FreshCo Bargaining Update: A Tale of Two FreshCos
We wanted to send this out to all FreshCo, Sobeys and IGA members who work for franchised store owners. This is a comparison of two sets of FreshCo negotiations, showing the contrast in how different franchisees have chosen to approach the bargaining process… and the impact these approaches have on the workers in those stores.
Store 1: Cobblestone FreshCo in Grande Prairie
Store 2: Saddletowne FreshCo in Calgary
Both owner-operators worked in the non-union grocery industry before they became FreshCo franchisees. Both chose to purchase a franchise knowing they would be unionized. Both have worked with and fought with the union on different workplace issues. They are very comparable from the union’s perspective.
Let’s look at bargaining.
Both have had 4 days of negotiation:
- Cobblestone: February 18 and 19, May 14 and 15
- Saddletowne: April 20 and 21, May 11 and 12
Signed agreed-to items after 4 days of negotiation:
- Cobblestone – 0 pages of signed agreed-to items
- Saddletowne – 13 pages of signed agreed-to items
You can see the signed agreed-to items from the Saddletowne FreshCo negotiations at the following links:
What is the difference between these two sets of negotiations? Why are we getting agreement in one set and not the other?
The answer is pretty simple. The owner-operators at the Cobblestone location are not interested in working with the union and making reasonable improvements to the contract.
Let’s use the right to have a Union Steward as an example. You will see very reasonable terms on page 2 of Saddletowne’s signed agreed-upon items document from April 21st.
ARTICLE 4 – UNION REPRESENTATION
4.01
(a) The Union shall have the right to appoint Shop Stewards. The Union will advise the Employer in writing of the name of the employee(s) so appointed and the department they represent. The Union agrees to advise the Employer in writing of any changes made by appointment from time to time.
(b) A Shop Steward may meet with the Employer during work hours with no loss of pay to discuss matters pertaining to the Collective Agreement or Employee concerns.
(c) A request to meet with an employee confidentially, before or after a meeting in paragraph (b) above, during work hours with no loss of pay, will not be unreasonably denied.
“This is standard union language that exists in almost all UFCW Local 401 contracts,” says Chris O’Halloran, Executive Director for UFCW Local 401. “We have debated a similar article for four days at Cobblestone without results.”
One thing Cobblestone and Saddletowne have in common is that both have refused to table a monetary offer to improve wages and benefits.
“The franchisees and their lawyer negotiator are sticking with the old model of negotiations, saying that all non-money issues must dealt with before they will talk wage and benefit improvements,” says O’Halloran. “We are pushing both franchisees to put money on the table and meet their employees’ needs around the affordability crisis.”
We will continue to press for the best possible deal for members working at both franchises. Stay tuned for more updates on FreshCo Bargaining, and if you have questions, please contact Chris O’Halloran at (587) 999-6448 or by e-mail at [email protected].
In Solidarity,
Your Union
UFCW Local 401
Your union bargaining committee at Cobblestone FreshCo.
Posted on: June 16,2026