Working moms gain from union support
Name: Reshmi Lal
Occupation: Care aide
Union: HEU
Working with seniors was a natural fit for Reshmi “Rosie” Lal, a care aide at Little Mountain Place in Vancouver and member of the Hospital Employees’ Union (HEU).
“In the Hindu culture, we look after our elders at home, so it was natural for me to take care of the elderly,” says Lal, who emigrated from Fiji Islands to Canada with her husband and two pre-school sons in 1997.
Lal had been to Vancouver before in the late-1980s, taking general studies and business administration at Columbia College as an international student.
“I saw the lifestyle here and wanted to live in Canada,” she recalls. “I wanted a better life and education for my kids, so my husband and I moved here.”
After taking a six-month care aide course at ProCare Institute in Burnaby, Lal was hired as a casual at Little Mountain Place and became a union member for the first time in 1999.
While building her seniority at Little Mountain Place, Lal also had a second job as a scheduler at Health Staffing International for seven years to help make ends meet. But much of her off-duty time was spent learning more about HEU and taking courses to enhance her union involvement.
“I’m very vocal and have a lot of opinions, which I would always express at union meetings,” says Lal. “And one of my co-workers encouraged me to get involved as a union activist.”
She became a shop steward in 2002 after attending HEU’s summer school at UBC, and soon became her local’s vice-chair. She’s currently chair and chief shop steward, and for the past five years, has participated on the OH&S committee at her site.
Lal says her union activities have had a positive impact on her personally.
“It’s helped in a lot of ways,” explains Lal. “The resources given to me by the Hospital Employees’ Union have broadened my knowledge and skills about the basic rights of workers in this country. Every aspect of who I am today is solely based on what I’ve learned from the union I’m involved in.”
Besides earning a decent living now that she’s full-time at Little Mountain Place, Lal says that having a pension for her future as well as extended health care and dental plans have improved her family’s quality of life.
“When you have small children you need those benefits,” explains Lal. “My benefits were there when I needed them – like special leave if my kids were sick, or paid sick leave when I am sick. I appreciate every aspect of having benefits. Had I not been in the union, I would not have the coverage I do now, as it’s very expensive to buy your own medical and dental insurance.”
Lal encourages other workers to become activists. “I would always advocate for every union member to be involved because it’s your union. There would be no union without the members. Find the resources available to you and use them to upgrade your skills, broaden your knowledge, help co-workers who need assistance, and know your rights to take care of your own needs as well.”