February 6, 2026 — Burnaby. Workers at Neighbourly Pharmacy’s Central Fill facility in Burnaby recently voted in favour of unionization, making them the newest group of workers to join UFCW Local 247.

After applying to the BC Labour Relations Board for union certification in October 2025, the union’s application faced challenges from the employer until, in late January, the Board ordered a vote of the employees. The result, confirmed last week, was undeniable and overwhelming support for unionization.

“While legal processes can sometimes delay things, we were encouraged to see that support for unionization not only remained strong but grew in spite of those challenges,” said UFCW Local 247 Organizing Coordinator Mike Toal.

“Every time we met with employees, they expressed a firm desire to form a union and improve their working conditions,” he continued. “Now that we are certified as their union, we’ll be working hard towards getting a first collective agreement.”

“We want to extend a warm welcome to everyone at Neighbourly Central Fill,” said UFCW Local 247 President, Dan Goodman. “Their commitment to each other, and their success in achieving their union, is a great reminder of the power of collective action.”

Neighbourly Pharmacy’s Central Fill location opened in 2022 and operates as a compounding facility and a central fill pharmacy, supplying pharmaceutical drugs to retail pharmacy outlets across BC.

Twenty-six Registered Pharmacy Technicians and Pharmacy Assistants are currently included in the union’s certification.

UFCW Local 247 is part of one of Canada’s largest private sector unions and represents workers in the retail, warehousing, manufacturing, and service sectors across BC.