Members at Calgary Quest Children’s Society join the NDF – UFCW 401

Calgary – October 24, 2024 – UFCW 401 members at Calgary Quest Children’s Society have voted overwhelming in favour of joining the National Defence Fund.

Ninety-seven percent of the unit’s members were in favour of joining the NDF and accessing the resources it provides for striking workers.

“Joining the National Defence Fund is an important step,” says UFCW 401 President Thomas Hesse. “And it is a courageous step. It lets your employers know that you are taking negotiations seriously and are willing to put all the options on the table if they don’t do the same.”

UFCW Canada’s NDF operates as an insurance plan in case of strike or lockout. Local bargaining units opt in to participate after members vote in favour of joining the NDF, and each member then pays regularly into the fund. The fund is invested to grow and provide benefits to any participating bargaining unit in need.

NDF members on strike or lockout will receive extra money weekly on top of regular picket pay. Local bargaining units also receive many other benefits from the NDF, like strike training and picket line support to help hold the line.

For more than 35 years, the NDF has provided UFCW Canada families with extra financial resources and negotiating strength when faced with a strike or lockout. This is crucial during those pivotal times when members are fighting to achieve the respect and fairness that all hard-working people deserve. Learn more about the NDF.