UFCW 1118 and 401 assist Calgary families in need

Calgary – August 13, 2014 – UFCW Canada Locals 1118 and 401 have donated over $2,000 in food to the Calgary Food Bank as a result of a campaign that the unions jointly ran. The donation will assist more than 30 Calgary families in need. Recently, UFCW organizers were engaging Alberta Save-On-Foods workers about the benefits that joining a real union could provide them. Those workers are in the midst of an “open period” with their current representative association, the Christian Labour Association of Canada (CLAC), during which they can legally consider changing their representation.

“Our mission is to be a voice for working Albertans and we take that job very seriously,” said UFCW Local 401 Secretary Treasurer Theresa McLaren. “We work every day to get our members the best contracts possible and we’re equally happy to support working Calgarians who might be struggling to make ends meet with this donation.”

"In the course of speaking with those workers, we purchased a lot of food,” added UFCW Local 1118 President Albert Johnson. “We’re glad that we can turn around and give that food to an organization like the Calgary Food Bank.”

The donation comes at a vital time with organizations like the Calgary Food Bank experiencing a sharp increase people seeking temporary emergency support. “This year’s numbers are showing a nearly 9 per cent increase over last year," said Calgary Food Bank representative Keoma Duce. "Donations like the one being made by UFCW Locals 1118 and 401 are tremendously important in helping us to provide the support that we do.”

Together, UFCW Canada Locals 1118 and 401 represent more than 30,000 members in a variety of industries across Alberta.