Makeup store Sephora in Aberdeen Mall, Kamloops.

Image Credit: FLICKR/bargainmoose

A North American-wide cosmetic company just adopted a new policy that benefits employees because of the workers at the location in Kamloops.

The Sephora outlet in Aberdeen mall is the only unionized shop and employees there spoke up asking for paid bag checks, according to media release by the United Food and Commercial Workers 1518 union.

Sephora employees can’t leave a work shift without management checking their bags, and prior to the new policy that became effective Feb. 9, employees were not being paid for the bag checking time.

The new policy states an employer must pay them for the time it takes management to check their bags including wait time and applies to all Sephora outlets nationwide.

"We're very proud of our members for voicing their concern," said union president Kim Novak in the release. "As their union, we've heard from our members of situations where they were waiting up to 30 minutes for a bag check after they had clocked out. They weren't getting paid for this time, even though they were still on the employer's watch. It was unfair, and we're glad to see that Sephora is taking steps to build a more respectful workplace."

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Employees at the Kamloops Sephora unionized with UFCW 1518 in summer 2022. They entered bargaining to secure their first collective agreement shortly after joining the union and are still in negotiations, the union said.

READ MORE: Drive to unionize Kamloops Sephora led by one of its newest employees

"We have no doubt that the improved bag check policy is the result of our members unionizing and raising their voices," Novak said, adding the win has been a real morale boost for the members, who are fighting hard to win more respect, equity and better compensation at the bargaining table.

"Our goal is to reach a great contract, but the beauty of joining a union is that your power doesn't end at the bargaining table, and our Sephora members proved that," Novak said. "Unpaid bag checks are a big point of contention at lots of Sephora stores. Now, because our members pushed back, there's a new policy that will benefit Sephora employees everywhere in Canada, not just Kamloops. It's amazing."

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