When a member was falsely accused of smoking marijuana on the job, union steward Marike Mueller-Ehrenberg stepped in to protect his job.
“You cannot accuse someone of doing something that they did not do,” said Marike, who works at a Loblaws Great Food store in Toronto. “During a meeting, we figured out that management was wrong and they apologized.”
Marike said she was relieved with the resolution.
“The outcome was great, and the member was very happy because no one can afford a three-day suspension nowadays,” she said.
Marike said she is proud to be a union steward.
“UFCW is our safety net,” she said. “Whenever I think I am being mistreated, I can look through our contract and I can contact my union representative. Having union representation makes me feel good to come to work.”
Marike, who has been a steward since 2017, credits her family with inspiring her to get involved with the union. Marike’s mother was a retired unionized teacher.
“She taught me everything that a union can do.”
She is grateful to belong to UFCW 1006A.
“You are always protected with a union – the union gives everybody power.”
