http://google4c66ddfa5d4a6ed9.uswlocal1-500.com

    Welcome to the WestRock Organizing Page 

    USW local 1-500 has been approached by several of your co-workers at the WestRock  site located on Pacific Circle in Mississauga  seeking information on how to join our Union and some workers are already eager to sign one of our union cards.

    SO NOW WHAT ?

    ​HOW DOES THIS ALL WORK ? 

    The threshold for joining a Union in Ontario is 50% plus one. We plan to meet with you individually or in a group whatever you are comfortable with , as this process progresses we will attempt to get as many cards as possible signed in  advance of an application and vote.  Along the way your identity and your choices will be confidential and never conveyed to your employer by the union. We will also not share or sell your contact information with anyone other than the Ministry Of Labour as required by law eventually in the application process if you choose to proceed. 

    Remember in Canada and Ontario it is your right to legally organize your workplace without reprisal or interference from your employer. United Steelworkers have the capacity and the USW  legal department to enforce your rights! You will be part of the Steelworker family and share the power of over 800,000 members throyghout the organizing process ! 

     FIRST We need to establish a trusted inside  Workplace Organizing Committee comprised of dedicated  Westrock workers willing  to help make this certification drive a reality in your workplace by talking to workers and collecting signed cards  .  

     Once you’re Workplace Organizing Committee and our 1-500 Local Organizers  are comfortable with the number of signed cards and with a good prospect of winning the Certification Vote, the next step would be to make an application to the MINISTRY OF LABOUR for certification of your unit.

    30 days after they receive the application the Ministry will conduct a secret ballot vote in your workplace. All workers (even those who initially did not sign cards) who are deemed to part of the bargaining unit (managers  /supervisors/ managerial / front  office staff are excluded from the bargaining unit) All your  Full time and Part time and Probationary workers will have a vote on Joining USW Local 1-500.
     
    Steelworkers pride themselves in a " one member one vote structure'  that drives
    our union from the bottom up not from the top down in everything we do . 

    Assuming your certification vote is successful . you and your Brothers and Sisters will elect a Unit Chairperson and Union Stewards Committee to be your  daily representatives in your workplace. They will be supported by a dedicated  Servicing Representative from USW Local 1-500 who is  on call  7 days a week insuring a quick responce to your issues. 

    Your next step would be to elect a Bargaining Committee , who along with your USW Servicing Representative and the USW local 1-500 President  will be responsible for negotiating your first Collective Agreement with WestRock. All proposals made to the employer on your behalf come from the workplace membership Proposal Meeting . All proposals will be discussed and voted on at a Proposal Meeting by the full membership. All proposals must be  passed by a majority of members  to form the document that is presented to the employer in bargaining. 

    Any final agreement bargained with your Employer and your Units Bargaining Committee must be ratified (voted on ) by the membership before it is implimented.  

     With your first Agreement you will also have access to a  formal  Grievance Procedure to challenge your employer for violating the terms of your new agreement like  scheduling ,  transparent wage rates and scheduled  increases , unjust discipline , termination etc. No longer will you face the employer alone and you will have recourse if the employer refuses to act on your valid grievance  . Some  time the parties cannot resolve mattters in house and Binding Arbitration is used and a third Party will rule on the issue . your legally represented thru the process by the Steelworkers and you suffer no out of pocket costs in the process.

     Collectively we have a task ahead of us with a goal of giving you the best shot of organizing your workplace and reaping the benifits of being being organized and being a Steelworker.

    The first step is to anonymously collect your contact information. Remenber we will not share this information with your employer or any of your co workers. Based on the response we get below, we will continue to communicate with you individually and gradually work up to much more formal meetings at the appropriate time in this process .


    ​Thank you all for taking the first step to a progressive and fair workplace .

     Like or logo says " TOGETHER WE ARE WHAT WE CAN,T BE ALONE 


    PLEASE FILL OUT AS MUCH INFO AS POSSIBLE BELOW 
Top five reasons why people join a union

1. Unionized workplaces are happier.
The most common reason people want a union is that there is something unfair about their workplace. A union means an end to inconsistent rules and favouritism. No wonder studies show that unionized employees are happier.

2. Union members have better pay.
Union members generally make $5.00/ hour more than non-unionized workers. With a union, you know when to expect a raise and how much it will be. This helps with planning your life and that of your family.

3. Jobs with Benefits
By forming a union you can negotiate a contract with benefits that are guaranteed in writing. Benefits like a health and dental plan, vacation pay, paid sick leave, a pension plan, training and overtime.

4. Job Security
With a union contract, you can stop favouritism, and challenge unfair discipline and dismissal. Your employer can only fire you with a good reason. Having a union also allows employees to have a say when cost-cutting, contracting-out, restructuring and other decisions are considered.
5. Safer workplaces
With a union, you and your co-workers will have the support you need to fix health and safety dangers in your workplace. The United Steelworkers are experts in workplace safety.

* BONUS *
Being a Steelworker member is more than just exercising your rights and winning better pay – it is also an opportunity to expand your own skills. Our leadership programs train USW members on how to build power and negotiate with employers, become skilled health and safety representatives and even build leadership skills in the community too.  USW supports lifelong learning through scholarships for members, their children and grandchildren.

Know your Rights
Unionized and non-unionized workers have rights
You have the right to join a union and organize with others to form a unionYou and your co-workers have the right to:
  • Discuss the union at work during non-working hours
  • Distribute union information in non-work areas during non-working hours
  • Sign a USW membership card
  • Help fellow employees join your union
  • Participate in meetings to discuss joining your union




Your employer cannot:
  • Interfere with the formation, selection or administration of your union
  • Coerce or intimidate employees to stop them from joining your union
  • Discriminate against employees because of their activities in support of your union
  • Make promises like better pay or benefits to encourage employees to oppose your union
  • Threaten to close your workplace or lay people off if you form your union
  • Demand to know about your union support
  • Help anti-union employees to oppose your union
  • Spy on employees for the purpose of observing union activities


 5 STEPS to join USW local 1-500 representing more than  1400 members in thirty workplaces across South and Central Ontario  

STEP 1 – Contact the United Steelworkers Local 1-500 
STEP 2 – Form a team
STEP 3 – Build a majority
STEP 4 – Win the vote or card count​
STEP 5 – Negotiate a contract

To contact us about joining  United Steelworkers  USW Local 1-500  union, you can call 519 -754-6456  email  [email protected] or just fill out the easy form  above. 

 None of the information you provide will be disclosed to anyone outside the union.

 WATCH THIS VIDEO  TO SEE WHERE WE CAME FROM AND WHERE WE ARE GOING !

AT USW local 1-500 we strive to be transparent about our dues structure for our potential new members and we are just as diligent in spending those dues on behalf of and representing our members.
​
Our books are audited annually and full reports are available to any member.

Dues are a nessessity , they to fuel the fight , individually and collectivly 
and when our 1400+ members Share the Burden no one is left behind   
​ 

NEED MORE INFO ON WHO WE ARE AND HOW WE CAN HELP 

Check out or New Member Brochure below 

Want to Share this page with a potential Union Co-worker 
Just have them scan this QR code below