The Insurance in Union Membership

When you think of Insurance what comes to mind? Health, Car, and Life are some that most think of, but what about your union membership as a form of job insurance as well. As a union member you have a contract to guarantee you protection on your job. It provides you with security that non-union workers don’t have of since they are considered an At-Will Employees. Simply put, those employees are at the will of whatever the employer decides with no regard to how it affects the workers. In this way your union membership can be thought of as a type of insurance. It protects you from unfair and unsafe working conditions, while providing many other positive benefits not available to non-union workers.

A union contract specifies guaranteed hours, wage increases, seniority, health insurance, overtime pay, vacation and holiday pay to name a few. The contract lays out specifics of the grievance process for situations like unjust discipline, termination or a violation of employees’ rights. The grievance procedure has been used to resolve violations for seniority, pay discrepancies, and safety and working conditions all to make sure that members are treated fairly and according to the agreement made between the company and the union of valued members.

The best way to use your membership insurance is to know and understand what is in your union contract. If you do not know what’s in your contract you may not be aware if a violation has occurred that could impact you and your job. By reading and understanding what’s in your contract you gain valuable insight into the privileges, duties and benefits that come with being a member of UFCW Local 227.

Contact your union representative right away if you have questions about your rights or if you are aware of a contract violation. Keep in mind that there are time limits in place for filing a grievance. Your union is here for you. Keeping union stewards and union representatives informed helps to address issues before they have a chance to escalate into a more serious problem.

Your UFCW 227 collective bargaining team works hard to negotiate contracts with your employers and are constantly working to not only preserve, but improve your working conditions at the bargaining table. As a union member you have a voice and your contract is your insurance to job security. If you need a copy of your contract you can request one here.

The insurance of your union membership is valuable and it’s up to you to take advantage of all it has to offer.