UFCW Locals 401 and 1118 To Raise More Than $1 Million in Assistance for Members in Fort McMurray

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
May 9, 2016

UFCW Locals 401 and 1118 To Raise More Than $1 Million in Assistance for Members in Fort McMurray

Calgary—United Food and Commercial Workers Local Unions 401 and 1118 have announced plans to raise more than $1 million in assistance for members affected by the Fort McMurray wild fires.

The fires in Fort McMurray and the Wood Buffalo Region have impacted hundreds of UFCW members, including staff for UFCW Local 401 who fled the Union’s office in Fort McMurray when the mandatory evacuation was called.

After coordinating a $5,600 in-kind donation for required supplies to the Edmonton Emergency Relief Services Society, UFCW Local 401 President Douglas O’Halloran set his sights on more ambitious goals.

“Local 1118 President Peter Frost and I have been in touch with UFCW locals throughout Canada and the US seeking assistance for our members in Fort McMurray,” said President O’Halloran. “I’m happy to report that in just two days we were able to raise $750,000, and it is our goal raise more than $1 million in relief assistance.”

The Alberta UFCW unions will be working in conjunction with UFCW Canada to set up criteria and guidelines for how money will be dispersed to members in the area. A rigorous tracking of resources distributed will ensure that all monies raised go toward helping Local 401 and 1118 members in the Fort McMurray and Wood Buffalo area.

Additionally, once access to Fort McMurray has been granted and it is safe to return, the UFCW Local 401 office in the town will be re-opened as a resource centre where UFCW members can register for relief assistance and access the immediate help they need to start the recovery process.

“It’s hard to imagine what people in the area are going through,” added President O’Halloran, “President Frost and I knew we had to do something to help our members. Recovery will take a long time, but we want our members to know we’re here to support them through this challenging process.”

Together, UFCW Locals 401 and 1118 represent more than 30,000 Albertans in numerous sectors across the province.

Posted on: May 09,2016