5 things every Canadian worker should know about joining a union
There is an age-old saying about there being strength in numbers and no truer words have ever been spoken – particularly when it comes to employers and governments pushing their employees to the edge of madness.
For many people, a union may seem like an unnecessary element of your employment, but that could not be further from the truth. Joining a worker’s union in Canada is a right that most employees get to exercise, with only a handful of notable exceptions.
Unions have been around for decades, and have helped countless employees by improving wages, working conditions, and employment terms.
Below are five of the most important things that all Canadian workers should know about joining a union:
1. You could earn a higher wage
The average unionized employees enjoy a 23 percent higher wage than their colleagues who are not members of a union. There is a notable advantage when it comes to female employees and lower-paid job occupations.
When you are a member of a union, you will know when to expect a raise and how much it will be. That helps to plan your budget each year and it gives you peace of mind to know that your salary increases get addressed at a higher level – so you do not have to beg.
2. Union members are happier employees
Having someone there to fight the good fight and ensure that your workplace does not have inconsistent rules or unfair favoritism that hinder career growth. Having consistent rules and policies does wonders for a workplace, especially when everyone knows what to expect.
That consistency results in a higher sense of job security and satisfaction, meaning a lower staff turnover is possible for most companies.
3. Unfair dismissal rates are much lower
With a union contract, unfair dismissal rates are practically non-existent.
That is largely because joining a warehousing union, for example, can assist all non-management employees.
Find a highly active in the manufacturing and warehousing industries – that way, you can rest assured that your union has the knowledge and expertise to handle unfair dismissals specific to your industry.
4. Unions add pressure
A union representative has the right to deal directly with company officials and senior management to ensure that they are living up to their employment contracts and conditions.
With a strong union membership, you can rest easy knowing that there is someone in the know who will fight for better benefits and working conditions. Unions are adept at adding pressure to company directors and management teams to ensure a happy working environment is achieved and maintained.
5. Your workplace will be safer
Unions help to ensure that your workplace adheres to health and safety standards.
Unions are experts in workplace safety, and they are aware of the sneaky ways some companies try to employ to avoid having to maintain safety standards. Most of the time, the only reason why some companies choose not to follow the rules is because that involves spending money.
Unions will ensure that you and your co-workers have a safer environment to work in.
Knowing all of this, what are you waiting for? Joining a union is simply the better choice.
