February 9, 2026

Court Decision Pending, But Bargaining Doesn’t Stop!

We know the Alberta Court of Appeal decision on wage increases is the topic on everyone’s mind in stores right now. We are still waiting for that decision, and as soon as we hear what it is, we’ll let you know!

But your union remains committed to pushing Sobeys to treat you fairly through every avenue we have, including the bargaining table.

“Wages are top of mind for our members and their families. While we wait for the Alberta Court of Appeal’s decision on the wage rollback, your Bargaining Committee is working hard at the table. Even if we win that decision. there are other victories Safeway workers need us to push for.”
— Richelle Stewart, Secretary-Treasurer, UFCW Local 401

Your Union Bargaining Committee spent three full days at the table this round, going back and forth with Sobeys on proposals.

The faces behind the fight — your Bargaining Team in action.

What Your Union Worked On This Round Of Negotiations

Your Bargaining Committee has been hard at work. Below is a summary of key proposals and agreements from this round. Click on each title to read the full proposal or language.

1. Better mental health supports
We put forward a proposal to strengthen Employee Assistance Program (EAP) benefits so workers have better access to mental health support when they need it. Sobeys has chosen not to discuss monetary items at this time, but this proposal is now on the table.
 

2. Protection from discrimination and intimidation
We tabled new language that sets clear standards for respectful, non-discriminatory behaviour at work, including how complaints are handled. This is about dignity, fairness, and accountability in the workplace.
 

3. Night stocking rules clarified
Night stocking will be its own scheduling group. This language clearly lays out expectations around overnight work, including scheduling patterns, rotations, staffing levels, time limits, and duties.
 

4. Full-time and part-time ratios in Meat & Deli
Sobeys wants lower staffing ratios in North and South stores, but we tabled the higher ratios to protect full-time jobs. We also added a ratio to guarantee full-time retail staffing. The company is below the minimum production requirement under the Meat and Deli agreement. If any members are interested in full-time work, please contact the Union Office. 

5. Bakery Sales – clearer job duties
We pushed for clearer language around Bakery Sales classifications and general duties, so workers know exactly what is expected of them.

“We believe improvements to job-duty language will help workers, especially in Calgary, where we work alongside members of the Bakers & Confectionery Union (BCTGM).”
— Sharon McIvor, Bakery Sales, Calgary

“This has been a real team effort. Safeways don’t all operate the same across the province, and those small differences matter. That’s why bargaining takes time and attention to detail.”
— Rose Boyd, Bakery Sales, Edmonton

Strike Vote: Building Strength and Pressure

As bargaining continues, your union is preparing for a strong strike vote. This is about getting organized, mobilized, and prepared, with high participation and visible support from members across the province.

A strike vote does not mean anyone is automatically going on strike. Strike votes are a strategic tool unions use to apply pressure on employers and show that workers are united and serious about achieving a fair agreement.

UFCW Local 401 has a clear and democratic process. Even if members vote in favour of a strike mandate, there is always a secondary vote on the company’s final offer so you have the opportunity to review and vote on what they’ve tabled before any job action takes place.

“A strong strike vote is about leverage and unity. It tells the employer that our members are paying attention, standing together, and expecting real movement at the table.”
— Thomas Hesse, President, UFCW Local 401

Preparing early helps ensure members have the information they need, understand the process, and feel confident participating when the time comes. High turnout matters, and it strengthens our position at the bargaining table.

Workers are experiencing a moment right now, and when we fight, we win! But every fight that workers win right now is preceded by a strong strike vote.

Start educating yourself now: Check out your union’s Provincial Strike Handbook to understand your rights, the process, and how to be ready for a potential strike in the future. 

Other Key Discussions: The New Sobeys App (Dayforce)

Sobeys plans to roll out a single mobile app (Dayforce) that would manage core employment functions, including payroll, benefits, scheduling, timekeeping, training, shift offers and swaps, and workplace communications.

We will soon share a short presentation based on feedback from Safeway Okotoks, where Dayforce has been piloted since October 2025, to help members understand how this system could impact their day-to-day work.

Black History Month: Recognition, Reflection, and Action

Black workers and Black communities are a vital part of Canadian history and our shared national experience. Black History Month is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the contributions, leadership, and resilience of Black people in our workplaces, communities, and union.

Within Safeway and your union, Black members help strengthen our union every day. During this month, we want to recognize Bargaining Committee members Deb Cadmus (Safeway Chestermere), Charmaine Sealy (Heritage Safeway), and Fred Newbold (Safeway Meadowlark) for their leadership and advocacy on behalf of racialized workers, including their efforts to push for stronger diversity and equity language at the bargaining table.

Black History Month is also a time to reflect on the ongoing reality of anti-Black racism and the systemic barriers Black workers continue to face. Challenging these inequities has always been part of the work of our union – through bargaining, our contracts, and member-led campaigns that fight for dignity and fairness at work.

Members are encouraged to take part in Black History Month events across the province throughout February, support Black-led initiatives, and continue learning how we can all help build truly inclusive workplaces.

Check them out HERE


Deb Cadmus, Fred Newbold and Charmaine Sealy are members of the Safeway Union Bargaining Team.
Stay Informed

For the latest updates:

• Visit the bargaining website: gounion.ca/safewaybargaining2025
• Talk to your Shop Steward or Union Representative
• Bargaining Committee members are also available to answer questions

Next Round: April 14–16 in Calgary. Come see bargaining in action – your presence shows Sobeys we’re united, informed, and ready to fight for fair wages!

January 26, 2025

One Year Later: Turning Frustration Into Power

We know that for many Safeway workers, the last year hasn’t been easy.

A wage rollback doesn’t just show up on a pay stub — it shows up in mortgage and rent payments, grocery bills, childcare costs, gas, and credit cards that don’t quite get paid off anymore.

For some, it has meant taking on extra debt, delaying plans, or making hard choices about what gets cut so everything else can get covered. For others, it’s meant picking up second jobs, working longer hours, and pushing through exhaustion, all while the stress and uncertainty take a real toll on mental health and family life.

And when we turn on the news and watch Donald Trump, it can feel like bullying is being treated as strength, like intimidation and pressure are just the way things work now. But bullying is ALWAYS WRONG.

Today marks one full year since Sobeys took 6.5% of the hard-fought union-won wage increases away from top-rated and overscale Safeway workers. 

That decision came after members voted NO to the company’s pre-packaged December 2024 offer. That was an offer that failed to deliver meaningful wage increases to all Safeway workers and offered no real improvements to benefits.

Rather than respecting that democratic vote, Sobeys chose intimidation.

They made you vote under the threat of cutting wages, knowing full well that workers were already dealing with rising costs and economic pressure. It was a calculated move driven by greed, not necessity.

When Safeway workers stood their ground and asked for what they needed, Sobeys retaliated. Their decision to roll wages back in the middle of an affordability crisis was described as “beyond the pale” and “reprehensible” by professors and lawyers specializing in labour relations.

Sobeys has since reported another quarter of very high profits, while the workers who keep their stores running continue to feel the impact of that decision every single month.

“What Sobeys did a year ago was a disgusting attack on working people,” says UFCW Local 401 President, Thomas Hesse. “They took wages away from workers who are struggling to get by after workers exercised their right to vote NO in favour of pushing for a deal that would help all Safeway workers. That anger you’re feeling is real, and it should be aimed at the employer who caused it.”

Your union’s role has been, and continues to be, to fight back using every tool available to us.

Next week, bargaining resumes, and we are officially in fight mode. We are organizing. We are mobilizing. And we are preparing to secure a strong strike vote mandate so we can demand the fair wages and respect that Safeway workers deserve.

