Become a member

Join Teamsters Local 213

Employees who want to join the Teamsters sign a “union authorization card.” When a majority of employees sign cards, they are forwarded to the B.C. Labour Relations Board. The LRB then schedules and conducts a secret ballot election. When the union is certified, the company is required by law to bargain over wages, benefits and working conditions.

As a member of Teamsters Local 213, one of the more than 500 local unions in the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, you will be entitled to many rights and benefits on the job. You will join with other working people to win changes in your workplace and your community.

Contact our union organizer at 604-312-3504.

FAQs

What is a union?

A union is a group of employees who join together within a company to bargain collectively for better wages, stronger benefits and safer working conditions.

What do unions do?

A union’s primary objective is to secure good contracts for its members and to enforce the provisions of that contract. The union also administers some of the contract's important benefits directly. Often these include health plans, pensions and labour/management partnerships and trusts.

How does the union work out problems with management?

Through the grievance procedure. The contract spells out what the grievance procedures are and explains how conflicts are to be resolved.

When management engages in unfair conduct or violates a a provision of the contract there are steps spelled out in the contract to resolve the problem. First, talk with your supervisor. When he or she refuses to do anything about it, go to your Teamster shop steward to get help. The steward sits down with you and management and tries to talk about the issue. If it can't be resolved at this meeting, a business agent from the union approaches the company to talk the issue over. If the problem still cannot be resolved to everyone's satisfaction, the business agent appeals to upper management. If this step fails, both parties bring in a neutral arbitrator to hear evidence and order a final resolution of the problem.

What are shop stewards and business agents?

A shop steward is one of your co-workers, who acts as an agent of the union in the workplace. The Steward's job is to make sure your company lives up to your contract. When there is a problem with management and you need union help, your first stop should be a visit with your shop steward. A business agent is an official of your local union who handles any problems that the shop steward cannot.

Who negotiates the contract?

The Teamsters and the company each choose their own negotiators. The company's team is usually comprised of lawyers, local management and upper management officials. The union team usually consists of bargaining unit employees and expert union negotiators.

What kind of say do I get in the contract?

Before contract talks start, the union asks you what you'd like to see in a contract. Once the contract has been negotiated it's submitted to you and your co-workers for ratification. If a majority doesn't approve of the contract, your negotiating team goes back to the drawing board.

What are union dues? What are they used for?

Union dues are the money you pay to the union to help pay for support staff, legal costs, negotiation costs, arbitrator's fees, etc.

How democratic are unions?

The whole process is open and democratic. You decide if you want to sign an authorization card. You decide whether to vote "yes" on joining the union. You decide which co-workers you want on your negotiating team. You decide what to tell your negotiators you want in a contract. You vote on the contract once it's negotiated. You vote on who will be your shop steward. You vote on who will be the officers of your local..