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  • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): Health Care Workers

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): Health Care Workers

UFCW Canada: The Union for Health Care Workers

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Is there a union for care workers?

Yes. In Canada, the union for care workers is the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW Canada), which represents over 15,000 health care workers across the country in various aspects of the health care sector, including the dental care, community health, long-term care, pharmacy, home care, pain and rehabilitation, paramedic, and veterinarian industries, among others.

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What do unions do for healthcare workers?

Unions like UFCW Canada, the healthcare union, help healthcare workers improve their workplace by negotiating higher pay, better benefits, greater job security, safer working conditions, and more paid leave, in addition to serving as a strong voice for healthcare employees on the job and in the halls of government.

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What is the best union for healthcare workers?

The best union for healthcare workers is UFCW Canada, the healthcare union, representing thousands of healthcare workers in every corner of the healthcare sector, from coast to coast. To learn more about the benefits of joining UFCW Canada, the union for healthcare workers, visit our Join the Union webpage.

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What is the labour union for healthcare workers?

Across Canada, the labour union for healthcare workers is the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW Canada), which serves as the voice of healthcare employees working in a diverse array of job roles, from primary care and advanced care paramedics to personal support workers to pharmacy technicians and many other positions within the healthcare industry.

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How do labour unions affect healthcare?

Labour unions affect the healthcare sector by advocating for the rights and interests of healthcare workers, both in the workplace and in the political arena, and by working to protect the health, safety, and wellbeing of healthcare employees and their patients. In Canada, unions also fight to make sure that public healthcare services are properly funded by governments, and that these services remain public and accessible to all. Unions further affect the healthcare industry by offering health and welfare benefit plans to members, which ensure that union members and their families have access to affordable dental care, eye care, chiropractic services, and more.

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What is the union for care workers?

The union for care workers is UFCW Canada, one of the largest unions in the country with decades of experience representing health care workers across the Canadian health care industry. To learn more about UFCW Canada’s presence in the health care sector, see our union’s latest Annual Report.

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Can healthcare workers unionize?

Yes. Throughout Canada, most healthcare workers have the right to unionize and collectively bargain with their employer. To learn whether employees at your workplace have the right to unionize in your province, contact a UFCW Canada organizer today. Remember, all contact with UFCW Canada is treated as strictly confidential, and your employer will never know that you have contacted the union.

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What is the trade union for healthcare workers?

The trade union for healthcare workers is the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW Canada). With a 40-year track record of gaining results for healthcare workers at the bargaining table, and a demonstrated history of standing up for the rights and interests of healthcare employees, UFCW Canada has proudly built a reputation as the leading union for healthcare workers in Canada. To learn more about UFCW and how you can gain the union advantage at work, visit our Join the Union webpage.

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What is the role of a union in health care?

A union like UFCW Canada represents health care workers on the job and serves as their collective voice at the bargaining table by negotiating employees’ working conditions and terms of employment. A union also provides health and welfare benefit coverage to union members and their families to ensure that working people have access to affordable dental care, eye care, and other health care services. And finally, a union advocates for health care workers and patients in the political arena by pushing for appropriate funding for health care services, patient accessibility, and healthy and safe employment conditions in the health care sector. 

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Why do healthcare workers join unions?

Healthcare workers join unions such as UFCW Canada, the union for healthcare workers, because unions negotiate benefits that are unheard of in non-unionized workplaces, including consistent scheduling, protection from unfair discipline and termination, access to training and education opportunities, and overtime pay, among many other advantages. To learn more about how you can gain the union advantage at work, visit UFCW Canada’s Join the Union webpage.

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Are union healthcare jobs different from regular healthcare jobs?

Union healthcare jobs are different from non-unionized healthcare jobs in that you are more likely to be treated with respect and dignity by your employer, have access to a grievance procedure and personal paid leave, and enjoy greater job security in a unionized healthcare job than you are in a non-unionized role. Union healthcare jobs also offer higher pay, better benefits, and more paid sick days than non-union healthcare jobs. 

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What are the benefits of health care union membership?

By joining UFCW Canada, the union for health care workers, you can enjoy the many benefits of health care union membership. These benefits include regular wage increases for all employees, health and welfare coverage for you and your family, paid personal days, having a say over your employment conditions and hours of work, and access to legal representation for worker’s compensation and other workplace issues.

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How much do health care union membership fees cost?

Health care union membership fees, also known as union dues, vary by job classification, hours worked, from workplace to workplace, union to union, and local to local, so it is difficult to put an exact cost on health care union membership. For UFCW Canada members, union dues are determined by a local union’s by-laws, which can only be changed by a vote from members. This means that UFCW Canada members, including those working in the health care sector, set their own union dues through a democratic process.

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Is there a specialized health care professionals union?

