Alberta’s Unions Form a Common Front!
401 Ready to Launch New Safeway Negotiations!
Over 300,000 workers in Alberta have made history by forming a Common Front to fight for their rights!
Your Union has come together with the Alberta Federation of Labour and more than two dozen other unions to adopt the Solidarity Pact. That Pact is our commitment to each other that an attack on one union will be treated as an attack on all.
In an era of uncertainty with no precedent, a trade war has engulfed North America. Alberta’s labour movement won’t allow employers or governments to use this situation as a pretext to deny fair wage increases or to attack the rights of our members. We remain focused on dealing with the hardships faced by Albertans due to an affordability crisis that still needs to be fully addressed.
“The purpose of the Solidarity Pact is to let employers and governments in this province know that the unions will stand together and fight together,” said Gil McGowan, President of the AFL. “All for one, and one for all.”
The Common Front is so-called because it even embraces unions traditionally outside the umbrella of the labour federation. All these unions support the Team Canada approach to defending Canada’s economy and sovereignty. We will also come together to challenge any attempts by any level of government to strip workers of their legal right to strike, or to in any way undermine workers’ bargaining power.
President Hesse meets with a long-term Safeway member.
“In uncertain times, the greatest weapon unions have is unity,” said President Thomas Hesse of UFCW Local 401. “By acting together, we’re far stronger than if we act separately. Solidarity is key to winning the tough fights and protecting our members’ rights.”
President McGowan of the AFL specifically noted your Union and specifically that Safeway workers are potentially headed for a strike this fall. The Common Front will be there if this happens: “We are signaling that we will support them on the picket lines,” he said, and that unions also will support a boycott if one is called.
“Safeway needs to know that we mean business,” says Union President Thomas Hesse. “Safeway must restore rolled back wages retroactively. They must provide employees with job security, and they must make a number of other changes to ensure the Union contract has a new level of fairness. If they don’t, hundreds of thousands of Albertans will shop elsewhere. Nobody wants this, but hopefully, this will motivate Safeway to do the right thing for their employees.”
Obviously, this support will be important in bringing pressure to bear on Sobey’s. As Local 401 has stood shoulder to shoulder on the picket lines with CUPE members at Alberta public schools in recent months, they will stand by us when and if the time comes to strike. And teachers and nurses and plumbers and electricians and social workers and university professors will be there too!
Richelle Stewart with a motivational speaker at our Women’s Conference.
“Unity is the symbol and strength of our labour movement today,” said Secretary Treasurer Richelle Stewart. “Knowing that their fellow workers will have their backs in a strike will make a world of difference to our Safeway members, and to workers in tough fights across the province.”
Click here to learn more about the Solidarity Pact and Alberta’s Common Front, to get the big picture about the issues our movement is facing in Alberta, and to see a complete list of the organizations that have signed up so far.
The Exciting Return of the 401 Member Spotlight!
Safeway Meat Manager Jordan Stafford.
The 401 Member Spotlight is back! This month, we’re featuring Safeway Meat Manager Jordan Stafford, a long-time member who says that “UFCW 401 has helped secure my job and the rise for better rights. Without the union, we’d be way more vulnerable.”
Click here to see an interview with Jordan and find more information about your Union’s activities and programs in a special Safeway edition of our One Voice newsletter.
Stay strong and stay tuned for more updates from your Union!
In solidarity,
Thomas Hesse, President
Richelle Stewart, Secretary Treasurer
UFCW Local 401
Posted on: April 01,2025