This year, UFCW Local 247 members will participate in elections for their union officers. Nomination and election processes – including timelines, methods of notice, eligibility, and more – are governed by the UFCW International Constitution and UFCW Local 247 By-Laws and are overseen by an Election Chairperson.

A Notice of Election for Officers was mailed to each UFCW Local 247 member and can be found starting on page four of our InTouch newsletter, which is also posted on our website here.

A labour dispute commencing at the Sheraton Guildford in Surrey caused us to cancel our contract with that venue, as we will not patronize a hotel while their workers are on strike. This happened after our original notice had been sent to the mailing service.

We mailed out an amended notice dated July 23, 2025, letting members in the Lower Mainland know about the change in venue for those meetings and polling stations. No other details set out in the original notice were affected by this change.

To ensure clarity for all UFCW Local 247 members wishing to participate in the nomination and election processes, we are posting below the fully amended and finalized Notice of Election for Officers taking into account the amended notice for the Lower Mainland Meetings that were originally planned for the Sheraton Guildford in Surrey.

Please note that all inquiries pertaining to the Local Union elections must be directed to Lily Olson, Election Chairperson, either by emailing electionswest@ufcw.ca or by calling 639-638-5164.

NOTICE OF ELECTION FOR OFFICERS

The UFCW International Constitution and Local Union Bylaws require that Officers of the Local Union 247 be elected every four years.  The current term of office expires on December 31, 2025.  Pursuant to the Local Union Bylaws, the President, Secretary-Treasurer and Recorder will be nominated by signature petition, and the fourteen (14) Vice-Presidents will be nominated at meetings.

Nominations for President, Secretary-Treasurer and Recorder positions will be conducted in accordance with Local Union Bylaws and the UFCW International Constitution in the form of petitions. As per the UFCW International Constitution, the number of signatures required shall not exceed 2% of the average monthly active membership of the Local Union, based on the number of active members on which the Local Union pays per capita tax to the International Union, for the twelve-month period ending with the next to last month prior to the month in which the notice of nominations is mailed to the membership.  Therefore, the required number of nominating signatures to be eligible for election is 286.

To be eligible to run for office, one must be an active member in Local 247, who has been an active member in the Local Union, or who has been a member of another organization merged with the Local Union, for a continuous aggregate of at least 12 months immediately preceding the month in which nominations are held; or an active member in the Local Union who has been an active member in the International Union continuously for at least 24 months immediately preceding the month in which nominations are held, shall be eligible to hold any Local Union Office, provided that said member maintains continuous active membership in the Local Union; as per the UFCW International Constitution. Maintenance of active membership as outlined in the UFCW International Constitution, Local Union Bylaws, Collective Agreements and the Local Union policy is the sole responsibility of the member.

A nomination package, including official nomination petition forms, will be available to any candidate for an elected position by contacting the Election Chairperson, Lily Olson at 639.638.5164.  Nominations will only be accepted on completed original official forms. All petition nomination signatures must be made by an active member of the Local Union.  Each petition must be completed in full, in an orderly and legible manner and also must contain the following information for each member signing the petition. Their signature, their full name clearly printed, the name of the company/employer that they work for and their employee number. If a signature on a petition cannot be clearly identified as belonging to an active member of Local 247 it will not be counted as a valid signature.

All inquiries pertaining to the Local Union elections must be directed to Lily Olson, Election Chairperson either by emailing electionswest@ufcw.ca or by calling 639.638.5164.

The Nomination packages will be available to members from August 18 to 29, 2025; Monday to Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; except for August 29, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nomination packages can be picked up in person at the Election office only, which is located at Unit #104 at the UFCW 247 Head Office in Surrey (14936 32^nd Avenue) or upon request to the Election Chairperson, nomination forms can be sent by courier.  Completed nomination forms must be received at the Election Office only, located at Unit #104 at the UFCW 247 Head Office in Surrey no later than the close of nominations at 3:00 p.m. on August 29, 2025; and must be addressed to the attention of the Election Chairperson.

Completed nomination forms dropped off or delivered by courier after 3 p.m. on August 29, 2025 will not be accepted.  Completed nomination forms will be deemed void if submitted by copy or facsimile, computer or other form of electronic transmission.  Only original nomination forms will be accepted.

Nominees for Vice-Presidents 1 thru 14 shall be active members who are employed within the geographical area and/or by the specific Employer, and they shall be nominated by active members who are employed within that geographical area and/or specified Employer, as listed below.

Nominations will take place at meetings as per the schedule listed below.  You may attend one of the following meetings.  No nominations by proxy, mail-in or electronic version shall be accepted.  In order to be nominated, you or your nominator must be present at the meeting.

If the nominee is not present at the meeting, the nominator must have an original signed letter of acceptance from the nominee to present to the chairperson at the meeting during the nominations process and no later than the close of that meeting.  No electronic, copied or faxed version of an acceptance letter shall be accepted. Nominees who are not present at the meeting for their nomination shall be contacted later for verification.  You must bring a driver’s license or another type of photo I.D. in order to attend the meeting.

ALL TIMES NOTED BELOW ARE IN PDT.

Elections, if necessary, will be held for the officers of UFCW Local 247.  Here are the dates, times and locations of polling stations.  Voting for officers will begin promptly at the start time listed for your meeting.  The polls will close precisely 3 hours later.  Please note the Nelson location start time is 6:30 pm for September 24^th.

It is recommended that you vote in your designated meeting location (city of employment).  However, you may vote at another polling place if you are unable to vote in your designated meeting location, and your ballot will be treated as a challenged ballot to protect against double voting.

To be eligible to vote, one must be an active member of Local 247 as described in the UFCW International Constitution and UFCW Local 247 bylaws.

All active members intending to vote must present one of the following forms of identification at the polling station:

• Employee ID Card;
• Valid Driver’s licence;
• Valid picture ID.

If anyone has not received an election notice by mail, they should report to the polling station to cast their vote.  Their votes will be segregated in a secret ballot envelope, with their eligibility to be determined later.  If eligible, their ballots will be included in the count.

The ballots will be tallied on Saturday, September 27 at 1 pm at the UFCW Local 247 Office located in Surrey, BC.

Lily Olson
UFCW Local 247 Election Chairperson