96% of Safeway Members Do Not Trust Sobeys
Hundreds of Safeway Members Express Frustration with Sobeys in Virtual Meeting
Wow! Last night, we held a virtual meeting with Safeway members from across the province. Hundreds of you joined on the phone or over Zoom to ask questions and to tell us your thoughts.
We heard you loud and clear.
President Thomas Hesse and Secretary Treasurer Richelle Stewart hosted the meeting with hundreds of members from across the province on June 3, 2026.
The goal of the meeting was to inform members about where things stand in the bargaining process with Sobeys and find out what Safeway members want to see happen in the coming weeks and months..
Not only did Hesse and Stewart take questions for the full two-hour meeting from members, but they also asked Safeway union members for their thoughts on how they feel about critical issues related to the bargaining process.
There was an important discussion about how Sobeys has been operating its business.
From a $750 million write-down of Voilà to closing down stores that will be converted to other brands, it has become clear to your union that they are not acting in our members’ best interests.
When we asked you about your thoughts on this topic, our members strongly agreed that Sobeys must do better for Safeway members.
“Simply put, Sobeys needs to do a much better job of investing in their Safeway employees and their workplaces. Our members show up to every single shift and do the hard front-line work that helps make Sobeys one of the most profitable grocers in North America,” said President Thomas Hesse. “It is a disservice to our members for Sobeys to do anything less than their best to make Safeway a great place to work and for customers to shop from.”
Given how bargaining has gone with Sobeys to date, we asked members if they trust their employer.
Unsurprisingly, the results were a resounding no.
“These results are a direct message to Sobeys – workers are fed up with how poorly the company has handled bargaining and their constant use of bullying tactics,” explained Secretary Treasurer Richelle Steward. “When you seek leave to appeal from the Supreme Court of Canada to roll back workers’ hard-earned wage increases, it is no wonder trust is at an all-time low.”
As you know, your union has successfully applied for mediation with Sobeys. We reminded members that a government-appointed mediator cannot impose a settlement. However, a mediator can make recommendations about what a settlement may look like on key issues.
With that said, we applied for mediation because Sobeys continues to ignore the issues you told us that matter to you.
We asked attendees if they think their union should be more aggressive in bargaining with Sobeys given the ongoing cost-of-living and inflation crises.
You gave us a resounding yes.
At the end of the meeting, we asked the hundreds of members who joined what should happen after mediation. Do members believe there should be a strike vote in the event mediation does not result in a fair settlement?
This would not be a vote to begin strike action, but it would provide our members with maximum leverage at the bargaining table if Sobeys continues to ignore their issues.
Members told us, in no uncertain terms, that yes, they would support taking a strike vote.
Hesse and Stewart answered dozens of member questions about bargaining, what to expect from mediation, the possibility of a strike vote, and what your union will do to help our members if the decision to actually go on strike is eventually made.
President Hesse explained that a strike vote is not the same thing as a vote to take strike action.
He clarified that a strike vote is a “self-defence” tool available to union members to protect themselves if the company conducts a lock-out vote, but “yes” does not mean members are heading to the picket lines yet.
Additionally, Secretary Treasurer Stewart informed the members that your union is actively working to determine what strike pay and benefits will look like for full-time and part-time members in the event a strike occurs.
She reassured the members that UFCW Local 401 has a strong strike fund and that members will be compensated tax-free with no obligation to repay their union when the strike ends.
We heard you loud and clear. Your union takes your concerns and views seriously, and we are always listening to learn how we can support you through the bargaining and mediation process.
Congratulations to members Patricia Cook, Tanya Torringa, and Ann Adamson! You were each selected as the winners of $100 Safeway Gift Cards for your participation in the virtual meeting last night!
Please contact Aaron Singleton via email or phone at (780)221-7466 to claim your prize.
Your union will continue to update you as the bargaining process unfolds. Should you have any outstanding questions, do not hesitate to reach out to your Union Labour Relations Officer.
In solidarity,
Your Union
UFCW Local 401
Posted on: June 05,2026