Under Part (4) 1 of the BC Labour Relations Code A Every employee is free to be a member of a trade union and to participate in its lawful activities. This means that you and your co-workers have the legal right to organize. Workers who wish to organize should contact the UFCW Local 247 office at 604.535.8329 or 1.800.667.2205 and ask to speak to a union representative.

Workers will then decide wether they wish to sign a union membership card. Many workers are afraid their employer will know whether or not they signed a card. This is simply not true as only the person involved, the union representatives, and the BC Labour Board are aware of who signed.

If 45% of workers eligible to form the union sign union membership cards, the union may make an application to the BC Labour Relations Board to be certified as the bargaining representative. The BC Labour Relations Board orders a secret ballot vote to determine if at least 50% plus one of the workers want a union to represent them.

If that is the case, the union is granted certification, and the workers are recognized by law as members. The decision is yours and yours alone.

For more information on the BC Labour Relations Code, you may obtain an official version from:

Crown Publications Inc.
521 Fort St
Victoria BC V8W 1E7