“Workers are still paying the price for Sobeys’ greed while the company posts very high profits,” said UFCW Local 401 Secretary-Treasurer, Richelle Stewart. “The only way we win back fair wages is by standing together, getting organized, and being ready to use our collective power.”

WHAT COMES NEXT

This moment is about turning frustration into collective power.

Sobeys understands one thing clearly: pressure. And that pressure comes from organized, united workers ready to stand together.We are still fighting the wage rollback.
We are still challenging corporate greed.
And we are building toward the strength we need to win.

A STRIKE VOTE IS VERY LIKELY

Unfortunately, as long as employees continue coming to work for the wages Sobeys is currently offering to Safeway members, the company has little incentive to agree to meaningful raises.

History shows that employers only take negotiations seriously when workers are prepared to stand together and apply real pressure.

A strike vote does not mean a strike will automatically happen. Its purpose is to show unity and to force genuine bargaining at the table, not to walk out the next day.

And even if a strike vote passes, there would still be another vote before any strike action takes place.

Local 401 always conducts a final offer vote, even if a strike deadline has been set, so members have the opportunity to review the company’s best offer and make the final decision before considering walking a picket line.

COURT UPDATE

We are still waiting for the Alberta Court of Appeal’s decision on the wage rollback. Nothing has been released yet.

As soon as a decision is published, we will inform members right away.

We continue to push Sobeys on a variety of different issues, in the courts, at the Labour Board, and in front of arbitrators. but we know this decision is the one that members are most eagerly anticipating.

As soon as we know, you will know. And trust that your union continues to fight for you in every way that we can.

STAY CONNECTED

You can start by staying connected and checking our bargaining website for the most up-to-date and accurate information: gounion.ca/safewaybargaining2025

You can also contact your Union Representative or Shop Steward for clear, streamlined updates.

And remember: SAFEWAY TALKS is the employer’s voice. Do not rely on company communications for the truth about bargaining. Always check with your Union.

ATTEND THE NEXT ROUND OF BARGAINING

The next round of bargaining runs February 4–6 in Calgary at the Carriage House Hotel & Conference Centre.

We believe transparent negotiations make us stronger, and nothing sends a clearer message than workers showing up. All Safeway members are welcome to attend and witness bargaining in action. If you want to be there, let your Union Representative know.

Your presence matters, and it helps show Sobeys we’re united, informed, and ready to fight for fair wages.

There will be more updates soon. Stay connected. Stay engaged. And stay ready!

January 9, 2026

New Year, Same Old Sobeys Tactics…

BARGAINING CONTINUES

As we move into 2026, one thing hasn’t changed: Sobeys continues to drag its feet at the bargaining table.

We are waiting to hear from the Court of Appeal on 2025’s wage rollbacks — the issue we know matters most to you. Meanwhile, bargaining continues on critical workplace protections that directly affect your work.

Your Union Bargaining Committee is pushing the company on real issues that shape your hours, schedules, and the future of full-time work at Safeway. Even as Sobeys avoids meaningful movement on core concerns, your Committee remains focused on securing protections that strengthen your jobs now and for the long term.

KEY ISSUES

Below are five key issues currently being debated at the bargaining table: 1. Part-Time Guarantee of Hours

Your Bargaining Committee presented a proposal that would guarantee unrestricted part-time members 32, 28, or 24 hours per week.

The goal is simple: push available hours to existing members and stop the practice of hiring new employees only to give them one shift a week.2. Guarantee of Full-Time Jobs

The Meat and Deli agreements already include a guarantee of full-time positions. It’s time the Retail Agreement did too.

Across the province, full-time positions have disappeared. As workers retire or leave, those jobs are not being replaced. When a full-time job is lost, it must be replaced. That protection belongs in your contract.3. Digital Shift Swap (Dayforce)

The company is finally moving toward a modern scheduling system accessible via a mobile app and online: Dayforce. This would allow members to:

• View schedules online
• Stop having to come into the store just to check shifts
• Swap shifts with other members to better manage work and life

This is a long-overdue change, and we’re watching it closely to ensure it works for you.4. Digital Shift Bid / Offer (Dayforce)

The company proposal around digital shift bids raises concerns. While it may allow members to pick up or drop shifts, seniority protections will be crucial. Access to more hours must be fair, transparent, and protected. This issue remains under close scrutiny as negotiations continue.5. Commitment to Service

UFCW Local 401 President Thomas Hesse addressed the company directly at the bargaining table, stressing that Safeway’s future depends on investing in its brand and in the workers who deliver excellent service every day.

“If Safeway wants to protect its brand and remain competitive, it has to invest in service. That means investing in the workers who provide that service every single day,” emphasized President Hesse.

Part of your Bargaining Committee’s proposal includes language stating that: “The Company shall ensure that at least three cashiers are on check stands for the first two hours after store opening and the last two hours before closing.”

Sobeys must maximize investment in its existing conventional stores and recognize that services (not cuts) are what distinguish Safeway from other discount operations.

GETTING STRIKE VOTE STRONG

As bargaining continues, building toward a strong strike vote is critical. A strong strike vote doesn’t necessarily mean a strike is happening. Rather, it shows Sobeys that Safeway members are organized, engaged, and ready to fight, including withdrawing their labour, if that becomes necessary.

This is how real leverage is created in negotiations. Strike votes are a powerful tool in the labour movement and have been instrumental in achieving meaningful gains for workers across Canada.

Every major agreement in Alberta over the past year has been preceded by a strong strike vote, from nurses to EMS workers to other workers.

When members stand together strong and united, employers take note. Strong strike votes are a signal that the workforce is informed, organized, and committed to protecting their rights. 

Secretary Treasurer, Richelle Stewart, emphasized the importance of member engagement: “Strike votes are about leverage. They’re about mobilizing from the ground up and showing the employer that members are engaged, informed, and united. That’s how we create the pressure needed to win real improvements at the table.”
 

STAY UP TO DATE

Remember, the latest bargaining updates are always posted on our website: gounion.ca/safewaybargaining2025. Take a moment to review them and refresh your memory on the most recent developments at the table.

NEW CAMPAIGN: FREE PERIOD PRODUCTS IN STORES

We are also launching a human rights campaign calling on Sobeys to provide free period products for Safeway workers in employee washrooms.

We raised this issue directly at the bargaining table. The employer’s response was that it would cost too much and that they are not obligated to provide these products because they are not a public entity.

We disagree.

Access to period products is a basic dignity and workplace equity issue. We are calling on Sobeys to do the right thing at their Safeway stores.Click the image, sign the petition, and help us get loud about it: 

STAY CONNECTED

• Follow UFCW Local 401 on social media
• Sign up for email updates
• Show up, speak out, and be part of the change

Bargaining works best when members are informed, engaged, and visible. Let Sobeys know you’re watching and ready to fight!

December 31, 2025

Sobeys Attacks Freedom of Expression

Since the pandemic and in the context of the affordability crisis, workers and customers are both suffering. Grocery prices have skyrocketed, and customers too often take it out on frontline employees.
 
Sobeys makes billions of dollars yet aggressively rolls back wages. Sobeys threatens to effectively fire people by converting stores into FreshCo’s in an attempt to prey on customers who are struggling to afford groceries.
 
It may seem like the world has gone mad if you work in a Safeway store or you push a cart down a grocery aisle.
 
In a free society, people need to be able to speak out. When times are hard, the voices of working people need to be heard.

Dictators and American presidents want to gag dissenters. Apparently, so do big corporations.

Recently, your union ran a simple television ad featuring a lovely and treasured Safeway employee named Faith. Faith expressed anxiety that her wage had been rolled back and concern that her store might be converted to a FreshCo.

