FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How do I know if my rights are being violated?

The best way to know your rights is to read your collective agreement. Your union contract outlines wages, hours of work, overtime pay, benefits, etc. Ask your steward for a contract or download a pdf file of it on the Contracts portion of this website.

How do I file a grievance?

The first step is to contact your shop steward. If you don’t know who your shop steward is, call the union office (604-408-0746) and ask to speak to the officer responsible for your workplace. Acting quickly when a problem occurs is important because most of our contracts have deadlines to notify management after an incident occurs to notify management.

How do I know what my wages/benefits are?

Check your collective agreement. Ask your steward for a copy of your union contract or download a pdf file of it on the Contracts portion of this website.

What do I do if I move?

Please notify the union office of any change in address or other contact information. Even if you have notified your employer, this information is often not passed along to us. You can telephone (604-408-0746) or email ([email protected]).

What do I do if March 15 passes and I have not received a receipt for my union dues?

First, check Box 44 on your T4 forms, because some companies report the dues payments there. If that box is empty, you may be one of our members who receives dues receipts by email. Check your email inbox and search for a receipt from [email protected]. If you stil can’t find anything, call the union office (604-408-0746) to make sure we have your correct contact information. We normally email dues receipts by the end of February. A new receipt may be issued if the original went to a wrong address.

I have a friend who wants to join a union. What should I do?

Give your friend the link to our web page (www.mediaunion.ca) where we have information about joining our union or ask them to call the union office. Our president, or another officer, will offer advice and determine if our local or another union is appropriate. We are always interested helping more people enjoy the benefits of union representation.

How big is my union?

Our Local currently has about 700 members. This number fluctuates depending on economic conditions and organizing of new members. Local 2000 is part of Unifor, the largest private sector union in Canada with more than 315,000 members. Local 2000 is also a member of various labour councils, of the B.C. Federation of Labour and of the Canadian Labour Congress, which represents over two million workers across the country.

How many weeks vacation am I entitled to?

Check you collective agreement. Ask your steward for a copy of your union contract or download a pdf file of it on the Contracts portion of this website, or call the Union office at 604-408-0746.

Do I have dental coverage?

Most members of Local 2000 have dental coverage, but you need to check your collective agreement. Ask your steward for a copy of your union contract or download a pdf file of it on the Contracts portion of this website, or call the Union office at 604-408-0746.

Do I have extended medical coverage?

Most members of Local 2000 have extended medical coverage, but you need to check your collective agreement. Ask your steward for a copy of your union contract or download a pdf file of it on the Contracts portion of this website, or call the Union office at 604-408-0746.

How are my Union reps chosen?

Members nominate people for the four officer positions – president, secretary-treasurer, and two vice-presidents – at our annual Congress in Vancouver. The terms are three years and staggered, and multiple nominations for the same position will trigger an election in which all members can vote. The president and secretary-treasurer positions are full-time, paid positions, and the people filling those positions take a leave of absence from their jobs. The president and secretary-treasurer are responsible for servicing the 19 workplaces of our local union. Unifor National also assigns fulltime national representatives to work with our local, mostly to handle arbitrations and bargaining.

Who is my Union representative?

How do I contact them? Each worksite has a shop steward who is the frontline rep for the Union. If you don’t have a shop steward, or you would like to speak to the president or secretary-treasurer, contact our office at [email protected] or call 604-408-0746.