to motivate them and to engage with them.”
Organizing is the future of our union. Delegates then passed a series of resolutions meant to strengthen the union’s work to organize and mobilize workers. District 5 Director, Dominic Lemieux, chaired the resolutions.
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