Faith urged everyone to be kind this holiday season.

How has Sobeys responded? They are pursuing legal action, claiming undisclosed amounts of money in damages from you through your union.
By contrast, Sobeys claims its right to freedom of expression by distributing falsehoods via its Safeway Talks communication.

Wow…

Will Safeway employees keep the faith? It’s time to stand strong, embrace the truth, and push back against Sobeys’ bullying.

Remember, in the New Year, our voices will continue to be heard!

Click the image of Faith above to watch the television ad.

December 9, 2025

Giving you a sneak peek at our new holiday ad!

Secretary Treasurer Richelle Stewart and I want to wish you a warm and restful holiday season.

For many UFCW 401 members, this time of year brings both joy and tremendous pressure. Whether you work at Superstore, Safeway, JBS, Cargill, Olymel, or in any of the other retail, food production, hospitality, or industrial workplaces we proudly represent, we know the increased workloads, customer demands, and long hours that come with the holidays.

We also know the sense of solidarity that grows when workers face these challenges together, the true heart of our union.

We don’t need to tell you that the affordability crisis continues to worsen. The cost of living has risen sharply, and for many workers, making ends meet has become a daily struggle.

Across Alberta, strong union solidarity is more important than ever.

In today’s labour environment, many collective agreements are secured only after workers send a clear message to employers through strong strike votes, often 90% or higher. These actions remind us that when workers stand together, we have real power.

Your union has been working hard to build leverage: increasing engagement, pursuing legal actions, strengthening alliances with other unions, and running campaigns that help members and the public understand your reality.

As part of this effort, we are launching a new advertising campaign in the coming weeks. We’re proud to share a new holiday TV and online ad produced entirely in-house by our Communications Department. It features one of our own dedicated members, Faith, who speaks beautifully about kindness, solidarity, and the ongoing fight for fairness.

Click here for an early preview of the ad!

We will continue negotiations with employers across the province in the new year, working hard to secure fair contracts and better conditions for all UFCW Local 401 members. If you ever wish to observe bargaining sessions, please get in touch with your Union Labour Relations Officer for details.

On behalf of Richelle and myself, thank you for your strength, your solidarity, and the work you do every day. We look forward to standing with you in 2026 as we continue building a better future for thousands of UFCW 401 members.

November 20, 2025

Still pushing Sobeys to do the right thing

Your Union Bargaining Committee met with the company again from Monday to Wednesday this week.

While there have been some productive discussions, it’s clear Safeway workers need to stay strong and keep pushing Sobeys to do the right thing.

You will recall from our earlier meetings with Sobeys that there were some immediate actions your union asked the company to take, including:

• a restoration of wage increases they rolled back in February,
• changes to the wage scales,
• enhanced job security in the face of changes like electronic shelf labelling and store conversions,
• and a recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation as a paid holiday.

It won’t surprise you to hear that the company is dragging its feet on those issues, just like they have on everything bargaining-related over the past six months.

As we continue to push the company on the issues that matter most to you, it’s crucial that Safeway members stand together and prepare for the reality that we may need to take strong strike votes before the company offers any meaningful improvements to your contract.

Keeping the pressure up via other avenues

President Thomas Hesse and Secretary Treasurer Richelle Stewart visited bargaining to give Committee members an update on other initiatives.

President Hesse and Secretary Treasurer Stewart address your Union Bargaining Committee

Hesse and Stewart reported on a week-long arbitration that your union recently held with Arbitrator Michael Hughes regarding Sobeys’ failure to properly address customer rudeness and abuse in stores.

The arbitration hinged on language ratified in the 2020 bargaining where Sobeys agreed to develop a comprehensive program to protect employees from customer rudeness and abuse and review that program with your union.

Needless to say, Sobeys has developed no such program and certainly never reviewed any program with your union.

We are also still waiting for the outcome of the October 10, 2025, Court of Appeal hearing, where your union argued that the judicial review the company used as an excuse to claw your wages back by 6.5% during an affordability crisis should be overturned.

Your Union Bargaining Committee demonstrates solidarity with trans workers in advance of the Transgender Day of Remembrance

President Hesse and Secretary Treasurer Stewart discussed how strong strike votes and job action remain a fixture of Alberta’s labour relations landscape. Most recently, 16,000 AUPE health care members delivered a 98% strike vote and served strike notice as they fight to secure a fair offer.

“Workers have had enough and they are ready to fight for the fair wages they know they deserve,” said President Hesse. “Safeway members need to be ready to stand together in solidarity, confident in the knowledge that Alberta’s labour movement will back them up if we hit the streets.” 

Watch for members of your Bargaining Committee in your stores

President Hesse and Secretary Treasurer Stewart encouraged members of your Bargaining Committee to talk to Safeway workers about how negotiations are going and the need to get ready for a strong strike vote sometime in the New Year. 

To assist with those discussions, Committee members were given buttons to help identify them as they visit stores to talk about the state of bargaining.

Union Bargaining Committee members are Safeway workers, just like you. Their job at the bargaining table is to ensure your voices are heard and your needs are being met in negotiations. You can ask Bargaining Committee members any questions you may have.

But make sure you also thank them for their work on your behalf. Pushing the company to do the right thing is often challenging, and they are doing a fantastic job so far!

You can learn more about your Union Bargaining Committee by clicking on the image above.

Get involved and stay informed

Safeway workers are strongest when we act together.

The next round of bargaining will take place January 6–8, 2026, in Edmonton. If you want to attend and observe negotiations, reach out to your Union Labour Relations Officer.

Here’s how you can stay informed and get involved:   

1. Observe negotiations: We believe in open bargaining, which means any Safeway worker can come to the bargaining table in person to observe. Email your Union Labour Relations Officer or ufcw@ufcw401.ab.ca to attend.
2. Follow updates: Via email, social media, and the bargaining website: gounion.ca/safewaybargaining2025
3. Talk to colleagues: Share updates, build unity, and strengthen your voice
4. Listen to the union’s podcast Voices of 401:  https://gounion.ca/voicesof401/

Bargaining is a collective process, and your participation and support are key to achieving the fair deal we all deserve.

November 10, 2025

Alberta judge rules on picketing in front of Safeway stores…

Union wins! Freedom of Expression still matters in Alberta! 

While striking Sobeys Warehouse workers have ended their job action, there are some significant outcomes from that strike that all our members need to be aware of.

As many of you will have seen, Sobeys Warehouse workers began picketing outside of Safeway stores and handing out leaflets after winning the right to do so at the Labour Relations Board. Not surprisingly, Sobeys quickly sought to stop them.

This is not the first time Sobeys has tried to silence workers when they express views the company dislikes. Sobeys is suing your union over commercials we ran, which discuss the unfair treatment their employees have faced over the past few years.

The company’s efforts against both Sobeys Warehouse and Safeway employees are examples of their willingness to gag their own workers despite a so-called “Speak Freely” policy the company touts as part of its commitment to building “better workplaces.” 

At the Court of King’s Bench, Sobeys sought a stay against the Labour Board’s decision to stop picketing Sobeys Warehouse workers, arguing that the decision was unreasonable and causing irreparable harm to their business.

Justice Feasby ultimately disagreed with the company on both counts.

You can read Justice Feasby’s decision by clicking here.

Feasby noted that the company’s evidence of harm came entirely from management and included no statements from actual employees.

Feasby went on to note that the employees’ union, UFCW Local 401, had expressed support for the strike.

That argument highlights the important impact that solidarity between unions can have in strengthening our respective fights.

Additionally, Feasby argued that while the picketing may cause harm to Sobeys’ business, disallowing Sobeys Warehouse workers from picketing would cause even more harm by trampling their constitutional right to Freedom of Expression.

