Sobeys Breaks Your Heart
But your union keeps fighting for you!
Your union continues to fight for you at the Alberta Court of Appeal, << Test First Name >>.
Last week as union lawyers cross-examined her, Sobeys Director of Labour Relations – Retail, Morgyn Ahrens, showed that the Company was continuing to retreat under union pressure.
Pushing back on repayment
After some Safeway managers told you they were going to garnish your wages, Ahrens confirmed that they were not and indicated that she spoke to those managers to correct the misinformation. Unfortunately, the only time we seem to hear the truth from Sobeys is when their official are held to account by union lawyers.
Additionally, the Company retreated even further under pressure from your union. In letters that have gone out about their intention to seek recovery of the increases they have already paid you, Sobeys has confirmed that they will be forced to wait until our Court of Appeal application challenging the judicial review outcome is completed and the matter has been re-arbitrated.
We are months and months away from that.
If it were not for our appeal of that ruling and efforts to get re-arbitration moving, it is entirely possible that the Company would be seeking recovery of those increases much sooner. These are the sorts of step-by-step victories we can achieve by standing together in solidarity and continuing our pushback against the Company’s greed.
Standing strong with Local 401 is your only buffer from Sobeys’ bullying.
Sobeys has tried to play in the grey area of the law. But they have clearly acted in an immoral way and are starting to feel the blowback described by one Alberta School of Business professor in a CBC interview we sent out last week.
Click the image to hear the interview.
Remember, it is important to Just Say No if they ask you to repay your previous increases. Safeway union activist workers are visiting stores to circulate a petition about saying no and talking to you about getting focused on bargaining which, contrary to Company communications, will restart when we serve notice to bargain.
Whether Sobeys is seeking recovery of previously paid increases now or in the future, your union wants to be ready to push back and protect you against behaviour that labour relations professionals have described as inappropriate and not how labour relations is done.
In her cross-examination, Ahrens also confirmed that the Company would not discipline employees for refusing their demands for repayment. Make sure you stand strong with your coworkers through your union and Just Say No!
Rollback of wages
Sadly, the wage rollback is another story.
“Your union has asked Sobeys not to roll wages back,” says Secretary Treasurer Richelle Stewart. “We know that you are struggling to pay your bills under the affordability crisis. There is no possible justification to reduce your wages.”
In cross-examination, Morgyn Ahrens said that she did not believe that reduction in your wages would hurt you. This is the harsh reality of Sobeys’ insensitivity, and it is heartbreaking. Safeway workers have told their union how they feel.
Click the image to see a larger version.
Sobeys will hear your roar
As Valentine’s Day approaches, there can be no doubt that many Safeway workers’ hearts are broken. Safeway doesn’t seem to be Safeway anymore. Sobeys has taken over and their indifference to your well-being is disturbing. Their indifference to store morale is shocking. Their willingness to turn their back on you is unforgivable.
“Just because Sobeys doesn’t have a heart, doesn’t mean that you and your union don’t,” says UFCW Local 401 President Thomas Hesse. “As the fog and cloud of Sobeys’ misinformation is beginning to lift, the heart of union strength is growing, and it is like the heart of a lion!”
Sobeys will continue to hear our roar in the coming weeks and months, and we keep pushing back against what many are calling their reprehensible behaviour.
Valentine’s Day is a time to reflect on love and the relationships that matter in our lives. Safeway was a partner in your working relationship. But Sobeys is not. There is less and less love lost between you.
However, there are other important relationships in your life. We urge you to embrace those about who you care and who you trust and to enjoy your Valentine’s Day.
Our hearts are still alive. There is nothing wrong with your brain telling you what the facts are, and that Sobeys cannot be trusted as your employer.
Trust is everything in a relationship if it is to endure.
Our fight in the courts and bargaining restarting
A number of legal proceedings continue in which your union is fighting for you. On February 20, 2025, your union will be asking the Alberta Court of Appeal to stop the Company from rolling your wages back through something called a “stay application”.
Unfortunately, stay applications are difficult as courts would rather let matters be resolved at a later hearing where more complete and fulsome arguments can be made. Nonetheless, your union will be arguing that rolling back your wages will cause you irreparable harm.
If we are not successful in that argument, we will still later appear at the Court of Appeal to ensure that perspective prevails.
On the topic of union negotiations starting again, we have recommenced the process of canvassing our members for proposals and we urge you to advance your requests for changes in a new union contract as soon as possible.
Posted on: February 12,2025