Union activist speaks up with confidence

Name: Janette Rivera

Occupation: Full-time clerk in the scheduling department of Adanac Park Lodge

Union: HEU

 

Janette Rivera, who is a member of the Hospital Employees’ Union (HEU), works as a full-time clerk in the scheduling department of Adanac Park Lodge. The Lodge is a residential care facility in Vancouver for adults with chronic health conditions and cognitive impairment.

“My job is very busy,” says Janette. “I work hard to make sure we have enough staff on shift to take care of our residents.”

She explains that when staff call in sick – which happens more often with seasonal flus – it’s her job to find replacements, sometimes on short notice. Despite her heavy workload, however, she is an active union member.

In 1995, Janette emigrated from the Philippines to work as a nanny. After graduating from Vancouver Community College’s residential care aide course in 1999, she found work as a full-time care aide at Adanac Park Lodge. In 2013 she became a clerk in their scheduling office.

Janette first became active in the union when she had trouble getting the time off that she needed to care for her eldest daughter who was ill. So she turned to her local union office and got the support she needed.

She also learned about her collective agreement rights and how both employees and employers must abide by them.

With union-provided training, she gained the courage to confidently face management on her own.

“Being in a union boosted my confidence. It helped me learn to stand up for myself. Before, I was scared to talk, scared I could be fired,” says Janette.

“Although speaking up is still hard for me, it feels good when I do. I feel like I’m not just representing members, but representing myself too.”

Janette believes unions provide workers with a better life – in terms of pay when compared to non-unionized employees – and the security of knowing you can’t be fired without cause.

“Unions provide job security. And they are important because they help and protect us,” she says.

“If you can’t speak up for yourself, you can count on someone to fight for you, someone to help guide you through a work-related problem. You don’t need to be scared to talk about your rights.”

Janette has served in many union positions over the past ten years.

A mother of two daughters and a son, she is grateful that her full-time working husband assists her with childcare, so she has time for her union activities.