The passion to help members is a driving force in Rick Jordan’s life.
Since becoming a steward more than five years ago, Jordan continues to help members resolve a variety of issues, from scheduling to compensation to personal matters.
With the high cost of food and housing, many workers are facing pressure to make ends meet.
Listening and being there for co-workers is important to Jordan.
“I have been fortunate to help members with a lot of issues,” said Jordan, who works at a Loblaws Great Food in Toronto. “It’s about having conversations – sometimes, you don’t have anyone to talk to and being that person for our members, that neutral ground, is an incredible feeling.”
Jordan, who has worked in non-union and unionized work- places, has experienced the stark difference.
“In a unionized environment, you have a lot more safety and a lot more rights,” he said. “I can refuse work if it is deemed unsafe and even, at least, have that conversation with my boss. In a non-unionized setting, it’s ‘we need you to do this or you going to be in trouble.’ That is a huge difference – in a union setting, you feel safer and I feel like I matter.”
Jordan is among the more than 700 UFCW 1006A stewards across Ontario who volunteer their time, knowledge and expertise to help their co-workers.
“1006A is home to the best stewards in the labour movement. We are proud of our incredible stewards, who inspire us every day with their passion, skills and hard work. Thank you to all our stewards for the difference you make in building fairer workplaces and communities," said President Wayne Hanley
The local union’s steward base is active across all of 1006A’s sectors. All stewards are members, who are frontline advocates for members in their workplace.
Harvinder Singh Barmi is proud to be a 1006A steward at Unico, a food processing plant in Toronto. He helps members by resolving issues involving compensation, discipline, and by just being there to listen and answer questions.
Barmi remembers a case when a member came to him, feeling sad and disappointed with concerns about being paid incorrectly. He helped resolve the issue by ensuring the company fixed his pay rate.
“When I helped him out, I felt really proud and satisfied,” he said. “When I see a smile on my co-workers’ faces when an issue or concern is resolved, it makes me feel good.”
Barmi said the union has made a big difference in his life.
“As a steward, I have been able to learn a lot and it has helped me grow as a person.”
Having a union has been vital in the workplace, Barmi said.
“It has helped us bargain in a collective manner and when there is an issue, the union is always there to help us out and guide us in the best way possible,” he said. “I would definitely recommend a union for workplaces like ours.”
Vatisha Bernard-Brown, who works at Home 2 Suites by Hilton in Brampton, is proud to be a 1006A steward.
"As a steward, I try to be friendly, and helpful – answer any questions my co-workers have, they know they can come to me,” she said.
At the hotel, Bernard-Brown helped a member, who was feeling stressed that she had a heavier workload than her co-workers, as she had been assigned to clean more rooms.
Bernard-Brown spoke to management and helped fix the issue.
“When I am able to help my co-workers, I feel happy,” she said.
She said the union has made a big difference at the hotel, by ensuring workers have a voice.
“It is very important to have the union representation be- cause they are always there to help us with what we need – the union has helped us achieve better wages, benefits and working conditions.”
UFCW 1006A members are encouraged to connect with union stewards to learn more about your rights as outlined in your union contract. Your full-time Union Representatives are also available if you have any questions or concerns at your workplace.
