Fighting For Fairness at Superstore

Local 401 continues to pressure Loblaws Superstores in Alberta

President Hesse and Secretary Treasurer Stewart stand in solidarity with Superstore Shop Stewards.

UFCW Local 401 is continuing to pressure Superstore management in Alberta. Superstore employees need a raise. It’s that simple.

The affordability crisis is hurting Superstore employees. The Alberta provincial government and its policies have caused electricity bills and automobile insurance to go through the roof.

Other provinces in Canada have rent control that restricts the cost of rent. The Alberta government has refused to create rent control laws in Alberta.

Superstore itself has raised grocery prices to the point that Superstore employees can’t afford to shop where they work. There is anxiety and desperation in the air. 

Your current contract 

The last union contract was negotiated when prices were actually going down and interest rates were low. Employees were afraid as the COVID pandemic was new and was raging. Employees went to work scared wondering if they would become ill from working in a crowded grocery store.

Unfortunately, the atmosphere was reflected in union negotiations. Understandably, employees were not interested in pushing very hard with the Alberta government calling them essential. It was broadly speculated that if grocery workers went on strike, the government would force them back to work.

Employees at Superstore who are at top-rate or over scale are about to get a 1.5% wage increase that emerged from the contract negotiated at that time. While inflation has now subsided and hovers in the 2% range, that 1.5% increase is nowhere close to being enough and it does not even apply to all employees.

Preparing for bargaining 

The Superstore contract does not expire until 2026. Bargaining could start earlier. But we cannot legally force the issues until the summer of 2026. However, that does not mean that Local 401 is not campaigning right now.

We are preparing for bargaining with Superstore already. We have asked Superstore to improve wages immediately as a circuit breaker measure to help their employees during the affordability crisis.

Wage increases to meet unique times are not that unusual. You will recall that your union pushed for a $2 per hour wage increase during the pandemic. Unfortunately, Superstore took it away.

During these times and before the agreement expires, we have asked Superstore for a $3 per hour circuit breaker wage increase to help you survive. We have also asked them to match a recent wage increase that Safeway employees received.

To date, Superstore has said no. We believe that they are being arrogant. they can certainly afford to help their employees out while they are struggling. 

Benefits, hours, and safety

Additionally, we have asked Loblaws to provide additional funding for their benefit plans. Unfortunately, the benefit plans are at risk of becoming defunct as employees are utilizing them at record and unanticipated levels. Employees desperately need these benefits at these times. We are awaiting a commitment from Superstore to enhance funding contributions to these critical benefit plans.

We are also asking Superstore to give part-time employees more hours, to improve their staff discount program, and to provide employees with some kind of bonus. Talks are ongoing with Superstore, but we worry that they are continuing to put profits ahead of people.

Local 401 is further demanding that Superstore meet its responsibility to provide a safe workplace as customers have unfortunately become ruder, more aggressive, and at times even violent.

Safeway bargaining is about to commence. Like you, Safeway employees work in the retail grocery industry. And while the Safeway business is not exactly the same as yours, the contract that Safeway employees get, if positive, will have some value as a precedent for Superstore negotiations.

On strike?

At this point, it is hard not to predict a strike at Superstore. There was a three-day strike against Superstore in 2013. It was only with that strike that a fair contract was able to be negotiated.

Hopefully, no strike will be necessary. However, it is important to prepare and anticipate all contingencies now. Above all, it is crucial to show Superstore that workers have unity and that their demands must be taken seriously.

It’s important to remember a very straightforward principle: united we bargain and divided we beg.  

In solidarity,
Thomas Hesse, President
Richelle Stewart, Secretary Treasurer
UFCW Local 401

Posted on: November 07,2024