Union adopts conciliatory approach, pauses ad campaign as members reject Company offer
Your union has extended an olive branch to the Company.
In a letter to the Company sent yesterday following members’ rejection of the Company offer, President Thomas Hesse and Secretary Treasurer Richelle Stewart called for an easing of tensions to seek a smoother road forward between Safeway and its employees in Alberta.
“In the last number of weeks, you have chosen to act on a particular strategy. We have objected to that strategy. But as you have said, labour relations does not occur in a vacuum and it is most certainly a fluid process that requires constant evaluation and re-evaluation.
We hope very much that you will depart from your strategic past and pursue a more conciliatory future. Your employees have spoken, and, with respect, we ask that you hear them.”
Click here to read the full letter.
President Hesse and Secretary Treasurer Stewart asked that the Company abandon their plan to roll back wages and recoup previous increases from Safeway workers.
“We request that you retreat from your past stated intention of rolling back wages and seeking recoup from top-rate and overscale employees. If wage reductions occur, we will grieve and pursue other legal actions.”
As a sign of good faith, your union has proactively paused its television ad campaign.
The ads, which will cease running this weekend, have been seen by millions of viewers, with website visits to FairCheckout.ca standing at the tens of thousands.
Nearly ten thousand customers have signed on to the call of support for Safeway workers on the site.
“As an olive branch and as a sign of good faith, we have asked to pause our television advertising campaign in the hope that you can respond in kind and send a signal to your employees that you are prepared to retreat from causing financial hardship to them, that you respect the vote outcome, and that you are prepared to re-evaluate your position.”
Your union remains committed to bargaining in good faith with the Company and believes that further bargaining dates can yield a positive outcome for everyone.
“Returning to the bargaining table and a process that allows sufficient time and space to negotiate without threats will surely yield a positive collective agreement outcome for you and your employees.
There is nothing that can’t be negotiated, there is no problem that can’t be solved, there is no piece of litigation that lacks a solution.
We respectfully request to commence the process of scheduling collective bargaining meetings. As you know, this process is inevitable and will be triggered by a notice to commence collective bargaining. Both parties will be required by law to meet and bargain in good faith.”
Click here to read the full letter.
Despite a difficult path over the past weeks and months, your union is hopeful that the Company will listen to your voices and re-evaluate their approach of threats and intimidation in favour of a collaborative effort toward resolving our outstanding issues.
If the Company remains inflexible and continues with their bullying tactics…
It’s on them.
Posted on: January 25,2025