Reminder | Respecting and maintaining member confidentiality is non-negotiable

To All Shop Stewards and Local Presidents,

This is a necessary reminder of the importance of upholding the privacy and confidentiality of our members.

When you share information about a member’s personal circumstances without their explicit consent; whether its about a grievance, a medical issue, a disciplinary matter, or anything else – you are not just breaking their trust, you are actively harming people who have entrusted you with their personal information.

Members pay Union dues out of their hard-earned wages, and turn to their Union in times of need. These workers deserve nothing less than the unwavering support of their Union. When their privacy is violated, they feel victimized by the very people they hoped would protect and support them. This in turn causes members to lose faith in their Union as a safe and supportive structure and leaves them more isolated and vulnerable than when they came to us for assistance.

There is zero excuse for gossip and no justification for betraying a member’s confidence. Each of you have signed the Privacy Policy agreement and it is our expectation that you abide by it, with no exceptions. This is a fundamental and integral part of the duty of the role of shop steward or local president. Failure to uphold these standards not only harms our members,  your credibility and the credibility of the Union, but may result in charges levied against individual Union representatives, as well as the Union.

If you have questions about what constitutes a privacy breach or how to navigate confidentiality correctly, please ask as we are happy to assist. A lack of awareness will not excuse further harm.

Let’s hold ourselves, and each other to a high standard and continue building a strong and resilient Union that we can all be proud of.

In solidarity,

Eric McNeely
BCFMWU Provincial President

Printable PDF: Respecting and Maintaining Member Confidentiality is Non-negotiable