This is an argument that your union has repeatedly made, and it is good to see a judge recognizing the importance of workers’ charter rights, especially in the aftermath of the government infringing on teachers’ rights by legislating them back to work.

Shortly after Justice Feabsy’s decision was released, the company settled the dispute with Sobeys Warehouse workers.

While we have not seen the details of the settlement, these developments serve as an important reminder that when we stand together in strength and solidarity, we can achieve victories against even the biggest businesses.

October 24, 2025

PROGRESS MADE, BUT STILL A LONG WAY TO GO

Bargaining between your Safeway Bargaining Committee and Sobeys continued in Edmonton from October 21 to 23.

While we’ve made some progress, there’s still a lot of work ahead before we reach a fair deal that reflects your hard work and meets your needs.

This past week, the parties exchanged and discussed 55 proposals. There’s been some movement on smaller items, but Sobeys continues to hesitate when it comes to the real issues that matter most to Safeway workers: fairness, respect, and wages that keep up with the cost of living. “Sobeys’ profits don’t happen without Safeway workers. We’ve had some minor movement on small issues, but we’re still fighting for the fairness and recognition you’ve earned. This round of bargaining reminds us how important it is to stay united. We’re stronger together.” – Thomas Hesse, President, UFCW Local 401

A FEW OF THE PROPOSALS WE’VE TABLED

Your bargaining committee, made up of Safeway members like you, has been advancing proposals that speak to your priorities. Here are some of the key proposals:UP3 – Paid National Day For Truth and Reconciliation and Land Acknowledgment
Sobeys has countered a proposal to include a Land Acknowledgment in the collective agreement. Your bargaining committee continues to review and engage with this proposal to ensure it reflects genuine respect and truth, not token gestures. 

UP49 – New Digital Union Membership Application – Pilot
A pilot program is being developed for two stores during bargaining to test digital union membership applications. This would make signing and updating your membership easier and faster, while keeping workers connected to their union.

UP24 & UP25 – Mental Health Supports And Sick Leave Amendment
Your union tabled a comprehensive proposal on mental health that would ensure meaningful supports for Safeway workers across the province. This includes amendments to the sick leave provisions in all three agreements to provide stronger protections and clarity for full-time employees. Read the proposal here.

ELECTRONIC SHELF LABELS (ESL): WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

Sobeys began testing Electronic Shelf Labels (ESLs) in Alberta stores back in June 2025 and has now advised that installations will continue in additional stores starting in January 2026. The company claims these changes “won’t impact workers,” but your Bargaining Committee knows that any new technology in stores must be carefully monitored to ensure it doesn’t result in job loss, increased workloads, or reduced hours.

A survey will be sent closer to the next round of bargaining so that members can share their concerns directly with their union.

ESL deployment schedule:
Electronic shelf labels will begin installation in the following stores between January and February 2026:

This scheduled deployment also means the company has sent your union a letter indicating its intention to eliminate all Head File Maintenance positions.

You can read the company’s letter by clicking here.

Your bargaining committee pushed the company on these developments, clearly spelling out the anxiety, frustration, and stress that the plan is causing for File Maintenance employees and all stores. Sobeys had little in the way of responses to these arguments, sticking to their mantra that the technology “won’t impact workers”.

Your union filed a grievance as part of its pushback against the initial phases of this plan. We will look at adding to that grievance in light of these additional details and in order to address the full breadth of the company’s planned changes.

The Company is proposing a temporary assignment of duties until bumping occurs and has floated a possible “bidding system” to allow senior employees to pre-select their bump locations (pending your union’s agreement).

“As someone who works very closely with our File Maintenance team, I see every day how much accuracy and care go into keeping our prices and labels right for customers,” said James Protsack, a produce manager and Safeway bargaining committee member from Edmonton. “With Electronic Shelf Labels, there are serious concerns about what this means for our coworkers’ jobs and for transparency. If this technology replaces the need for people to maintain prices, that’s a direct hit to their job security. And if no one is double-checking those prices, who’s protecting customers and ensuring fairness? Technology should support our work, not replace the human oversight that keeps our stores accountable.”

We will continue working with all impacted File Maintenance employees to ensure you are supported during this stressful time while also fighting the Company’s attempts to erode job security, reduce stability, or replace valued positions with technology.

Your union’s priority remains protecting good union jobs and ensuring every member has a fair path forward.
 

LEGAL BATTLES BEYOND THE BARGAINING TABLE

While your Bargaining Committee was preparing for the second round of negotiations, important legal proceedings were also taking place that directly impact Safeway workers.

On October 10, the Court of Appeal heard the judicial review regarding the overturn of Arbitrator Mia Norrie’s Wage Reopener decision, a case that has major implications for fair pay at Safeway. We continue to fight to uphold decisions that recognize the value of your work and push back against Sobeys’ rollbacks. A decision from the Court is not expected for a few months.

From October 14–17, your union also attended a hearing on the company’s handling of customer abuse, or more accurately, its lack of a comprehensive program to address this ongoing and growing issue. This matter strikes at the heart of workplace safety and respect. Your union made it clear that grocery workers should never be expected to tolerate abuse as “part of the job.”

“Whether it’s in the courts or at the bargaining table, we’re not backing down when it comes to fairness and safety for grocery workers.”  – Thomas Hesse, UFCW 401 President.

SOLIDARITY BEYOND THE BARGAINING TABLE

Your Safeway Bargaining Committee wearing red in support of Alberta teachers.

During this round of talks, your Safeway Bargaining Committee showed solidarity with Alberta teachers, who demonstrated at the Legislature on October 23 to demand better working conditions in public education.

Although Safeway members couldn’t be there in person, the committee wore red at the table and sent a message of support, along with dozens of bags of potatoes for the teachers’ rally.

The potatoes were a playful nod to Premier Danielle Smith’s dismissive remark that “there’s more than one way to peel a potato,” made in response to teachers’ concerns about classroom conditions and funding. It was a reminder that when workers are underestimated, standing together is the only way forward.

“It’s about solidarity, pure and simple. Whether it’s teachers, grocery workers, or healthcare staff, our struggles are connected. Sobeys may not be ready to listen yet, but we are here, we’re organized, and we’re not backing down.” – Richelle Stewart, Secretary Treasurer, UFCW Local 401
 

MEET YOUR BARGAINING COMMITTEE

Your Union Bargaining Committee is made up of Safeway workers from stores across Alberta, representing your voices and priorities. They are standing firm for fairness, respect, and stability. 

CHECK THEM OUT!

SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN

We’ve started a campaign to expose Sobeys’ workplace practices. Why are we doing this?

• To keep the public informed
• To discourage new hires from being strike replacements (scabs)
• To build solidarity and community support

This is part of the fight for fairness, not just at the bargaining table, but in public awareness.

Check out the FairCheckout.ca website and spread the word.

GET INVOLVED AND STAY INFORMED

Safeway workers are strongest when we act together.

The next round of bargaining will take place November 17–19, 2025, in Calgary. If you want to attend, reach out to your Union Labour Relations Officer.

Here’s how you can stay informed and get involved:   

1. Observe negotiations: We believe in open bargaining, and this means any Safeway worker can come in person to the bargaining table and watch. Email your ULRO or ufcw@ufcw401.ab.ca to attend.
2. Attend Zoom debriefs
3. Follow updates: Via email, social media, and the bargaining website: gounion.ca/safewaybargaining2025
4. Talk to colleagues: Share updates, build unity, and strengthen your voice
5. Listen to the union’s podcast Voices of 401:  https://gounion.ca/voicesof401/

Bargaining is a collective process, and your participation and support are key to achieving the fair deal we all deserve.

