Safeway Gas Bar Sale Leaves Too Many Questions
As you know, Sobeys sold its Safeway Gas Bars to Shell.
Here is what we know so far:
- Shell has informed UFCW Local 401 that the sale will not be completed until July 30th, 2023.
- Your Collective Agreement will remain in force after Shell takes over the operation of the Safeway Gas Bars from Sobeys.
- All your benefits will remain in place even after Shell takes over operations.
Shell likely didn’t do this out of the kindness of their heart, of course. The Alberta Labour Code governs Alberta’s unionized labour relations. The Labour Code provides for situations where a business or a piece of a business is sold to another entity, such as Shell.
This part of the labour code is called ‘Successorship.’ Think of it like passing on the captaincy of a sports team; the new captain must follow specific rules and maintain the same responsibilities as the previous one. Successorship ensures that employees’ rights and agreements are protected, even if the company is sold.
You are still unionized members of UFCW Local 401! And until another agreement is negotiated and voted on by the 401 Gas Bar members, it remains in force.
Unfortunately, neither Sobeys nor Shell have provided any further facts.
These are urgent questions, and selective silence is not acceptable.
So we expect you will have many questions for which we will be pressing Shell for answers. These will include:
- The present Collective Agreement of Safeway Gas Bars expired September 3rd, 2022.
Even though the current Collective Agreement remains in force, it is of the utmost urgency for our members to know when new negotiations will start! - How will the transition from Sobeys to Shell affect your job security?
As soon as we get any additional information, we will, of course, reach out again.
In the meantime, if you have any pressing questions, please contact Union Labour Relations Officer Sandy Harmeson by phone at 403-291-1047 (Ext. 1107) or sharmeson@ufcw401.ab.ca.
Posted on: June 21,2023