Get involved in the things that matter

Name: Shamshad Bhachu

Occupation: Hospital housekeeper

Employer: Aramark

Union: HEU

As a young woman, when she was seeking more opportunities than those that were available to her in Fiji, she decided to immigrate to Canada. When her children, two daughters and one son, were in elementary and secondary school, she was active in the parents’ advisory committees. Now that her children are grown, she wants to give back to her union.

Bhachu has been a housekeeper at Mount St. Joseph’s Hospital in Vancouver since 2004. She is employed by Aramark, the multinational corporation that has the cleaning contract for health care facilities in the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority. And she is a member of the Hospital Employees’ Union (HEU).

These days, there are several union members in Bhachu’s family. Her husband is a bricklayer and has belonged to the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC) for years. One of their daughters is a union member in her own right.

For Bhachu, the advantages of being in a union have provided security and stability for her and her family, removing many worries – like dental expenses or loss of wages when a parent needed to stay home with a sick child.

When the children were younger, her job in a unionized Air Canada flight kitchen enabled her to be active in their lives and give back to the community through volunteering. “It was a great job,” she says, “and I was able to be very involved with them in their school years.”

Then, she used her energies and her time off to coach games, take kids to field hockey, assist teachers and participate on parent advisory committees.

Today, her children are adults – one is married, one is studying and working, and one will graduate from Langara this June – and Bhachu is looking for different things from her union.

With her children grown, one of the things Bhachu appreciates the most about HEU is the opportunities she has for her own personal growth and blossoming union activity.

“By giving me opportunities to take workshops and attend conferences, my union has given me so much knowledge and self-confidence,” says Bhachu. “Now I have time to invest in my union.

“And I am involved. I never miss a meeting. This spring, I was at HEU’s equity conference.

“It was a good learning experience,” she says. “I really enjoyed all the workshops. I talked openly and gave my feedback. That makes me stronger.”

Recently, Bhachu has become much more active in HEU’s Living Wage Campaign and will join others to spread the word about the importance of decent wages and benefits to families and to communities.

“Now I come out to rallies and events whenever I can. I’m very proud of my union, standing behind me and guiding me,” says Bhachu.

“HEU has made a difference. That’s why I want to devote my time – anytime, anywhere they need help.”