Calgary Quest Children’s Society: An Important Vote!
This week, UFCW 401 members at Calgary Quest Children’s Society will be taking an important vote on whether to join the National Defence Fund. Make sure your voice is heard!
A virtual information meeting will take place on Thursday, October 3rd at 5:00 pm. Click here for a link to join the meeting.
Online voting will take place for 24 hours, starting at 12:00 am on Friday, October 4th. It will last until 12:00 am on Saturday, October 5th.
If you’re not sure we have your current e-mail, please send updated information to Sandy Harmeson at sharmeson@ufcw401.ab.ca by the end of day on Thursday, October 3rd to ensure you receive a ballot.
On the day of the vote, we will send the ballot via Survey Monkey. If you do not receive the ballot, please check your junk mail.
About the National Defence Fund
The $1 million National Defence Fund provides extra financial, legal and organizing resources and negotiating leverage for workers on strike or facing a lockout.
Belonging to the fund can also help prevent strikes and lockouts, as your Employer now knows that you have resources and financial assistance through the NDF, on top of all the other strike benefits to which you are entitled.
The NDF provides three contribution rate levels. Contributions are made on a monthly basis by the participating local unions on a per capita basis for each member in each affiliated workplace for each week. The weekly per capita rate, as determined by a vote of a workplace’s membership is $2.00 equivalent to $200 per week picket pay, $1.00 equivalent to $100 per week picket pay, or .50 cents equivalent to $50 per week picket pay. This is over and above your existing picket benefits.
Eligibility for strike pay is linked to picketing, and members are required to picket regularly to receive strike pay. For example: someone who normally works forty (40) hours per week would be required to picket those same hours to receive full strike pay.
In the event of a strike or lockout, members can picket, they can work another job, or they can stay home, but you must picket to receive strike pay. Picketing is a legally protected activity and the Employer cannot fire you just for going on strike or picketing.
The Fund can also help to meet picket line needs such as trailers and shelters, power generators, portable toilets, legal counsel, promotional materials and advertising.
“As we can see with the hotel strikes by over 10,000 workers that unfolded on Labour Day, it’s important to be prepared,” says President Thomas Hesse of UFCW Local 401. “The financial backing of the NDF is a crucial part of that preparedness for our movement, allowing us to bargain from a position of strength when it’s needed most. That’s what makes your ‘Yes’ vote a major step towards securing better working conditions and fair compensation in these challenging times.”
“Joining the National Defence Fund is not just about financial security—it’s about empowering our members with the leverage they need at the bargaining table,” adds Secretary-Treasurer Richelle Stewart.
Click here for more information about the National Defence Fund.
Posted on: October 01,2024