Re: Descrimination: A full hot meal or soup and a sandwich
Decision:
Unfortunately the Union is unwilling to pursue this issue. Their rationale is that there are some staff who don't want the meal times changed. The union is unwilling to push the employer to change things in the dietary department to ensure those who are on the early breaks are able to purchase the full hot meals just like those in the other departments. Eventhough the staff on my unit were fully in favour of changing our break times, the employer has indicated that they will not let one unit change their break times.
My intuition was right in that this union wouldn't pursue the issue based on their lousy track record of not willing to pursue anything. As one union official told me years ago, "we can't damage employer union relations". Essentially that's the attitude of many labour officials in recent years. They forget that they work for and are paid by the members, not the employers. Many officials such as the ones here locally have this mentality that the members are answerable to them when in reality it should be the other way around.
Other issues have arisen since this thread was started that the union is also unwilling to pursue. Essentially my co-workers and I have to make a decision of whether or not to get rid of this union and find another one. Having said that, to get rid of a union is a nightmare and a half, but that's a topic for another thread.
So discrimination against the Practical Nurses and the Aides will be allowed to continue in our facility (which is one of three).
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