Unions protect immigrants from exploitation

Name: Maita Santiago

Occupation: Constituency Assistant (CA)

Union: BCGEU

Maita Santiago works as Constituency Assistant (CA) to Mable Elmore, the first Filipino-Canadian to be elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA). As a member of BCGEU since 2009, Maita understands how union membership can improve working conditions.

“I was definitely aware of the advantages of joining a union and I was really happy to be part of a union and part of the labour movement. Through your union, you have a stronger voice in your workplace. Also, everything in terms of job security, benefits, and all working conditions – is laid out clearly,” says Maita. “There have been a number of times when I have referred to my collective agreement if I have had questions about anything from maternity leave to sick time.”

In her role as CA, Maita has discussed labour issues with some constituents in the Vancouver-Kensington riding that Mable represents. Some of the people she has spoken to that don’t work in unionized workplaces have been faced with issues such as being terminated for no fair reason. In a unionized workplace, however, if an employer fires a worker without just cause then the worker can take action through the grievance procedure. Grievance procedures are a means of dispute resolution used to address complaints by employees against management.

Becoming a union member is also an opportunity to get involved in a number of other issues that affects new immigrants as Canadians. Areas such as being a part of the broader movement such as the campaign to raise minimum wage, fighting for universal child care, and the protection of social benefits. Maita volunteers for Migrante BC, a non-profit organization that promotes the rights and welfare of Filipinos migrants in Canada, and works to generate support for the struggle of Filipino people. An example would be the recent case of the 70 Filipino workers who have filed a class action lawsuit against Denny’s Restaurants for violating their rights as employees. Migrante BC provides support and access to resources for workers such as these. Maita says that many new Canadians can be vulnerable to exploitation. “It’s important for them to understand and know their rights, and to assert their rights,” says Maita, adding that she hopes the Denny’s workers inspire other temporary foreign workers whose rights have been violated to step forward.

Working with Mable has been an opportunity for Maita to learn and understand more about workers’ rights, especially for new Canadians. Before Mable was an MLA, she worked as a bus driver and union activist with the union CAW-114. Mable was proud to be a union member for many years. “With the union, I had more job security, I had the chance to negotiate better wages and benefits, and if my workload was too heavy I had a voice through the union to speak out on those issues.”

For more information about the benefits of union membership, visit www.bcgeu.ca