How you can support striking Sobeys workers
It’s official. As of last week, workers at Sobeys’ Distribution Centre just outside of Calgary were locked out by the company when negotiations seemingly came to an impasse. Those workers responded by serving strike notice and setting up picket lines.
Your union is more than familiar with the fight to get Sobeys to do the right thing.
Our fight with Sobeys
Earlier this year, the company rolled back the wages of a significant number of its senior employees by 6.5% in the middle of an affordability crisis. Local 401 explored every option available to reverse this decision, with the company fighting us every step of the way.
Lawyers and university professors who are experts in labour relations described Sobeys’ behaviour as bordering on reprehensible and beyond the pale.
Then, the company dragged its feet around getting to the bargaining table, likely because they know that is where Safeway workers will have the best opportunity to flex their collective strength.
Every Local 401 member should be paying attention to this fight with Sobeys. Safeway negotiations are the “tip of the spear” when it comes to bargaining new contracts that will meet our members’ economic needs.
The fight we’re having with Sobeys sets the stage for pushing every other employer to do the right thing, including Loblaws, Cargill, Olymel, JBS, and many others. The harder we push Sobeys, the stronger a message it sends to everyone else.
A fight with one workplace is a fight with all workers
Local 401 members also need to pay attention to the fight that Sobeys Distribution Centre workers are having with the company.
One of the cornerstones of our labour movement is that we stand together regardless of where we work or to which union we belong.
This is the explicit aim of the Alberta Federation of Labour’s Common Front, where unions from across the province have agreed to support one another’s bargaining goals, including hitting the streets if necessary.
Your union unequivocally supports striking Sobeys workers and will stand by them in their fight for fairness at the Sobeys Distribution Centre.
Supporting striking Sobeys workers who are not members of our union is not just the right thing to do; it sends Sobeys and all other employers an unmistakable message — the workers united will never be defeated.
Numerous members have contacted our union asking about the best way to support these striking workers.
At present, there is no call to boycott Safeway and FreshCo stores. However, voting with your dollars is always an effective way to send a company like Sobeys a message.
So, we are asking our members and all workers to avoid shopping at the following non-union Sobeys locations for the duration of the strike as a means of sending the company a message:
| Store Type | Name | Address | City |
| Sobeys | Airdrie | 65 MacKenzie Way SW #100, Airdrie, AB T4B 0V7 | AIRDRIE |
| IGA | IGA Beaverlodge | 1040 1 Ave, Beaverlodge, AB T0H 0C0 | BEAVERLODGE |
| Sobeys | Beaumont | 5802 50 St #100, Beaumont, AB T4X 1T8 | BEAUMONT |
| IGA | IGA Blackflads | 6005 Parkwood Rd, Blackfalds, AB T0M 0J0 | BLACKFALDS |
| IGA | IGA Blairmore | 11001 20 Ave, Blairmore, AB T0K 0E0 | BLAIRMORE |
| Sobeys | Bonnyville | 4501 50 Ave, Bonnyville, AB T9N 2N5 | BONNYVILLE |
| IGA | IGA Lakeview | 6449 Crowchild Trl SW, Calgary, AB T3E 5R7 | CALGARY |
