Excel GRC Members Vote No!
Members at Gerard Raymond Centre have resoundingly rejected the Company’s latest offer.
UFCW 401 Members at Gerard Raymond Centre have overwhelmingly voted to reject the Company’s latest offer.
96% of members participated in the vote and 91% of those participants voted no. We would like to thank everyone who came out and made their voices heard.
The result does not come as a surprise: your Union absolutely did not recommend this as a good offer, since it contained nothing in the way of wage increases and included a nominal signing bonus that could not possibly take the place of fair wages. Now that the membership’s response to that offer is on the record, it’s time to talk about next steps.
What Now?
In the short term, we will be returning to the mediation process. With a clear mandate from the membership regarding their offer, we will push the Company to recognize the financial strain their employees are facing during this affordability crisis. The Union’s Bargaining Committee is actively meeting to plan the next steps, and we remain committed to advocating for wage increases.
To learn more about the mediation process, click here to see an informative video from your Union.
We will continue exploring every available option in the coming weeks, intensifying our efforts to hold the Company accountable.
Are You An “Essential Service”?
The work that you do is important and noble. You provide a valuable service to Albertans. The Alberta Government has what’s called Essential Services Legislation, which may require us to negotiate a secondary agreement that allows you to strike.
However, your Employer has said that because the GRC is funded and run solely through the office of Persons with Developmental Disabilities, they don’t believe you are considered Essential Service Workers. We think you might be. Our lawyers are looking into this, and we will provide you with an update as soon as we know more.
If you are, in fact, considered an Essential Service, we will need to have an Essential Services Agreement in place before we have a strike vote. But that doesn’t mean we don’t have other options to show Excel how serious we are about getting a fair contract.
If negotiations reach an impasse, a strike vote could become a necessary contingency. It’s crucial that members are financially prepared in case this occurs.
Should a strike or lockout take place, your local union will have the resources to stand strong against even the largest employers. Additionally, you’ll receive strike benefits to help mitigate the financial impact on you and your family during such a crisis. However, some benefits are only available if you vote to join the National Defence Fund.
One of the things we will be looking to do in the next few weeks is to hold a vote on joining the National Defence Fund, or the NDF. Here’s what you need to know.
About the National Defence Fund
The over-$100 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 cost of the NDF is less than a cup of coffee per week, just $2.00 per week for full-time employees. In the event of a strike or a lockout, Excel full-time members would be eligible to receive $300.00 per week tax free in picket pay. Inclusion in the NDF provides additional support of $200 per week.
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 thirty-five (35) hours per week would be required to picket those same hours to receive full strike benefits.
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 benefits. 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 have seen with strikes across North America in recent months, 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.”
“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.
Questions?
Stay tuned for more information about an upcoming NDF vote and other actions by your Union. Should you have any questions about the Company’s offer or the vote, please contact your ULRO Shauna Robertson at 780-452-0362 (Ext. 1311) or by email at srobertson@ufcw401.ab.ca, or reach out to Thomas Feth, Negotiator, at 780-452-0362 (Ext. 1350) or by email at tfeth@ufcw401.ab.ca.
In solidarity,
Your Union
UFCW Local 401
Click here for a printable version of this document.
Posted on: November 25,2024