Julie Sue, Julie Sue, Julie Sue… and Andrew, Too!!

It’s a bit laughable.

You might have received some communications from Sobeys big bosses like Julie Sue. They weren’t at the bargaining table. You have likely never met them or spent five minutes with them.

But they’re happy to tell you what to do!

Andrew Follwell is also one of the people who has written to you. But Follwell lives in Toronto, and we don’t think he’s ever worked in a Safeway store. Or maybe you’ve heard from another one of your bosses in the last few days.

It’s pretty disgusting that they are now sending personal messages to you but have not once acknowledged the economic pain you are feeling during the affordability crisis or its impact on your mental health.

77% of Safeway employees feel that managers like Julie Sue, Toronto officials like Andrew Follwell, and other bosses have been manipulative. 30% of Safeway employees feel that management has exercised “undue influence.”

As the voting process has commenced, we’ve heard reports that a few union members took photos of their ballots to prove to their bosses that they were “good employees.”

Apparently, management asked those employees to do so. They wanted their bosses to know that they were doing their bidding and were obviously feeling somewhat scared.

It’s okay. Consistent poll results are showing that at least three-quarters of Safeway employees are predicted to vote NO to the Company offer. That means the likely outcome is a 75-85% rejection of the Company contract.

Employees have evaluated their personal situation, and most are shutting out the Company’s noise and bullying now.

Safeway employees have learned from the last four years. We all know that the next four years are likely to be highly unpredictable.

Safeway employees clearly understand that the offer represents Sobeys’ interests. However, it does not represent or protect the interests of Safeway employees themselves.

Unfortunately, Sobeys is coming dangerously close to jeopardizing the legitimacy and validity of the voting process.

If you feel pressured or unduly influenced to vote in a particular way by management, please contact your union immediately.

The vote is a secret ballot. Undue influence and bullying are not acceptable.

Nonetheless, please participate in the vote. Vote anonymously and vote in your own interests and not those of the Company.

We need a fair result. That’s what Local 401 believes in and we know you do too. The Company’s attempts to tamper with the voting process are disgusting. 

If you live in Edmonton or Calgary, please attend one of the following in-person meetings:

Edmonton In-Person Meeting
Edmonton Inn and Conference Centre
11834 Kingsway NW
Saturday, January 18, 2025, at 2 PM

Calgary In-Person Meeting
Best Western Calgary Plaza
1316 33 Street NE
Sunday, January 19, 19, 2025 at 2 PM

We’d like to close by expressing our confusion about upper-level management, Julie Sue. Here is what she said in an important speech to Alberta leaders…

“At Safeway, making a real, positive difference in the neighbourhoods we serve is at the heart of our company. We believe great businesses must look beyond the bottom line and balance financial priorities with their duties as stewards of the planet and community.” 

We agree. And we call on Julie Sue to have her actions match her words. 

Posted on: January 17,2025