| Sobeys | Bridlewood | 2335 162 Ave SW #100, Calgary, AB T2Y 4S6 | CALGARY |
| Sobeys | Country Hills | 500 Country Hills Blvd NE #200, Calgary, AB T3K 4Y7 | CALGARY |
| Sobeys | Cranston | 356 Cranston Rd SE #3000, Calgary, AB T3M 0S9 | CALGARY |
| Sobeys | Legacy Township Centre | 200 Hartell Way SE #100, Calgary, AB T2X 4K8 | CALGARY |
| Sobeys | Mahogany | 7 Mahogany Plaza SE #1200, Calgary, AB T3M 2P8 | CALGARY |
| Sobeys | McKenzie Towne | 20 McKenzie Towne Ave SE, Calgary, AB T2Z 3S7 | CALGARY |
| Sobeys | Millrise | 150 Millrise Blvd SW #2000, Calgary, AB T2Y 5G7 | CALGARY |
| Sobeys | Nolan Hill | 8 Nolan Hill Blvd NW #700, Calgary, AB T3R 0J3 | CALGARY |
| Sobeys | Riverbend | 8338 18 St SE #100, Calgary, AB T2C 4E4 | CALGARY |
| Sobeys | Royal Oak | 8888 Country Hills Blvd NW #125, Calgary, AB T3G 5T4 | CALGARY |
| Sobeys | Silverado | 19369 SHERIFF KING ST SW #704 | CALGARY |
| Sobeys | Strathcona Square | 555 Strathcona Blvd SW #300, Calgary, AB T3H 2Z9 | CALGARY |
| Sobeys | Tuscany Market | 11300 Tuscany Blvd NW Unit 2020, Calgary, AB T3L 2V7 | CALGARY |
| Sobeys Liquor | Evanston | 2060 Symons Valley Pkwy NW #6000, Calgary, AB T3P 0K2 | CALGARY |
| Sobeys Liquor | Canmore Liquor Store | 1040 Railway Ave #104, Canmore, AB T1W 1P4 | CANMORE |
| Sobeys Liquor | Chestermere Liquor Store | 156 Chestermere Station Way #103, Chestermere, AB T1X 0A9 | CHESTERMERE |
| IGA | IGA Claresholm | 4920 1 St W, Claresholm, AB T0L 0T0 | CLARESHOLM |
| Sobeys Liquor | Claresholm Liquor Store | 4818 1 St W, Claresholm, AB T0L 0T0 | CLARESHOLM |
| Sobeys Liquor | Sobeys Liquor Cochrane | 75 Bow St #3, Cochrane, AB T4C 0T4 | COCHRANE |
| Sobeys | Cold Lake | 6403 51 St, Cold Lake, AB T9M 1C8 | COLD LAKE |
| IGA | IGA Devon | 51 Superior St, Devon, AB T9G 1K8 | DEVON |
| Sobeys Liquor | Sobeys Liquor Devon | 47 Superior St, Devon, AB T9G 1Z1 | DEVON |
| IGA | IGA Drayton Valley | 4341 50 St #1, Drayton Valley, AB T7A 1M4 | DRAYTON VALLEY |
| Sobeys | Belmont | 13504 Victoria Trail NW, Edmonton, AB T5A 5B9 | EDMONTON |
| Sobeys | Meadowbrook | 3819 34 St NW, Edmonton, AB T6T 1K9 | EDMONTON |
| Sobeys | NAMAO | 9611 167 Ave, Edmonton, AB T5Z 3L1 | EDMONTON |
| Sobeys | Walker | 5309 Ellerslie Rd SW, Edmonton, AB T6X 1A4 | EDMONTON |
| Sobeys | Beaumaris | 15367 Castle Downs Rd NW, Edmonton, AB T5X 6C3 | EDMONTON |
| Sobeys | Hollick Kenyon | 5119 167 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T5Y 0L2 | EDMONTON |
| Sobeys | Millwoods Common | 5011 23 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T6L 7G5 | EDMONTON |
| Sobeys | Newcastle | 16943 127 St, Edmonton, AB T6V 0T1 | EDMONTON |
| Sobeys | Southbrook | 1109 James Mowatt Trail SW, Edmonton, AB T6W 1S4 | EDMONTON |
| Sobeys Liquor | Colliseum Liquor Store | 8012 118 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T5B 0R8 | EDMONTON |
| Sobeys Liquor | Hawkstone Liquor Store | 4903 184 St NW, Edmonton, AB T6M 2X5 | EDMONTON |
| Sobeys Liquor | Tamarack Liquor Store | 2425 17 St NW, Edmonton, AB T6T 0Y2 | EDMONTON |
| Sobeys Liquor | Terwillegar Centre Liquor Store | Terwillegar Centre, 14272 23 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T6R 3B9 | EDMONTON |
| Sobeys | Edson | 303 54 St, Edson, AB T7E 1V1 | EDSON |
| Sobeys | Clearwater | 19 Riedel St #300, Fort McMurray, AB T9H 5P8 | FORT MCMURRAY |
| Sobeys | Thickwood | 210 Thickwood Blvd, Fort McMurray, AB T9K 1X9 | FORT MCMURRAY |
