WEBSITE MEMBER APPRECIATION CONTEST A SUCCESS

Many of you have heard by now, on 12 February UFCW Local 401 launched a new website. The redesigned ufcw401.ca is a great shift in our union’s communications as we seek new ways to bring members closer to their union and to each other as Brothers and Sisters.

“The focus of the new website is member service,” said UFCW Local 401 Secretary Treasurer Theresa McLaren. “We are pleased with the stylish new look of the site and with the positive feedback we have received from members who are enthusiastic about the easy-to-use design and ability to instantly find information at their fingertips.”

“Considering the busy lives of workers today, we wanted to ensure our members could connect with their union no matter what time their shift is at work or how remote the location of their workplace in this large province,” said Secretary Treasurer McLaren. “On that note, we made sure to include the mobile-friendly design, member search tools and world language translation features as key aspects of our website redesign in our effort to better communicate important workplace information to our diverse membership.”

This includes the ability to quickly access online information and forms about your benefits, rates of pay, health and safety and legal rights at work through our website.

The site will soon include a new feature uniquely designed for UFCW Local 401 Shop Stewards based on their feedback on which tools are needed to be a union activist in the modern-day workplace. The Stewards’ Lounge will be a place where union stewards can go to find resources as well as to connect with other Local 401 Stewards across the province to share documents, information and tips on effective advocacy at work. As well, members will soon be able to view their Union Contract on our website by computer, tablet or smartphone.

It is easy to understand why the union would want to celebrate this technological leap forward and improvements made in member service, and what better way to do so than by showing our appreciation to members in the month-long UFCW Local 401 Member Appreciation Contest?

In the contest, announced on 13 February, we asked Local 401 members to celebrate with us and invited our union members to enter the contest for a chance to win one of four grand prizes! We were so impressed with the number of entries in the Member Appreciation Contest; we decided to extend the contest deadline by one week to give more 401 members a chance to join in on the fun!

Here is what we were giving away: one 50” TV, one 16 GB iPad, one $500 Safeway gift card, and one $500 Real Canadian Superstore gift card!

Now without further delay, it is time to announce the lucky winners!

AND THE WINNERS ARE…

Contest winner 1
Name: George Hillier, Brooks
Prize: 50” TV
Local 401 Member For: 7 Years

How did you hear about the Member Appreciation Contest?
“I saw the contest on the website and Liked it on Facebook.”
What do you like about the new website?
“I like that it is more user-friendly and I can get to the stuff I want faster and easier.”
What are you going to do with your grand prize?
“The TV is going in my man cave!”
Why do you love your union?
“I love my union because the union looks out for members’ rights and represents the workers against abuse or mistreatment from the employer. And, I won a TV!”

Contest winner 2
Name: Kathy Villemaire, Medicine Hat
Prize: 16 GB iPad
Local 401 Member For: 21 Years

How did you hear about the Member Appreciation Contest?
“I went to the website to update my new address and saw the contest.”
What do you like about the new website?
“I like that it is very colourful and easy to navigate.”
What are you going to do with your grand prize?
“It is funny timing because my laptop just crashed and I need to take it in to get repaired, winning this iPad worked out very well for me.”
Why do you love your union?
“I love my union because when I need them, there is always someone there for me.”

Contest winner 3
Name: Matthew Carew, Calgary
Prize: $500 Safeway Gift Card
Local 401 Member For: 6 Years

How did you hear about the Member Appreciation Contest?
“I heard about the contest through an email from the union.”
What do you like about the new website?
“The new website is very informative.”
What are you going to do with your grand prize?
“I am going to spend it as needed.”
Why do you love your union?
“I love my union because they get things done.”

Contest winner 4
Name: Emily Martin, Edmonton
Prize: $500 Real Canadian Superstore Gift Card
Local 401 Member For: 5 Years

How did you hear about the Member Appreciation Contest?
“I am a regular visitor to the website and saw the contest posted there.”
What do you like about the new website?
“It is so easy to navigate.”
What are you going to do with your grand prize?
“…I will spend it,” said with a smile.
Why do you love your union?
“I love my union because I feel protected and educated about my rights.”

“Congratulations to all of the winners in the Member Appreciation Contest and thank you to everyone for entering! Our union members are the ones who really made this contest a success by spreading the word about it to their fellow workers,” said UFCW Local 401 President Doug O’Halloran.

“We want our union members to know just how much we value their loyal membership. We will continue to look for ways to celebrate UFCW Local 401 members, so make sure to check our website often for news on future contests and events for members only.”

As part of our month-long Member Appreciation Contest, we also had some fun every week with 401 members on Facebook and Twitter with Thursday Trivia games. Members were challenged with a Local 401 trivia question every week on social media for a chance to win some cool union swag. Congratulations to all of our Thursday Trivia social media contest winners and to all of our grand prizewinners!

Want a chance to win with your union?

Follow UFCW Local 401 online to hear about upcoming contests for your chance to win big!