UFCW Local 401 Has Applied to Represent Workers at Calgary Quest Children’s Society!

On Thursday February 12, 2015, UFCW Local 401 submitted an application to the Alberta Labour Relations Board to be certified as the bargaining agent for employees at Calgary Quest Children’s Society (CQCS).

CQCS is a school that provides for students with developmental disabilities. Teachers and Instructional Assistants at CQCS aim to teach life skills, while assisting students with day-to-day activities.

UFCW Local 401 is in receipt of a report that confirms submission of evidence that at least 40% of the employees in each of the units for which we have applied are in support of the application.

Next Steps

The Board Officer will contact the employer shortly to begin determining who will be included in the bargaining unit. Our application has requested that all employees of the unit be represented by Local 401, except for the management personnel.

Once this investigation is completed, the Board will schedule a secret ballot vote for the employees to determine whether or not they wish to be represented by Local 401.

One strong employee emailed us this quote:

“Now we need everyone to remember what we are fighting for: respect, dignity and to do whatever it takes to make our workplace a place where staff are not scared to speak up. To ensure we can give our kids our full attention and care and get back to having fun, bringing laughter back to the workplace instead of anxiety and fear.”

Employees have told us loud and clear what they want, and UFCW Local 401 will be there to assist them in improving conditions in their workplace once the employees have had their say via their scheduled vote in the coming weeks.

This workplace was already unionized before Local 401 started the campaign. Workers just needed to know that they were not alone in feeling anxiety. Already, workers are relieved to have the support of a union that cares as much for them as they do the children at CQCS.

Posted on: February 16,2015