| Sobeys | High River | 98 Centre St SE, High River, AB T1V 1M5 | HIGH RIVER |
| Sobeys | Lacombe | 5112 AB-2A, Lacombe, AB T4L 1Y7 | LACOMBE |
| Sobeys | Uplands | 327 Bluefox Blvd N, Lethbridge, AB T1H 6T3 | LETHBRIDGE |
| Sobeys | Lloydminster | 4227 75 Ave, Lloydminster, AB T9V 2E9 | LLOYDMINSTER |
| Sobeys Liquor | Lloydminster | 3601A 51 Ave, Lloydminster, AB T9V 2C3 | LLOYDMINSTER |
| Sobeys | Cornerstone | 1960 Strachan Rd SE, Medicine Hat, AB T1B 4K4 | MEDICINE HAT |
| Sobeys | Morinville | 10003 100 St, Morinville, AB T8R 1B3 | MORINVILLE |
| Sobeys | Okotoks | 201 Southridge Dr, Okotoks, AB T1S 2E1 | OKOTOKS |
| IGA | IGA Penhold | 1350 Robinson Ave, Penhold, AB T0M 1R0 | PENHOLD |
| IGA | IGA Provost | 5003 50 Ave, Provost, AB T0B 3S0 | PROVOST |
| IGA | IGA Eastview | 3839 40 Ave, Red Deer, AB T4N 6R9 | RED DEER |
| Sobeys | Gaetz South | 2110 50 Ave, Red Deer, AB T4R 2K1 | RED DEER |
| Sobeys | Village Mall | 6380 50 Ave #200, Red Deer, AB T4N 4C6 | RED DEER |
| IGA | IGA Redwater | 5028 49 Ave, Redwater, AB T0A 2W0 | REDWATER |
| Sobeys | Rocky Mountain House | 4419 52 Ave, Rocky Mountain House, AB T4T 1A3 | ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOUSE |
| Sobeys | Nottingham | 688 Wye Rd, Sherwood Park, AB T8A 6G3 | SHERWOOD PARK |
| Sobeys | Lakeland Ridge | 590 Baseline Rd #100, Sherwood Park, AB T8H 1Y4 | SHERWOOD PARK |
| Sobeys | Slave Lake | Cornerstone, 1500 Main St SE #701, Slave Lake, AB T0G 2A4 | SLAVE LAKE |
| IGA | IGA Spirit River | 4804 50 St, Spirit River, AB T0H 3G0 | SPIRIT RIVER |
| Sobeys | Spruce Grove | 11 Westway Rd, Spruce Grove, AB T7X 0K7 | SPRUCE GROVE |
| Sobeys | St. Paul | 3937 49 Ave, St. Paul, AB T0A 3A2 | ST. PAUL |
| Sobeys | St. Albert | Hill Plaza, 392 St Albert Rd, St. Albert, AB T8N 5J9 | ST. ALBERT |
| Sobeys Liquor | St. Albert Liquor Store | 585 St Albert Trl #10, St. Albert, AB T8N 6G5 | ST. ALBERT |
| Sobeys | Stettler | 4607 50 St, Stettler, AB T0C 2L2 | STETTLER |
| Sobeys Liquor | Stony Plain Lqiuor Store | 4410 48 St #100, Stony Plain, AB T7Z 1L4 | Stony Plain Liquor Store |
| Sobeys | Strathmore | 100 Ranch Market #101, Strathmore, AB T1P 0A5 | STRATHMORE |
| Sobeys | Sylvan Lake | 3715 47 Ave #900, Sylvan Lake, AB T4S 0C8 | SYLVAN LAKE |
| IGA | IGA Taber | 5112 48 Ave, Taber, AB T1G 1R9 | TABER |
| IGA | IGA Three Hills | 119 4th Ave E, Three Hills, AB T0M 2A0 | THREE HILLS |
| IGA | IGA Tofield | 4902 51 Ave, Tofield, AB T0B 0B2 | TOFIELD |
| Sobeys | Westlock | 9943 100 St, Westlock, AB T7P 1Y9 | WESTLOCK |
| IGA | IGA Whitecourt | 4802 51 St, Whitecourt, AB T7S 1R9 | WHITECOURT |
Assisting non-union workers
As a matter of clarity, our union continues working to organize the non-union Sobeys locations to advocate for and provide the same benefits to those workers we’re able to offer our other retail members.
Building our numbers under multiple banners with companies like Sobeys and Loblaws also helps to strengthen our bargaining position in negotiations while ensuring more workers are afforded the benefits of union membership.
If workers at non-union Sobeys locations were to join UFCW Local 401, that could have an impact on our current strategy.
We will continue to keep you posted on this situation as it develops and on avenues to support striking Sobeys Distribution Centre workers.
Posted on: September 22,2025