UFCW Canada: the union for winery workers in Canada

UFCW Canada: the union for winery workers in Canada

UFCW is the union for winery workers

United Food and Commercial Workers Canada is the union for winery workers in Canada: our union has decades of experience in support agricultural workers and beverage workers in Canada.

UFCW Canada is the best union for vineyard workers because we help ensure a safe working environment, fight unfair treatment, improve wages, help with immigration and so much more.

Why UFCW Canada?

United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Canada is one of Canada’s most experienced unions. We represent over 270,000 workers across the country who work in all parts of the food and beverage industries.

UFCW Canada is the union for workers at breweries, distilleries, and every step of the beverage processing chain. Our union has decades of experience advocating for agricultural members in Canada.

Our union is an affiliate of the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Associations (IUF). As a member, you will have the support of the global labour movement fighting against exploitation in the Agri-Food Industry.

Facts about Vineyards and Wineries in Canada

  • The wine and grape industry contributes almost $12 billion to the Canadian economy

  • Canada has over 1,900 grape growers and 638 wineries supporting 45,000 jobs  

  • The Canadian wine and grape industry is heavily dependent on temporary foreign workers for harvesting

  • Over 33,000 temporary foreign workers are employed in Ontario, with over half of them working in greenhouses or nurseries

Why vineyard workers join the union

Being a member of UFCW Canada, means you will have an experienced voice in the workplace who can advocate for your interests. It also means that you will be protected by a collective agreement that can provide you and your colleagues with things like higher wages and better workplace health and safety. The union will help ensure you are treated with fairness and respect in the workplace.

“After the union came in, we were able to negotiate posted schedules, paid overtime, and a grievance process that works. We are no longer afraid of speaking out when we see a health and safety hazard or if a supervisor cuts our hours to punish us. We now have a steward and a union representative who support us.” –  Jennifer, UFCW member and agricultural worker

Recent wins for Agricultural and Beverage workers

Agriculture workers at Lufa Farms join the union – UFCW 501

Farmworkers at Highline Mushrooms Break Ground with Industry-Leading Union Agreement (UFCW 1518)

UFCW Canada partners with Ecojustice to mount legal challenge to ensure health and safety of farm workers

Workers at Molson Breweries ratify new contract – UFCW 175

Distillery members at Diageo build a better life – UFCW 832

How to Join the Union: Vineyard Workers

If you are interested in gaining the union advantage and feel that you and your co-workers could benefit from a UFCW Canada collective agreement, we encourage you to join the union.

When you contact UFCW about joining the union, a UFCW Canada organizer will reach out to you to explain the benefits of union membership, and possible next steps for unionizing your workplace.

Remember, all contact with UFCW is completely confidential and free of charge. To learn more about joining the union, and how you can make your workplace better, visit UFCW Canada's Join the Union webpage.

 

Choosing UFCW Canada: Winery Workers

When agricultural workers joined UFCW Canada, their first union contract included wage increases, training bonuses, rights of refusal, scheduling improvements and more.

UFCW Canada can help you and your coworkers negotiate a similar agreement, including:

  • Leave entitlements, such as paid sick days
  • Improved workplace safety and zero-tolerance for harassment or discrimination
  • Wage increases and signing bonuses
  • Predictable scheduling
  • Grievance protections
  • Workplace protections
  • and more

UFCW supports its migrant members

For workers in Canada through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), UFCW Canada brings decades of dedicated experience standing up for migrant agricultural workers.

Our migrant members benefit from specific protections embedded directly in their collective agreements: this covers issues like transportation, housing, workplace safety, permanent residency assistance, and beyond.

UFCW Canada's Migrant Member Support Program provides comprehensive help with immigration matters, document preparation, translation services, and no-cost language training.

Our union is committed to making sure our migrant members have the protections, resources, and backing they need to work safely and establish a stable future in Canada.

 

Why should winery workers join UFCW?

  • No fear of termination: UFCW will fight to stop unfair terminations and harassment. Workers cannot fired without cause.

  • No workers abandoned: With a UFCW contract, workers cannot be fired if they are injured on the job.

  • Better working conditions:a union contract means that you have someone to fight for safer workplaces, better scheduling, and fair treatments.

  • ESL classes & Permanent Residence: UFCW provides free ESL classes to help you qualify for Permanent Residence, along with complimentary assistance to file your application at no cost.

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