Critical Telephone Town Hall and Virtual Meeting for Safeway Employees March 11 at 7 PM

UFCW Local 401 Sues Sobeys for Defamation…

There aren’t actually two sides to every story. Some stories are true, and some are not.

In the age of Donald Trump, it seems that billionaires and people in power can say whatever they want, creating mistruths and conspiracies that don’t exist.

This is often done to confuse and frighten people.

Generally speaking, in law, defamation is the act of sharing false information about someone that harms their reputation. The key word there is false. Just because someone doesn’t like facing a hard truth about their actions doesn’t mean they have been defamed.

As we approach bargaining with Sobeys, make no mistake, Local 401 will continue to bargain in good faith, to make every attempt to be reasonable, and to hold Sobeys accountable.

In the last ratification vote, over 80% of employees complained about Sobeys’ threats and manipulation. Those actions sowed the seeds of dissent, undermined bargaining, and distorted decision-making.

Unfortunately, we worry that Sobeys will continue to do more of this.

Your union is fighting back!

Still, every minute and every day, we will be the union that we are supposed to be. We will push back, ensure your voices are heard, and push Sobeys to a place where it is more difficult for them to use manipulative tactics.

Click here to see the Defamation statement of claim filed by our lawyers.

If you ever want to attend bargaining and see what happens for yourself, please let us know. If you ever want to review any or even all relevant documents, give us a call and we will sit down with you to review them.

Our union’s commitment is to complete transparency. Contrast that with Sobeys’ refusal to open their books to justify their economic arguments.

We know that Sobeys’ pressure has distorted some opinions. But if you want to get to the truth, we are here to assist with that.

If you have a question you would like addressed during our special meeting for Safeway workers on March 11 at 7 PM, email it to media@ufcw401.ab.ca and be entered for a chance to win a $100 Safeway grocery gift card!

Many members are tired of Sobeys’ antics

When adjusted for Sobeys’ manipulation, we estimate that 80% of Safeway employees voted against and were dissatisfied with Sobeys’ offer. Sobeys threatened its employees and put them between a rock and a hard place during an affordability crisis when people are struggling to get by.

Let’s be blunt: Sobeys did not have to roll anyone’s wages back. They stole those increases from you. You earned your increases, and you need them. Sobeys’ profits are through the roof. If you’re looking for the truth, it is, unfortunately, a hard truth.

Safeway employees unionized in the 1950s, more than 75 years ago. Of the hundreds of thousands of hours and thousands and thousands of days worked by Safeway employees, there have only been strikes at Safeway for a total of approximately 80 days.

However, Safeway employees have repeatedly taken strike votes to remind the billionaires that workers matter.

Union strength makes a difference

There is another important truth: Safeway employees have a contract. Non-union Sobeys and Walmart workers do not. What does that mean?

• Safeway employees have protections against termination and discipline. Non-union Sobeys and Walmart workers do not.
• Full-time and part-time workers at Safeway have contract-guaranteed benefits that non-union Sobeys and Walmart workers do not. There is a system of seniority that recognizes your years of service. Non-union Sobeys and Walmart workers do not have this.
• While modest, there is a pension benefit that Safeway employees have. Anyone else working in the service industry typically does not have a pension benefit.
• As you have a union, you have a voice and an opportunity to go to the bargaining table. You have democratic workplace rights. No one gets to vote on anything at a Walmart or a non-union Sobeys store.
• There are many more significant differences and advantages that unionized Safeway employees enjoy. Just take a stroll through your union contract to see the pages of rights that you have that differentiate your job from a non-union retail job.

It’s time to unite. It’s time to see the truth. It’s time to bargain hard.

Sobeys complains in Safeway Talks that you are the highest paid grocery store employees in Alberta. Undoubtedly, that is because you have a union. But more importantly, it is because you deserve to be the highest-paid grocery store employees in Alberta.

When managed properly, Safeway’s brand has been and could be a premium shopping experience with a high level of service and an enhanced environment and culture. Safeway employees have and can deliver that while still balancing high production demands. But let’s be clear, your premium work deserves premium compensation.

For a comprehensive update about Safeway negotiations, please join us on March 11 at 7 PM via telephone or live video stream.

Posted on: February 28,2025