Since dedicating themselves to greater collaboration through the Eastern Provinces Council (EPC), four UFCW Canada local unions in the Atlantic region are leading the way in organizing workers throughout the Maritimes and Prince Edward Island in particular.

On the heels of a major organizing victory at PEI's Atlantic Beef three short years ago, the EPC growth team recently celebrated another big food manufacturing win involving 250 seafood processing workers. "The Island's" newest UFCW Canada Local 864 members work for the Beach Point Processing Company in Murray Harbour which is owned by Mazzetta LLC, a large, privately-owned seafood company based in Illinois.

"The Beach Point win is another example of how more and more workers in Eastern Canada want to be UFCW Canada members, and how by combining our efforts we can better help them to be a part of our great union," says director of the Atlantic Regions Mark Dobson, who also serves the union as president of the EPC.

The Beach Point unit recently ratified its first collective agreement, shortly after the historic EPC Conference in nearby St. John’s (see DIRECTIONS 10.17).

"The success of the EPC is a perfect example of why greater collaboration between the local unions and the local unions and the National Office is central to the UFCW's strategy for the future," says UFCW Canada National President Wayne Hanley.

"It's a real pleasure to welcome the Beach Point members to the UFCW Canada family, and to commend the EPC for all its excellent work."