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What is a Union

 

A union is a group of workers who form an organization to win:

 

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Dignity, justice and respect on the job;
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Better wages and benefits;
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More flexibility for work and family needs;
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A counter-balance to the unchecked power of employers; and
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A voice in improving the quality of their products and services;

What Your Union Does For You

 
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Negotiates and enforces your contract
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Settles your grievances
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Gives workers job protection
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Keeps you informed, holds meetings
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Supports fair labour legislation
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Acts in your best interest with the community as well as management
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Provides strength in numbers
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Interact with U.S. locals, International Union, Labour Council and its affiliates

   

The History of Our Union

 

The first Union to be formed by and for Kellogg's workers in Canada was with the International Chemical Workers Union and we were designated Local 171.

 

The Union started at Kellogg's in 1946 and the top rate at that time was 86 cents per hour.  John (Jack) Rea was the President of the Local.  The I.C.W.'s head office was in New York and we got very poor representation.  A movement was started by some of the Union people at Kellogg's to join another Union which was the American Federation of Grain Millers.  The reason being this Union represented all the other Kellogg plants.  This was a very risky move for these people to take at that time.  They received threats and would surely have been fired if they had not succeeded.

 

In 1949, a vote was taken by the hourly employees at Kellogg's to disaffiliate from the I.C.W. and join the A.F.G.M.  On the 12th day of March 1949, Local 154, American Federation of Grain Millers was chartered.

 

The individuals who had risked so much to bring about this change became the original charter members of Local 154 A.F.G.M. and their names are immortalized on our Official Charter kept at the Union Office.  They are  John Rea, Ernie Sheppard, William Reader, Edward Cripps, Eva Drynan, Sam Nelson, Jack Ferguson, Sam Nelson, Jack Ferguson, Henry (Hank) Drake, Roy Thomas, and Alf Cogan.