A recap of tonight’s town hall

The energy on today’s Telephone Town Hall was incredible. Your voices came through loud and clear – you’re ready to fight for what you deserve, and we heard you.

We understand your concerns about Safeway’s January 26th wage decision. That’s why we invited Sobeys’ Vice President to today’s town hall to address these issues directly. Their silence speaks volumes.

Ask yourself:

1. Do I deserve a raise? Absolutely – your hard work drives Safeway’s success every single day, and you deserve fair compensation in this affordability crisis.
2.  Do I need a raise? Without question – you’ve adapted to increased responsibilities, managed difficult customer interactions, and gone above and beyond your original duties. Your contribution has only grown stronger.
3.  Can Safeway afford it? Look at the facts – while their profits soar into the billions, their CEO earns millions. Your fair wage is a drop in their ocean of profits.

Remember when they called you “essential” during COVID? Well, you still are. Don’t let them convince you otherwise.

What we are doing to protect your interests:

• Appealing the court decision that sent your wage increases back to arbitration
• Working to stop efforts to take away your earned raises through a legal “stay”
• Filing an unfair labour practice complaint against Sobeys for trying to intimidate and manipulate workers
• Getting ready to fight with everything we’ve got:
  • Pushing for early bargaining talks
  • Building a strong legal strategy
  • Preparing to bargain from a position of power
  • Planning a campaign to tell our story
  • Making sure we have strike funding ready
  • Keeping everything open, democratic, and transparent – because this is YOUR union

Our strength is in our numbers and those numbers are powerful. In our recent survey, 66% of you (as per today) want to meet at the bargaining table with the employer in December, and an overwhelming 95% stand ready to strike if necessary. This is what real solidarity looks like.

NEXT STEPS

Survey coming soon: We’ll be launching a survey to gather your input on bargaining proposals. Your voice matters!

Calling all active members: We’re looking for dedicated members to join our bargaining team. If you’re passionate about representing your colleagues and making a difference, we want to hear from you! Reply to this email if you’re interested in being part of the negotiation process.

How you can help:

1. Update your contact information
2. Follow our social media for real-time updates:
   • Facebook: UFCW Local 401
   • Instagram: @ufcw401
   • Website: gounion.ca
3. Stay connected with your Union Labour Relations Officer and Walking Stewards
4. Take a course if you want to up your union game and learn how to become a labour activist in your workplace.
5. Continue supporting your coworkers and staying united

Never forget – your union is simply you and your coworkers standing as one. Those who try to divide us are the same ones trying to reduce your wages. This is about corporate greed, plain and simple. But together, we’re more powerful than they think.

Stay strong. Stay united. And stay ready.

A quick note to those who experienced technical difficulties: we sincerely apologize for the call drop during the town hall. If you feel you missed anything important, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your Union Labour Relations Officer.

Posted on: November 20,2024