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You are here: Home --> Work at Karma --> Member Labour

Karma Co-operative is a member run co-operative food store. While Karma does employ several people, it relies extensively on members to perform certain tasks. Members have the option however, of being working members or non-working members.

Working or non-working: Which one suits you best?

Karma Co-op offers working and non-working memberships. Every working member commits to the equivalent of two hours of labour a month in exchange for paying the shelf price on all our products. Non-working members pay a 10% surcharge on all their groceries or a flat fee each month of $18.

Working Member Information

Training Shifts

All in-store member labour jobs require one initial two hour training shift, for which members get credit. Set up and clean up training shifts involve approximately one hour of training and one hour of work so come prepared. Cash training involves two hours of training including a trial run. You can sign up for a training shift in the member's room at Karma or e-mail the member labour coordinator at mlc AT karmacoop.org.

Work Teams

Working members have many options regarding their two hour monthly work commitment. The most efficient way to fulfill your work commitment is to join a work team. Four different jobs in the store comprise most of the work teams. They are set-up, cash, clean up and cheese cutting.

Each of the work teams has one or several coordinators responsible for filling shifts. Once you choose a certain team, your coordinator can then slot you in for a certain shift each month. You are welcome to be part of several teams concurrently or consecutively.

The Four Work Teams

Set up:

Time:	Set up tasks are performed before the store opens each morning. Set up is scheduled approximately two hours before the store opens (9:15am for 11:00am opening, 8:00am for a 10:00am opening) although some flexibility is possible with advance notice.
Tasks:	Set up includes such tasks as putting out the snacks, putting out clean utensils for the wet bulk, date-checking the bread, dairy & spreads & restocking various items.
Training:	A checklist exists in the kitchen and staff provide on-site training.
Co-ordinator	See Co-ordinators page.

 

Cash:

Time:	It is suggested that new members become familiar with the store and its products before doing cash shifts. However, if you have previous cashiering experience or are particularly interested in this work please contact the member labour coordinator. Cash shifts are available any time the store is open for business.
Tasks:	Cashiering includes ringing in members’ groceries as well as performing administrative tasks by processing member’s cards. Cashiers may also inform prospective members about the co-op. They are also expected to do cleaning, bagging of bulk items, tying cardboard (if physically able) and other jobs assigned by the manager when not ringing a member through the cash.
Training:	Members interested in cashiering need to complete a two hour training session for which they get work credit. This training session can be scheduled through the Member Labour Coordinator (link). Cash trainings occur several times a month, specifically on Tuesday or Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings.
Co-ordinators	There are three cash coordinators, each for a prospective time period of the week.

 

Clean up:

Time:	Clean up is performed by two or three members each evening at store closing. The shift starts 15 minutes before the store closes.
Tasks:	Clean up tasks include tying up cardboard and putting out recycling, cleaning surfaces, sweeping and mopping the store, putting away the snacks, cleaning the kitchen and bathrooms, and emptying the garbage. Clean up is a more physically demanding member labour job than the other work team jobs.
Training:	No advance training is required for clean up. A checklist exists in the kitchen and the staff provide on-site training.
Co-ordinators	See Co-ordinators page.

 

Cheese cutting:

Time:	Cheese cutting occurs twice a week, after 2pm on Tuesdays and various times on Fridays or Saturdays.
Tasks:	The job of the cheese cutter is to cut various bulk cheeses into smaller sizes and to display the smaller pieces for sale in the store.
Training:	Cheese cutting requires one training session for which members receive work credit.
Co-ordinators	See Co-ordinators page.

 

Last Minute Shifts
If you are not able to commit to a certain shift regularly then you are welcome to pick up shifts on our “Work Shifts Available” board in the store. Please take the chit off the board, inform the manager on duty you are taking said shift, and call the appropriate coordinator to let them know the shift is now covered.

Also, members are welcome to call the store in search of a shift for that day or a few days hence. Call 416-534-1470 and ask to speak to any manager.

Other Work at Karma
Other work is available at Karma Co-op although it is suggested that new members begin with one of the four types of work listed above. Laundry, inventory, administrative duties, phone calling are some of the other member labour responsibilities. Contact your member labour coordinator if you are interested in finding out more about such positions.(link to member labour coordinator)

Work Exemptions Available at Karma:
All work exemptions entitle members to working member prices while being exempt from work responsibilities. If you are interested in receiving work exemption for any of the following reasons please fill out the “Work Exemptions” form and return it to Marilou Lawrence's mailbox. All work exemptions apply only for entire calendar months.

WORK EXEMPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE ONLY IF THE APPROPRIATE PAPERWORK IS FILLED OUT PRIOR TO THE TIME OF EXEMPTION.

Maternity Leave
Working members may receive one year’s maternity leave. Two person households may receive six months each respectively upon the birth or adoption of a child.

Medical Exemption
Members who are unable to work for health reasons are entitled to medical exemption from work. The length of the medical exemption is determined by the member.

Leave of Absence
Planning on leaving town for a little while and won’t be able to shop at Karma? Exemption from work is granted to anyone who will not be shopping at Karma for at least a month.

Senior’s Exemption
Members sixty five years of age and older are not required to work, although are welcome to do so.

What happens if you don’t fulfill your work obligation?

All working members currently commit to working two hours per month. Should a member fall behind in their hours one month they are welcome to make them up the following month. If a member falls four hours or more behind, they are temporarily charged the 10% non-working surcharge and do not accumulate more work hours while paying the surcharge.

Members need to work off all the hours owed before the surcharge is removed from their account. One exception to this rule is that if a member works a specific day and shops that same day they are not required to pay the surcharge.

If no effort is made to work off the owed hours then members will be switched automatically to non-working status. Members are welcome to switch back to working status once their debt is cleared.

Questions about your work commitment?

Here are two staff people that can help:

Member Labour Coordinator, Sara Pulins
The member labour coordinator ensures that the member labour system runs smoothly. Sara Pulins is responsible for helping members find work that is suited to them and that as many work shifts are filled as possible. She is also responsible for scheduling cash trainings.
Call 416-534-1240 or e-mail mlc@karmacoop.org.

Membership Secretary, Marilou Lawrence
The membership secretary is responsible for administrative duties regarding working and non-working members. She enters both working and non-working member information into the membership database and on membership cards. She enters such information as names, addresses, loan and membership fee payments and work hours completed and owed.
E-mail memberrecords@karmacoop.org or call the store at 416-534-1470 on Thursdays.

Non-Working Member Information

Non-working members pay a 10% surcharge on the price of all products in the store. Members may pay a flat fee each calender month of $18 per member instead of the surcharge. This is more economical if the member purchases more than $180 in a given month. Members may choose each month if they wish to take advantage of the flat fee. Each member in the household must pay the flat fee, therefore if there are two people in the household the flat fee would be $36.

Want to switch from non-working to working?

Non-working members may become working members and vice versa. Memberships are changed only at the beginning of the calender month. Memberships may be switched only every three months.