Alberta Retail Workers
Defend Their Rights
Safeway Workers Vote in Favour of Strike Action
Alberta Safeway workers have given a resounding
rejection to the insulting last "offer" received from Safeway. Members
of United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 401, voted 79 per
cent in favour of strike action in a province-wide,
government-supervised vote which took place on June 25-26.
As soon as the vote was announced, workers
starting posting messages of Solidarity!, fist
emojis, and their positive reactions to the results on the UFCW Local
401 page. "I can't be more happy to hear this result! Good job brothers
and sisters!" one worker wrote. "We are worth far more than Sobeys [who
owns Safeway, -WF Ed.]
is willing to not give us....takeaway takeaway takeaway and we are
supposed to be happy with that. Well we have just
given a strong, NO to Sobeys, now we have the mandate to push the
company hard for a fair deal!!!" another wrote. "Stand strong," said a
postal worker, with workers from other sectors expressing their support
and encouragement.
 
Safeway workers post photos from strike votes across the province on
UFCW Local 401's facebook page.
Safeway workers' collective agreement expired in
2017. The Union issued a bargaining update on July 1 informing that
Sobeys has now agreed, following the strike vote, to go back to the
bargaining table. Bargaining sessions are now scheduled be held the
week of July 13 with the assistance of a government appointed mediator.
Clearly, Safeway employees are not looking for a fight but they are
demanding fairness, the update said. Sobeys is also taking steps to be
in a position to lock out the workers.
The pandemic is shining a light on the wages and
working
conditions of the workers who ensure our food supply and provide
essential services to society. Empire Company Limited which owns Sobeys
and
Safeway, like the other giant corporations who control wholesale and
retail grocery trade, were quick to praise the workers as "heroes" and
made
much of the fact that they were increasing their wages. While the
pandemic is far from over, all the supermarket chains have withdrawn
pandemic pay while the workers continue to put themselves and their
families at risk to go to work and make sure Canadians have access to
the food and groceries they need.
Many supermarket workers are among the lowest paid
workers in Canada. The cartels have imposed two-tier wage systems,
part-time and precarious work and constantly try to expand the number
of people working part-time, at or just above minimum wage, and with
few or no benefits. The opening of "discount stores" is one tactic,
with
Sobeys carrying out a five-year plan to convert about 20 per cent of
its stores to FreshCo stores. The concept of a "discount store"
includes driving down wages, cutting staff numbers to the bone, and
providing customers with a bare minimum of service.
 While
boasting of its record profits during the pandemic, Sobeys has refused
to engage in anything that could be called negotiations, and instead is
demanding that the workers accept attacks on wages, job security,
benefits, and working conditions. Sobey's proposals include terms of
conversion to FreshCo stores which are designed to severely
restrict or even eliminate full-time jobs and make precarious work with
wages at or just above minimum wage the norm. For the remaining Safeway
stores, Sobeys has tabled numerous union-busting
proposals to remove workers from the union and use non-union workers in
the Safeway stores to stock shelves and work at in-store kiosks. The
company's demands also include cuts to health and dental
benefits for part-time workers, introduction of a co-payment for health
benefits for full-time workers, cuts to overtime pay, more arbitrary
shift scheduling provisions, and cuts to the education and training
fund.
UFCW Local 401 reports that workers at Safeway and
Sobeys face a high level of stress and anxiety. "You're worried about
your safety and getting sick. Measures to protect you vary from store
to store and are often poorly communicated. Customers are stressed out
and anxious and sometimes they're taking it out on you!"
"In the midst of all of this, Safeway workers have
remained calm and composed. You remain focused on doing your job.
You're supporting the public through this challenging time by ensuring
the food they need gets to their tables..."
"In response, Sobeys is attacking benefits, wages
and
jobs at the bargaining table. While you are doing everything
you can
to make their stores successful, working long hours under incredible
strain to support their skyrocketing sales, Sobeys is pushing to take
work, hours, and pay away from you."
It is unconscionable and the workers have made it
clear they will not stand for it. Workers' Forum calls
on everyone to stand with the Safeway workers. They have been there for
us and we must be there for them! Wear a mask with an "I support
Safeway workers" message when you go shopping. Let the workers know you
will be there
on the picket line with them if they are forced to go on strike. Speak
to your co-workers, families, and neighbours about how Sobeys boasts of
record profits while it treats the workers with contempt. Our security
lies in the fight for the rights of all!
This article was published in
Number 48 - July 9, 2020
Article Link:
Alberta Retail Workers
Defend Their Rights: Safeway Workers Vote in Favour of Strike Action
Website: www.cpcml.ca
Email: editor@cpcml.ca
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