WHY ORGANIZE?
Organizing is about improving working conditions, strengthening your voice, and building a better future for you and your coworkers.
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When workers come together through DC17, they gain:
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✔ Fair wages and benefits
✔ Safer working conditions
✔ Representation on the job
✔ Access to training and career advancement
✔ A collective voice that is heard and respected
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You deserve better - and organizing is how you get there.
HOW ORGANIZING WORKS
Organizing is a confidential, step-by-step process supported by experienced DC17 representatives.
Reach out to DC17 to speak with an organizer. Your information is kept confidential.
We work with you and your coworkers to understand concerns and build collective support.
Workers show support by signing union cards.
Once enough support is reached, an application is submitted to the Labour Board.
Workers vote to join the Union. If successful, your workplace becomes unionized.
ORGANIZING FAQS
Become a Union Salt
Salting is when union members seek employment with non-union contractors to help organize from within. It’s a proven strategy that helps expand union representation, improve working conditions, and bring more workers under fair agreements.
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As a salt, you play an important role in strengthening our union and supporting workers who may not yet have a voice on the job.
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As a salt, you will:
✔ Build relationships with workers on job sites
✔ Support non-union workers in understanding their rights
✔ Help identify workplace issues and opportunities to organize
✔ Strengthen union presence across the industry
✔ Work closely with DC17 organizers to guide the process
Who can become a salt?
Salting is open to motivated Union members who are:
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Committed to union values
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Strong communicators and team players
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Interested in helping grow the union
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Willing to work strategically and confidentially
No prior organizing experience is required - DC17 will provide guidance and support.
Why get involved?
Salting is one of the most effective ways to:
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Expand union opportunities for workers
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Raise standards across the industry
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Support fair wages, safety, and respect on all job sites
It’s a chance to make a real impact - not just for yourself, but for others in your trade.
Interested in becoming a salt?
Connect with our organizing team to learn more and get started.
Is organizing confidential?
Yes. Your conversations with DC17 are completely confidential. Your employer will not know you’ve reached out or who is involved.
TALK TO AN ORGANIZER
Ready to start organizing or just have questions? Whether you’re in painting, drywall, glazing, finishing trades, or any related field, we’re here to help - from the very first conversation, you’ll have support.
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You don’t need all the answers to get started. Many workers reach out simply to learn what’s possible. Our team will listen, answer your questions, and help you understand your options, confidentially and without pressure.
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Reach out to the DC17 Organizing Team to start the conversation. We’ll guide you step-by-step, working alongside you and your coworkers to build something better - just like we’ve done for workers across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.
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Every organized workplace starts with a conversation - and that conversation has the power to change everything. It’s how workers take a stand, support each other, and demand better: better wages, safer job sites, stronger benefits, and real respect on the job.
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This is how change happens. Not alone, but together.
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With DC17, you’re backed by experienced organizers, proven strategies, and a union of skilled tradespeople who’ve taken this same step and built something better for themselves and their families. When workers stand united, they don’t just improve their own workplaces, they raise the standard for the entire industry.
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If you’re ready for better, it starts with a conversation. Let’s build it, together.
