Unions fight for immigrants and women

Name: Shabana Vakil

Occupation: Dietary Aid

Employer: Southview Heights and Terrace

Union: BCGEU

It’s pretty simple: “Helping others.” That’s what Shabana Vakil sees as the most rewarding part of her work as a Dietary Aid at Southview Heights and Terrace. The members are older and the job is challenging, but having a union to back her up has been a huge help for Shabana.

“Protection and the ability to speak your mind,” she says when asked what it means to be a member of the BCGEU. “When there is not a union, you just have to take whatever is given to you whether you like it or not. When you are with a union you can speak your mind and decline what you think is unsafe for you.”

Safety is a big concern for many workers, but none more so than for new Canadians. Shabana has played a key role working with the BCGEU in programs targeted towards helping new female immigrants look for work. “They fight for a fair deal, they find you the right place and find you the right work and the right wages,” she says. “They stand for you.” These women who were new to Canada faced several challenges. “English was a barrier so we told them where to go, where to get classes.” The main point she tried to drive home was simply not to be scared, “People will help you.”

Shabana wasn’t always such a dynamic leader and she credits her skills today to the training she got from the BCGEU. As the steward for her workplace, Shabana received basic and advanced leadership training classes as well as public speaking workshops. “It helped me stand on my feet and helped me speak. I was a very quiet person before and I was always scared to speak in front of people.” But what about now? “When I speak, everyone listens!”

For more information about joining BCGEU, call 604-882-0111 or visit www.bcgeu.ca.