Sobeys: Compassionate or Greedy?
The choice is theirs…
You’ve made your decision. Now, Sobeys is faced with their own decision.
Today marks the deadline Sobeys set around rolling back wages and potentially seeking to collect what they are calling “overpayments”. The rest of us call those the union-won wage increases that you’ve worked hard to earn and deserve during the difficult times of this affordability crisis.
Whatever they decide to do, one thing is crystal clear: the outcome of the decision is on them.
In their communications, Sobeys has suggested that they don’t have a choice when it comes to top-rated and overscale wages. But nothing could be further from the truth.
After all, the Company offer included giving you those wages for the next four years. So, clearly, the Company can afford them.
A quick look at the graph outlining the Company’s net income over the last few years prepared by well-known Canadian economist Jim Stanford confirms that:
So, what’s really at stake here? The real question facing Sobeys is who they are and who they want to be as a Company.
How they choose to treat their Safeway workers will give us a pretty clear picture.
Your union has chosen to take the high road following Safeway members’ rejection of the Company offer. Without being asked to, we have paused our ad campaign and asked the Company to take a moment to reflect on doing the right thing by their employees.
What is the right thing? We think that’s pretty simple and straightforward.
Sobeys should also pause its stated plans to roll wages back and come back to the bargaining table to continue working toward a collective agreement that works for everyone.
We think that just makes sense as the compassionate, caring, and practical thing to do. Don’t you?
Does Julie Sue care about you?
Vice President of Sobeys’ Prairie Division, Julie Sue Wood, likes to paint herself as a champion for the community, claiming that “great businesses must look beyond the bottom line and balance financial duties with stewardship of the community.”
We want to believe her.
But it’s difficult to take Julie Sue’s comments at face value when we hear reports about Safeway workers getting hauled into captive audience meetings to review the threatening letter many of you received from Julie Sue outlining the wage rollbacks you would face if you had the courage to say no to the Company offer.
Where is the compassion in those actions, Julie Sue? Is that what stewardship of the community looks like?
We sure don’t think so. To us, that seems like the exact opposite: putting Sobeys’ profits ahead of the very people who enable the Company to make them.
It’s pretty sad the Company that likes to refer to you as family seems so willing to act in such a contradictory way.
Big power, bigger responsibility
Corporations like Sobeys have immense power. But how they use that power is what defines their character.
Safeway workers are already stretched razor-thin by the affordability crisis. You deserve respect and fairness, not threats and intimidation.
Sobeys doesn’t have to roll back wages or bully employees. If they do, it’s because they’ve chosen to prioritize profits over the people they claim to care about.
And that decision will be on them!
What a shame…
Asked to give money back? Say NO! And then call your union!
Let’s be absolutely clear: if Sobeys tries to roll back the wages of top-rate and overscale employees, your union will file a grievance and explore every possible tactic to fight back.
If the Company asks you to pay money back, SAY NO and call us immediately at the toll-free number we’ve set up for Safeway members: 1-855-HELP-401.
The wage increases you received over the last two years were given with Sobeys’ consent. Now, the Company is threatening to reverse what it previously agreed to, a move your union believes may be unlawful.
Sobeys needs to talk to its lawyers.
If Sobeys tries to take money from you:
Safeway employees have spoken. You’ve stood up against bullying tactics and demanded fairness. The choice is now in Sobeys’ hands.
Will they continue down this path of greed and intimidation, or will they show their employees, and the communities they serve, that they care?
We hope they’ll choose to do the right thing. Regardless, your union will continue to have your back and keep fighting to protect you at all costs!
Posted on: January 26,2025