October 20, 2025

SAFEWAY BARGAINING RESUMES TOMORROW

The next round of bargaining with Sobeys begins tomorrow, Tuesday, October 21, and runs through to Thursday, October 23.

Here’s everything you need to know:

PROFIT OVER PEOPLE

While Sobeys’ parent company reported C$7.64 billion in revenue and C$173 million in net earnings last quarter, the company offered nothing for Safeway workers.

Sobeys’ 71 proposals include:

• Slashing the stat pay from 2x to 1.5x.
• Extending probation from 200 hours to 320 hours.
• Increasing outsourcing, allowing five more vendors to stock shelves, meaning fewer hours for Safeway workers, or even job losses.
• Deleting the WCB top-up.
• Cutting benefits, including hearing aids.
• Introducing part-time co-pays for Health and Welfare plans.
• Excluding a long list of job positions from union protections.

When asked why these cuts were necessary, Sobeys only repeated vague phrases like “competitive disadvantage,” showing that profits, not people, drive their decisions.

Thomas Hesse, UFCW Local 401 President:
“We asked them straight: what’s driving this? Is there a business rationale, a financial necessity? They just kept spouting intangible terms like ‘competitive disadvantage.’ It’s clear we’re focused on people, while they can only focus on profits.”

You can read the company’s current offer and judge for yourself.

SEE THE COMPANY’S PROPOSALS HERE

WHAT MATTERS TO YOU

Safeway workers’ priorities remain urgent, clear, and rooted in fairness. Your Bargaining Committee is fighting for:

• Fair wages that keep up with the affordability crisis.
• Fair benefits that protect workers and reflect the essential work you do.
• Recognition of Truth and Reconciliation, with September 30 as a paid holiday.
• Lifting the cap on full-time jobs so more members can build stability in their lives.
• Fairer and more flexible transfers and shift-picking.
• Equal access to benefits for part-time and full-time workers.
• Eliminating caps on prescription coverage.
• Properly funded dental and health plans that never fall behind or get cut back.

These proposals are about stability, fairness, and respect, making Safeway a workplace where workers can thrive,now and in the coming years.  

Sobeys’ proposals ignore these priorities, highlighting why solidarity is essential.

Richelle Stewart, UFCW Local 401 Secretary Treasurer:
“Now is the time to stick together. The gap between what workers need and what this company is offering shows how tough bargaining is going to be. The only way we win is by standing together and showing our strength with overwhelming strike votes.”

Want to see the full list of proposals your Bargaining Committee has advanced on your behalf?

SEE YOUR UNION’S PROPOSALS HERE

MEET YOUR BARGAINING COMMITTEE

Your Union Bargaining Committee is made up of Safeway workers from stores across Alberta, representing your voices and priorities. They are standing firm for fairness, respect, and stability. 

CHECK THEM OUT!

SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN

We’ve started a campaign to expose Sobeys’ workplace practices. Why are we doing this?

• To keep the public informed
• To discourage new hires from being strike replacements (scabs)
• To build solidarity and community support

This is part of the fight for fairness, not just at the bargaining table, but in public awareness.

Check out the FairCheckout.ca website and spread the word.

GET INVOLVED AND STAY INFORMED

Safeway workers are strongest when we act together. Here’s how you can stay informed and get involved:  

1. Observe negotiations: We believe in open bargaining and this means any Safeway worker can come in-person to the bargaining table and watch. Email your ULRO or ufcw@ufcw401.ab.ca to attend.
2. Attend Zoom debriefs:
   • Wednesday, Oct 22, 7:00 pm: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85987019455
   • Thursday, Oct 23, 8:00 am: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83652246666
3. Follow updates: Via email, social media and the bargaining website: gounion.ca/safewaybargaining2025
4. Talk to colleagues: Share updates, build unity, and strengthen your voice
5. Listen to the union’s podcast Voices of 401:  https://gounion.ca/voicesof401/

Sobeys may be trying to ignore the hypocrisy of their approach to bargaining, but they can’t ignore Safeway workers standing strong together to fight for what’s right.

Together, we can achieve an offer that meets your needs, now and into the future. 

October 2, 2025

We were expecting a fight and we got one…

Record profits vs. shameful proposals

A POWERFUL FIRST DAY AT THE TABLE

The first day of bargaining made one thing clear: Safeway workers showed up strong and united.

By scheduling bargaining on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Sobeys treated September 30 like just another day at the office. Business as usual.

For workers, however, it is a solemn day of remembrance and commitment to change. At the bargaining table, the contrast was striking. 

Thirty-six Bargaining Committee members and 21 observers filled the space with energy and determination, while Sobeys sent five company representatives. The power imbalance wasn’t in numbers; it was also in spirit. The Bargaining Committee members are Safeway workers just like you, standing up for all of us at the table.

The room was filled with strength, solidarity, and the knowledge that more than 7,000 Safeway members stand behind their Bargaining Committee.

Our allies from Sobeys Warehouse Operations, currently locked out by Sobeys at the Rocky View warehouse, joined us at the table. Their presence was a living example of what solidarity means.

When one group of workers stands up to Sobeys’ corporate greed, others rise with them. Together, we send a message: this fight is bigger than one workplace, it’s about fairness for all workers.

To honour the day, Indigenous union member, Ron Klassen, opened bargaining with a smudging ceremony, while union members wore orange shirts.

President of UFCW Local 401, Thomas Hesse, set the tone for negotiations by directly confronting the company’s lack of respect. Hesse reminded Sobeys that good corporations honour the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation; they don’t bargain on it.

Hesse demanded that the company show genuine respect by embedding a land acknowledgment into the collective agreement and by committing to make September 30 a paid statutory holiday for Safeway workers.

But President Hesse didn’t stop there. He spoke to the heart of what this fight is about: people. 

“People matter. People need to feel like they matter. And people just need to get by,” said Hesse, pointing out that Sobeys profits from selling the very essentials of life: food. 

“You sell what makes us live. You sell food. You have a pronounced corporate responsibility to society, workers, and customers. This work is noble; it is essential. And when you have a union, the union matters.”

Finally, President Hesse drew a line in the sand.

If Sobeys thinks it can misrepresent what happens at the table through its Safeway Talks memos, or if it pushes workers to the brink, they will find themselves facing united resistance.

From the very first minutes of bargaining, the message was unmistakable: these workers are strong and will not be intimidated into concessions.

WHAT THE COMPANY WANTS

Sobeys came to the table with a list of demands that would cut pay, reduce benefits, and strip protections from Safeway workers.

Their proposals are 71 proposals in total that include: 

• Slashing overtime pay from 2x to 1.5x.
• Extending probation from 200 hours to 320 hours.
• Increasing outsourcing, allowing five more vendors to stock shelves, meaning fewer hours for Safeway workers, or even job losses.
• Deleting the WCB top-up.
• Cutting benefits, including hearing aids
• Reducing pensions from $1.45 to $0.75 while removing the sunset clause
• Introducing part-time co-pays for Health and Welfare plans.
• Excluding a long list of job positions from union protections.

When President Hesse asked the company representatives what business pressures or challenges triggered such a harsh offer, his questions were dismissed.

The company kept repeating their proposals without meaningful explanation, giving no real justification for these takeaways. 

“We asked them straight: what’s driving this? Is there a business rationale, a financial necessity? They just kept spouting intangible terms like ‘competitive disadvantage’ and going on about their proposals. It’s clear that we’re focused on people, while they can only focus on their profits.”

You can read the full Company’s offer currently on the table and judge for yourself.

Would you agree to this deal?

