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“I like being able to help people out where I can. A lot of people are coming from other countries where they didn’t have unions or they don’t know what their rights are or what they’re entitled to. I don't want anybody to miss out on anything."

What started as a part-time evening job when MGEU member Linda Meier was a teenager became a life-long career.

Until last fall, Meier was a Dietary Aide at Poseidon Care Centre in Winnipeg. In September, she moved into a cook position. Good colleagues and positive connections with clients are part of what’s contributed to Meier’s long-standing career.

“We have a good team in the kitchen. I have a good supervisor that I’ve worked with for 35 years,” says Meier. “We have our own little island in the kitchen. We all work together well.”

In her current position as a Cook, Meier starts at 6 am to make breakfast. Once breakfast is ready to serve, lunch prep begins and after that, getting ready for the next day. The centre follows a three-week menu, which helps make meal preparation straightforward. That, and having a good team, made up of dietary aides, a pot washer, and two cooks, makes the day and the work enjoyable.

“Everybody’s got their assigned tasks that they do and every position has the same tasks so it’s like a well-oiled machine where everybody does what they need to do to get everything done,” says Meier.

Having a kitchen and preparing meals in-house means that the residents have opportunities to make special requests. Meier describes the centre as offering very resident-centred care and she says the team does their best to fulfill requests from residents.

Meier has been part of the Workplace Health & Safety Committee for many years. It’s one way she shares her voice and contributes to a positive workplace. Being on the committee is also a way Meier advocates on behalf of colleagues who may not be comfortable doing so.

A desire to help her colleagues also led Meier to become President of her Local. After the former long-standing President stepped down, Meier was approached by coworkers who thought she was well-suited for the position because she would stick up for them and give them a voice.

Initially caught off guard by the idea, Meier agreed to run after considering it and was elected in October 2023. It’s a position she enjoys being in.

“I like being able to help people out where I can. A lot of people are coming from other countries where they didn’t have unions or they don’t know what their rights are or what they’re entitled to,” says Meier. “I don’t want anybody to miss out on anything.”

Meier’s parents were immigrants and didn’t know about employment insurance and maternity leave so her mom missed out on those when she had children. That knowledge has shaped Meier’s interest in supporting her colleagues as Local President.

Serving as President is the first union position Meier’s held and while there’s been a learning curve, she’s felt encouraged along the way. Taking MGEU classes and learning about the different roles about how the union is involved in helping her colleagues in all areas of the workplace is something Meier has enjoyed.

When asked if she has any advice for people who are wanting to get involved in a union position, her answer is short and sweet.

“Just do it. That’s my advice,” she says. “It’s worth it and it’s not difficult and you’re supported along the way.”