Calgary – November 21, 2018 – Workers at Vision Loss Rehabilitation Alberta are the newest members to join UFCW Canada Local 401.

Employees were motivated to join Local 401 to address issues related to wage disparities and to be heard about the impacts of understaffing on client care. Concerns around fairness, dignity, and respect were also commonly expressed.

“Geography was the greatest challenge in this campaign,” says UFCW Local 401 organizer Joe Irving. “While employees were spread across the province, their desire for better working conditions and respect on the job unified them in deciding to join the union.”

A division of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB), Vision Loss Rehabilitation Alberta provides health care services and rehabilitation therapy to people with vision loss.

In addition to the VLR unit, UFCW Local Unions also represent CNIB employees in Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

“We are happy to welcome VLR employees to our union,” said UFCW Local 401 President Douglas O’Halloran. “I want to thank them for taking this important first step towards making change at their workplace.”

UFCW Local 401 is Alberta’s largest private sector union, representing workers across the province in sectors as diverse as food and beverage processing, healthcare, and education.