SEE THE COMPANY’S PROPOSALS HERE

OUR PRIORITIES VS. WHAT THE COMPANY PROPOSED

Safeway workers’ priorities haven’t changed since December. They remain urgent, clear, and rooted in what members told us matters most.

At the heart of your proposals is fairness: fair wages that keep up with the affordability crisis, fair benefits that protect workers, fair and meaningful acknowledgement of Truth and Reconciliation with September 30 as a paid holiday, and a reminder that Sobeys’ massive profits should not come at the expense of the people who make their stores run.

We’re also fighting to lift the cap on full-time jobs so more workers can build stability, to make transfers and shift-picking fairer and more flexible, and to secure stronger benefits.

That means ensuring part-time and full-time members have equal access to the same high standard of benefits, eliminating caps on prescription coverage, and properly funding dental and health plans so they never fall behind or get cut back.

These proposals are about stability, fairness, and respect – about making Safeway a workplace where workers can thrive, not just get by.

Yet the company’s proposals ignore these priorities. There is no restoration of lost wages, no meaningful improvements to wage progression, and no commitment to fair full-time employment. Benefits remain underfunded, prescription coverage is still capped, and dental and health plans are not guaranteed. 

This contrast highlights why solidarity is so important. Safeway workers know what’s fair, and your Bargaining Committee is fighting for every member’s future.

Want to see the full list of proposals your Bargaining Committee has advanced on your behalf?

SEE YOUR UNION’S PROPOSALS HERE

WHERE WE STAND 

The gap between what workers need and what Sobeys is offering makes one thing clear: this round of bargaining is going to be tough.

But UFCW Local 401 Secretary Treasurer, Richelle Stewart, reminded us why we can succeed: 

“Now is the time to stick to one another. This is going to be the fight of our lives. The gap between what workers need and what this company is offering shows how tough this round is going to be. The only way we win is by uniting our membership and showing our strength, with strong, overwhelming strike votes. We see it everywhere: teachers, postal workers, flight attendants, government workers, and healthcare workers. People have had enough. Now it’s time for grocery workers.”

Your Bargaining Committee is ready to stand firm, fight together, and show strength at every step.

Next round of bargaining is set in Edmonton Oct. 21 – 23

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Safeway workers are strongest when we act together. Here’s how you can stay informed and get involved:  

1. Check the bargaining website for proposals and updates: gounion.ca/safewaybargaining2025
2. Talk to your colleagues: stay connected, share what you learn, and build unity.
3. Read the company’s proposal so you know exactly what’s at stake.
4. Next week, you’ll be able to listen to our new podcast, Voices of 401, for a summary update from the bargaining table.
5. Follow us on social media for real-time updates and solidarity stories.
6. Come to the Bargaining Table! We believe in open bargaining, and if you are interested in observing the negotiations, contact your ULRO or send an email to ufcw@ufcw401.ab.ca
7. Attend the Zoom meeting debrief scheduled for tomorrow to hear updates and ask questions:

Friday, October 3, at 4 PM
Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87202557281

Together, we can show Sobeys that grocery workers won’t settle for less than what they deserve.

October 1, 2025

Could you see a picket line outside your store soon?

Or could someone be standing in front of your store, handing out leaflets, being critical of Sobeys?

It could happen sooner than you think.

Today, your union learned that the union representing Sobeys warehouse workers who were locked out and have been on strike since September 18, 2025, applied for something called “secondary picketing.” That could result in picket lines outside Safeway stores in the coming weeks.

Secondary picketing occurs when a group of workers on strike applies to the Labour Relations Board to establish picket lines outside locations related to their strike.

Making such an application is usually intended to improve the visibility of your strike and make it more effective.

What does the law say?

Secondary picketing is legal and is a common tactic employed by striking workers. In the past, your union has sought to engage in secondary picketing to strengthen the effectiveness of a strike.

However, Alberta has established legislative limitations on secondary picketing, requiring a union to submit an application to the Labour Relations Board. The Board may accept or deny the application and can place limitations on the secondary picket lines a union sets up. 

An important form of Freedom of Expression

As noted on the Labour Relations Board’s website, recent court rulings have found that there is “no common law barrier to peaceful picketing.”

These developments recognize the importance of picketers’ Freedom of Expression to state their case to the public through secondary picketing, provided an application has been appropriately submitted through the Labour Board.

As we have previously noted, the Supreme Court of Canada has recognised the vital importance of workers’ Freedom of Expression on matters related to their working conditions.

What to do if you encounter a secondary picket line outside your store

If you show up to work and encounter a Sobeys warehouse worker secondary picket line, it is important to remember a few things.

By law, you are still required to show up for work. If you do not show up for work due to the presence of a secondary picket line outside your store, company lawyers could argue that your conduct might contribute to being disciplined. 

We are in regular contact with the union representing striking Sobeys warehouse workers. So, your union will ensure that the secondary picketers are aware of your obligations.

If you were to choose to go on strike against Sobeys, your union would also be asking the Labour Board to allow for secondary picketing to occur. We would seek to picket in front of all the businesses that they operate, including Sobeys stores, Freshco stores, IGA stores, and their warehousing operations.

If we wind up on strike against Sobeys, we will seek the support of Sobeys’ warehouse workers to increase pressure on the company. It is vital that we demonstrate our support as those workers stand their ground.

If you encounter a secondary picket line outside your store, contact your Union Labour Relations Officer immediately. Additionally, if you have any questions about secondary picketing, do not hesitate to contact your union for answers and advice.

We’ll keep you posted as this situation develops. And we know that by standing together, all Sobeys workers in Alberta can win the wages, benefits, and respect they deserve.

September 30, 2025

National Day for Truth & Reconciliation

Fighting for justice in Alberta and at the bargaining table…

As we embark on major bargaining for our Safeway members, your union is taking stock of an important priority: wider recognition for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

“Truth and reconciliation is one of the most important measures for social justice in Canada today,” says President Thomas Hesse of Local 401. “Just as our national union has made it a major priority, our local is placing it front and center as a priority at the bargaining table.”

“The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation recognizes a history that affects every community in Canada,” adds Secretary-Treasurer Richelle Stewart. “The children who were lost in the residential school system, and the families and communities that continue to feel the impact of that legacy, are key to any organization that stands for the cause of social justice.”

Your union sees it as our responsibility to go beyond just acknowledging this day. We must also champion its recognition as a holiday in workplaces across our province. This is something that we have done and will continue to do in bargaining, with Sobey’s and beyond. 

Recognition at the Bargaining Table

The first day of bargaining for our Safeway members takes place on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Our delegation at the table has ceremonially honoured the day, and we are also making the day a bargaining priority.

Thanks to the efforts of our union, there are almost twenty workplaces in Alberta that recognize this important day as a paid holiday for their employees in their Collective Bargaining Agreements. Members whose contracts contain this recognition work in various industries, including milling, malting, and distilling, as well as hospitality, healthcare, casinos, and other sectors.

We will seek such inclusion in bargaining with Sobey’s, and we will also seek the inclusion of a formal Land Acknowledgement in the language of the collective agreement.

For some time, seeking formal recognition of September 30 as a paid holiday has been a priority that UFCW 401 negotiators have pursued at the bargaining table. While wage increases, strengthened benefits, and improved working conditions are always top of mind, your union is always pushing to provide our members with opportunities for reflection that are afforded to other workers across Canada.

A federal statutory holiday that is automatically recognized in federally regulated workplaces, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is not yet a provincially recognized day.   

As we fight for fair wages and benefits for our members who are confronting the affordability crisis, we will also fight for dignity, justice, and the recognition of Truth and Reconciliation at even more workplaces across Alberta.

