T-Force Logistics: The Potential Cost of Striking

As we continue to prepare for a possible strike at T-Force Logistics, it’s time to highlight the role of picket captains. Picket captains are the critical leaders from your workplace who step up to organize and run the picket line during your strike. We can’t have a strike without them!

Before we get to that, though, we wanted to cover some important points about the economics of going on strike.

IMPORTANT: The Cost of Striking

There were some really good questions from the last two membership information meetings, and again we’d like to thank everyone for engaging. We want to make sure that we’re all on the same page regarding the costs of a strike.

Starting on the second week of a possible strike, you will receive $500.00 a week in picket benefits. Let’s compare that number to what strikers would lose in income, using the cars/SUV/mini van benchmark as an example. This is the lowest benchmark; if you earn more than that, you can repeat these calculations for your rate.

You will need to picket 5 days and 40 hours to receive the $500.00 in picket benefits. Using this example for the benchmark:

$180.00 benchmark x 5 days = $900.00 vs. $500.00 a week in picket benefits. 

This means you could lose $400.00 a week if you go on strike. Unfortunately, the hard reality is that picket pay will in no way make up for or replicate your income, and you will be facing serious economic hardship on strike.

You should plan to be on strike for a long period of time. The question members should ask themselves before the vote is this:

Will the company improve the offer enough, if we go on strike, to make up what I will lose in income?

“Sadly that is rarely ever the case,” said Chris O’Halloran, Executive Director for UFCW Local 401. “When dealing with a company as large as T-Force, members shouldn’t expect a major change in the company’s offer once a strike commences.”

We understand that frustration and emotion can run high, but it would be irresponsible to portray a strike in these circumstances as a winning exercise.

If the membership rejects the current offer, there are no guaranties that the offer will improve. It may stay the same or it may get worse. The company has no legal obligation to improve the offer, or even to table the same offer, after a lockout or strike commences.

What a Picket Captain Does

With that said, let’s talk about the key leaders from your workforce who we’ll be recruiting as Picket Captains in the event of a strike. The main duty of the Picket Captain is to be a leader and support the members walking the picket line. There are a lot of job functions of a Picket Captain listed below, but you need to be a leader, advocate, and voice for your fellow workers.

In the event of a vote to strike, it’s important that you talk with your co-workers and make sure your leaders sign up to be picket captains. We will make sure they are trained and supported in their role, but only the membership can make sure their leaders sign up. We would need eight (8) picket captains for a strike at T-Force Logistics.

The basic job functions and duties of a Picket Captain are these:

• Make sure that all picketers sign in and out in order to get their strike benefits.   
• Make sure that the picket rules and regulations are being observed.
• Maintain a peaceful and orderly picket line.
• Remit any report forms or information reported on your shift to your Union Representative for immediate attention.  
• Make sure to boost the members’ morale; they’re depending on you!  
• Remember, your Union Representative are here to provide support and assistance to the members.  

If it becomes necessary to strike, we’ll send out a link for workers to sign up for picket captain training. Picket Captain training will be paid time off from work.

Upcoming Vote Reminder

The vote on the Company’s offer will take place on Tuesday October 15th. It’s an online vote that will be open from 12:01 am to 11:59 pm. Please make sure to let the union know if you hear about anyone that is not receiving our email updates, so we can update their email and make sure they receive their ballot.

Click on the links below for access to some key information documents:

• A summary document of your current benefits package.
• A copy of our Strike Handbook for members.
• A copy of the company’s current offer.

Please contact Jason Parrell at jason.parrell@ufcw.ca  Kyle Sandau at ksandau@ufcw401.ab.ca, or Chris O’Halloran at cohalloran@ufcw401.ab.ca if you have any questions.

Posted on: October 11,2024