Yes. In Canada, the specialized health care professionals union is the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW Canada), which represents over 15,000 health care professionals working in a wide range of specialized health care roles, such as home care workers, long-term care employees, and community health workers, among others.

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What is the health care workers union?

The health care workers union is UFCW Canada, representing thousands of health care employees working in fields like dental care, community health, long-term care, pharmacy services, home care, paramedic services, pain and rehabilitation clinics, and veterinarian services, in addition to other health care professions. To learn how you can join UFCW Canada, the health care union, and gain the union advantage at work, visit our Join the Union webpage.

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Are nurses in a union?

Yes. The union that represents thousands of nurses in Canada is the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW Canada), which serves as the voice of nursing professionals working in hospitals, dental care, community health, long-term care, and other areas of the health care industry.

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Can nurses strike?

The right to strike for nurses varies depending on the type of workplace. Nurses in hospitals and long-term care facilities, for example, are usually prohibited from withdrawing their services or being locked out, since they are deemed an essential service by the government. As an alternative to strike and lockout provisions, the union and the employer are required to use interest arbitration, where an agreed upon arbitrator can decide the collective agreement to be voted on by the members.

Other nurses have the right to strike, such as those working for community health centres and home care providers. The authorization to go on strike must be made and voted on by the members and can only occur after mediation has been exhausted.

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Is there a union for healthcare workers?

Yes. The union for healthcare workers is UFCW Canada, representing care workers in multiple facets of the health sector, from paramedic services to community health to dental care and everything in between. To learn more about UFCW Canada’s presence in the healthcare industry, see our union’s latest Annual Report.

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What is the union for health care workers?

Across Canada, the union for health care workers is the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW Canada), which represents over 15,000 health care professionals working as long-term care and home care workers, dental assistants, developmental service workers, pharmacy assistants, and unlicensed care providers, in addition to countless other job roles within the health care sector.

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Is there a union for private health care workers?

Yes. UFCW Canada is the leading union for private health care workers, from coast to coast. In fact, most health care employees who are members of UFCW Canada work in the private health care industry – that is, areas of the health care sector where services are typically covered by private health care plans or employer-provided health and welfare benefits, rather than provincial health insurance. Examples are the dental care, pharmacy, eye care, pain and rehabilitation, and paramedic industries.

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What is the health care workers union?

The health care workers union is UFCW Canada, a large national union with over 250,000 members working in diverse industries, including the health care sector. UFCW health care members serve in a number of different job roles within Canada’s health care industry, from British Columbia to Manitoba to Newfoundland and Labrador. Examples of job positions that UFCW Canada health care members work in are:

  • Advanced Care Paramedic (ACP)
  • Dental assistant
  • Dental nurse
  • Developmental Service Worker (DSW)
  • Dietician
  • Food and nutrition specialist
  • Health and fitness specialist
  • Home care worker
  • Hygienist
  • Life enrichment assistant
  • Long-term care worker
  • Personal Support Worker (PSW)
  • Pharmacist
  • Pharmacy technician
  • Pharmacy assistant
  • Primary Care Paramedic (PCP)
  • Registered Practical Nurse (RPN)
  • Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT)
  • Resident services attendant
  • Treatment coordinator
  • Unlicensed Care Provider (UCP)
  • Wellness attendant
  • And many other positions

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Is there a national union of healthcare workers?

Yes. In Canada, the national union of healthcare workers is the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW Canada), with thousands of members in the health care sector across the country. Health care workers join UFCW Canada because our union negotiates unparalleled benefits like higher pay, greater job security, and more consistent scheduling.

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What is the union of health care workers?

The union of health care workers is UFCW Canada, the voice of health care professionals throughout the entire Canadian health care sector. UFCW is known as the health care union because we provide members with the union advantage, which includes better benefits, safer working conditions, paid sick days, and much more. To learn more about the UFCW advantage at work, visit our Join the Union webpage.

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Is there a union for care workers?

Yes. The union for care workers and all employees working in the health sector is UFCW Canada. Our union represents care workers employed in the long-term care, home care, developmental services, pain and rehabilitation, and dental care industries, as well as other areas of the health care sector.

Care workers join our union because UFCW membership offers benefits that are rarely seen in non-union workplaces, such as regular wage increases for all employees, recognition of service and experience, paid personal leave, and access to training and education opportunities that are completely free of charge to members and their family.

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What is the union representing health-care workers?

The union representing health-care workers is the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW Canada), representing more than 15,000 union members working in every corner of the Canadian health-care industry.

Health-care workers join UFCW Canada, the health-care union, because we help members improve their workplace and build a better life, through higher wages, generous health and welfare benefits, safer working conditions, and paid time off. If you and your colleagues are interested in gaining the advantages of UFCW Canada membership, click here to Join the Union today.

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Ready to build a better life? Do you and your colleagues want to make work better?

Click here to join the union today
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