How You Can Observe the Day

There are plenty of ways to learn more about the issues and the history that’s commemorated by the National Day for Truth & Reconciliation.

You can sign up for our inspiring Indigenous Rights & Activism course. An introduction to the culture, history, and lived experience of indigenous people, it’s a gateway to a lifetime of forming allyships with and continuing to learn more about our First Nations and their rich and varied background and perspectives.

There are also dozens of other learning resources you can access, including everything from courses to podcasts, that can introduce you to First Nations topics from a variety of angles.

Remember to keep checking your e-mail and to stay tuned for more news about your union’s efforts to forward the cause of Truth and Reconciliation and the widening recognition of this important day. Safeway members should stay tuned for further developments regarding our other bargaining priorities.

September 26, 2025

It’s GO Time: Safeway bargaining kicks off next week

On Tuesday, September 30, your union will start going head-to-head with Sobeys to bargain a new contract for Alberta Safeway workers, << Test First Name >>.

This round of bargaining won’t be easy. But we’re ready for the fight. And with members like you standing strong alongside thousands of coworkers, we know we can win the fairness and respect you deserve.

How we got here

In 2023, after years of frustration with Sobeys, your union fought for and won important wage increases. Through a process called a Wage Reopener, Arbitrator Mia Norrie awarded senior Safeway workers a 5% wage increase in 2023 and another 5% in 2024. Norrie recognized that while our proposal was ambitious, Sobeys’ proposal was, in her own words, “significantly inferior.”

Sobeys didn’t like that outcome. But instead of respecting the process, they went to the Court of King’s Bench to try to overturn it. While the court sided with Sobeys, your union has filed an appeal because workers deserve fairness, not rollbacks.

That appeal will be heard by the Court of Appeal on October 10, 2025.

UFCW Local 401 President Thomas Hesse has been clear: “Sobeys’ attempts to drive down wages during an affordability crisis, while their parent company Empire posts record profits, are shameful and wrong.”

What’s at stake this round

From your bargaining surveys, we know the top six priorities Safeway members identified:

1. Restoring wage rollbacks and further wage increases
2. More full-time jobs, more hours for part-timers 
3. Secure and improve workers’ benefit plans
4. Safe, comfortable and respectful workplaces for all
5. Fair discounts for workers
6. Job security and end Sobeys’ anti-union tactics

This round of bargaining is about more than numbers on a page. It’s about RESPECT.

It’s about ensuring frontline workers who carried communities through COVID-19 are no longer taken for granted. It’s about drawing a line, like so many workers are doing right now with job action and strikes, demanding better pay and improved working conditions in these uncertain and volatile times.

Open bargaining: come and see it for yourself

We believe in open bargaining, which means any Safeway member can attend negotiations and see for themselves what happens at the table. Contact your Union Labour Relations officer to arrange attendance if you are interested.

When & Where: September 30 – October 2, 2025
Carriage House Hotel, Calgary 
9030 Macleod Trl, Calgary, AB T2H 0M4

Time: 9:00 a.m. start

This is YOUR bargaining table. Stay informed by:

• Reading bargaining update emails
• Visiting https://gounion.ca/safewaybargaining2025/
• Following UFCW 401 on social media: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok (@UFCW401)
• Watching for Friday debrief Zoom meetings after each week of negotiations

IMPORTANT: Sobeys will try to deliver their own message about bargaining through Safeway Talks.

Always rely on updates from your union first. Our updates will come from your Union Bargaining Committee. That Committee is made up of Safeway workers fighting to get you the best deal possible.

Building strike readiness

In the weeks and months ahead, you’ll hear more about the importance of a strong strike vote strategy. Let’s be clear:

• A strike vote does not necessarily mean we are going on strike.
• A strike vote is a show of strength, demonstrating that workers are united and willing to stand up for fair wages and decent working conditions.
• The stronger the strike vote, the stronger the message to Sobeys: Safeway workers will not settle for less.
• Strong strike votes are often the most effective tactic to avoid strikes by getting employers to come back to the table with fair offers.
• There’s nothing unusual about taking a strike vote, especially in the midst of an affordability crisis. Recently, nurses, government employees, teachers, and workers in food processing and retail across Alberta and North America have all taken strike votes.
• Strike votes aren’t just for industrial and blue-collar workers; they are for everyone who wants power and leverage at the bargaining table.

As UFCW Local 401 Secretary Treasurer, Richelle Stewart, explains: “A strike vote is about demonstrating collective power. When thousands of Safeway members make it clear they are ready to take action, Sobeys has no choice but to pay attention.”

“The employer knows we are serious when we show our strength together,” adds Stewart.

Together, we win

Safeway workers have always been there for Alberta communities. You were frontline heroes during COVID-19 and you continue to be heroes in your communities to this day. You deserve a contract that reflects your value and your sacrifice.

This round will be a tough fight, but we’ve been ready for this moment. You’re not alone, your union is prepared, and together, we are unstoppable.

It’s GO TIME. Let’s get to work and let’s win.

September 4, 2025

FreshCo and Sobeys: one company, one fight

Are they really separate companies? We don’t think so, and we’re taking action to prove it.

Sure, you’ve probably been to a FreshCo before, Anna, and noticed lower prices on produce or fewer services available to you. All to diminish service to the customers, rake in the profits, and sell the idea that you’re saving big on the same products you’d find at other grocery stores.

But is that truly a deal for customers or just a smokescreen for a business model that cuts corners on workers and service while boosting corporate profits?

FreshCo operates under a franchise model, but some may suggest the puppeteer pulling the strings behind the scenes is the big corporation: Sobeys. That means FreshCo workers face an even tougher challenge when it comes time to negotiate collective agreements. Why? Because it’s not the multimillion-dollar corporation (Sobeys) sitting across the bargaining table. It’s the franchisee. Obviously, franchisees work with limited resources, while big corporations, like Sobeys, have deep pockets and the financial muscle to back them up.

UFCW Local 401 wants to change that in Alberta.

That’s why the union has recently filed something called a Common Employer Application with the Alberta Labour Relations Board (ALRB). This is a legal request asking the Board to recognize that FreshCo and Sobeys are not truly separate companies.

Even though FreshCo stores may appear independent, we believe Sobeys makes the decisions, sets the rules, directs the work, and controls what happens on the ground. If that’s the case, Sobeys should be held accountable at the bargaining table when it comes to negotiating your union contract.

WHAT IS A COMMON EMPLOYER APPLICATION?

A Common Employer Application is used when a big company tries to hide behind a separate brand or franchise to avoid dealing fairly with workers, especially with unions. It’s a way to get the Labour Board to say, “No, you’re actually the same employer, and you can’t dodge responsibility.” This matters because right now, each FreshCo store negotiates separately, store by store, which weakens our ability to fight for better wages, benefits, and job security. When stores are divided, it benefits the corporation, not the workers.

WHAT DOES FRANCHISING REALLY MEAN?

Franchising is a business model where big corporations like Sobeys allow other people to run stores under their brand name, but in many cases, the corporation still controls major decisions like pricing, hours, staffing, and policies. It’s often used to avoid strong union contracts and reduce costs, which usually means cutting corners on workers’ wages and protections. It’s a way for multi-million-dollar companies to keep profits high by keeping workers weak and divided.

WHY DOES THIS MATTER NOW?

We’re living in uncertain times, the cost of living keeps going up, and our paycheques don’t stretch as far as they used to. That’s why it’s more important than ever for workers to stand together.

If you want to read our application to the ALRB, click HERE. 

We’re following the lead of UFCW 1518 in British Columbia

Last year, UFCW Local 1518 made a similar Common Employer Application in British Columbia. Sobeys fought that application twice. And twice, the Courts ruled in favour of the union, finding that Sobeys and FreshCo are common employers.

We expect Sobeys to fight our Alberta application just as hard. But we’re ready.

What exactly does this mean for workers at Local 401?

If the Alberta Labour Relations Board agrees that Sobeys and FreshCo are common employers, it could be a game-changer for FreshCo workers across the province. Instead of negotiating separate contracts store by store, all FreshCo workers would bargain together, united under one voice. It would also be a game-changer for Safeway employees, as it would enhance our ability to push Sobeys at two levels instead of one.

Additionally, it would discourage Sobeys from converting Safeway stores into FreshCos, as it would send the message that they cannot easily weaken the union.

That kind of unity gives workers more bargaining power. Sobeys would no longer be able to play stores off one another or isolate negotiations. It means better coordination, stronger support, and more pressure at the bargaining table.

Simply put, we’d be in a much better position to win real improvements in wages, benefits, and working conditions.

Why should I care if I don’t work at Sobeys or FreshCo?

When UFCW Local 401 takes action, your bosses are paying attention. It sends a clear message: they can’t mess with you. It also makes them think twice about trying to restructure the business in ways that strip away your union rights, wages, or benefits. 

That’s why it’s so essential we stand together behind Local 401’s strategies and tactics. We need to make it crystal clear to every employer that an injury to one is an injury to all.

It’s easy to feel powerless against big corporations on your own. But 401’s message is a collective one: all of us, united. It reminds the world that workers are never alone.

What Happens Next?

While the legal process plays out, UFCW Local 401 is still preparing for bargaining at each individual FreshCo location. We are at the table with nine of them out of over twenty different stores with different collective agreements.

Safeway bargaining is about to begin, and at those negotiations, we’ll be asking Safeway to guarantee that no stores will be closed and that no more locations will be converted to FreshCos.

In the meantime, we’re not waiting. We’re organizing, supporting members, and getting ready.

Questions or Concerns? Let’s Talk.

If you have any questions about the common employer application, or FreshCo negotiations, please reach out to:

Chris O’Halloran, Executive Director
cohalloran@ufcw401.ab.ca
587-999-6448

We’ll keep you updated as the legal process continues. In the meantime, stay strong and stay informed. 

This is about standing up together for your rights, and we’re following the proven path paved by our union comrades at UFCW 1518 in BC.

August 27, 2025

“Truck You, Sobeys!” say Alberta Safeway employees

A cross-country wake-up call they can’t ignore

From Alberta to Nova Scotia, your union is turning up the heat.

We’ve launched a bold national campaign, starting right in the Sobeys family’s own backyard.

While Safeway workers in Alberta face job insecurity from store conversions, rolled-back wages, rising customer aggression, safety concerns, and a worsening affordability crisis, Sobeys is raking in profits. Nearly $160 million in just three months.

Your union, UFCW Local 401, is refusing to stay quiet. That’s why we’ve taken the message on the road (literally).

A message-loaded truck is now making its way through Halifax, Nova Scotia, stopping at Sobeys locations and catching national attention.

Why Halifax? It’s home turf for Sobeys. Their headquarters is in Stellarton, NS, and the Sobeys family, one of Canada’s wealthiest, resides right there. If anyone needs to hear the truth about what their company is doing to Safeway workers out west, it’s them.

UFCW Local 401 President, Thomas Hesse, says it best:

“We are exhausting all options to make sure our message gets across to the big bosses, not the middle management. The executives can afford far more than they want us to believe. Safeway members aren’t asking for the moon, they’re demanding an end to wage rollbacks, the return of wage increases, fair treatment, job security, and an end to the company’s bullying and threats. We are ready to set the tone for bargaining at the end of September. Pressure works. Bold actions work. And Safeway workers won’t take peanuts.”

We’re not just talking the talk, we’re putting the message where it needs to be heard. And you can join the conversation, too.

Visit SayItToSobeys.com to take action and add your voice.

Sobeys tries to shut us up, again

When our truck parked at store lots, Sobeys’ response? A notice of trespassing. Rather than face their own record, they’re trying (yet again) to silence workers and stop the message from spreading. It won’t work.

This is just one more example of the bullying tactics we’re fighting against as we head into bargaining. Sobeys doesn’t want the public to know what’s really going on, but we’ll make sure they hear it anyway.

Heading Into Bargaining

Bargaining kicks off on September 30, and this truck is proof that Local 401 is using every tool we have to turn up the pressure. We’re fighting hard at the table, but your solidarity and awareness will be just as crucial.

Richelle Stewart, Secretary Treasurer of UFCW Local 401, adds:

“This truck isn’t just about making noise, it’s about making change. We’re sending a clear message that Safeway workers are united, serious, and standing up for what’s right. When workers draw a line, like we saw with the Air Canada flight attendants, public support follows. People rally behind fairness and courage. Every action we take, every conversation, every show of solidarity builds our strength at the bargaining table. The company is watching, and so is the public.”

Stay Informed. Stay Involved.

📌 Visit our bargaining website:
👉 gounion.ca/safewaybargaining2025
📱 Follow us on social media
🗣️ Talk to your Shop Steward or Union Labour Representative Officer
📋 Watch your union bulletin boards in stores

Let’s remind Sobeys: You can’t put profits over people without a fight.

August 14, 2025

$148.9 MILLION IN THREE MONTHS WHILE YOU PAY THE PRICE

While Safeway workers like you show up every day to keep the stores running, Empire/Sobeys raked in $148.9 million in just three months.

At the same time, you’ve dealt with wage rollbacks, chronic understaffing, and a workplace that’s often tense and stressful.

The truth is, they can more than afford to pay you fairly and treat you with respect. The Sobeys family is reportedly worth almost $4.5 billion.

Watch this animated infographic to find out how much Empire Group, the company that owns Sobeys and Safeway, made in just three months. The profits speak for themselves.

When bargaining begins September 30 – October 2, we’ll be fighting to:

• Stop the rollbacks and win back wages that meet your needs.
• Protect your job security.
• Increase hours and pay of employees working their way up the wage scales.
• Improve your benefits to provide you with additional support during the affordability crisis.
• Protect you against escalating customer rudeness and abuse.
• Ensure safe and healthy working conditions.
• And much more. 

“We know that Safeway members are anxious to get to the bargaining table. And these reports show exactly why they should be,” says Secretary Treasurer Richelle Stewart. “You need a raise. You deserve a raise. And the company can afford to give you a raise.”

“We’ll push Sobeys to do the right thing at the bargaining table finally,” adds President Thomas Hesse. “If they refuse, Sobeys will have to face their workers’ ever-increasing calls for a potential strike in Alberta.”

We’re more connected than ever. You can stay up to date and sign up for updates during bargaining at :

https://gounion.ca/safewaybargaining2025/.

August 1, 2025

Sobeys sinks to new lows!

Silencing workers to dismantle your voice

Just when you think they couldn’t get any more underhanded, Sobeys sinks to new lows. Yesterday, the company wrote to your union to inform us that your Walking Stewards will be required to cease their work on your behalf effective August 10, 2025. That’s just one day following the expiration of your contract.

Sobeys says their instructions stem from language in your collective agreement. But let’s be clear, this is an attack on our union’s ability to support members like you. That support is more important than ever as we get ready to bargain.

What are Walking Stewards?

A Walking Steward is a worker just like you, who has volunteered for a challenging and essential role: fighting for your rights and providing crucial information about your contract and union relations. These stewards have the courage to speak truth to power, even when faced with a multibillion-dollar corporation like Sobeys. They are the frontline defenders of your rights, ensuring you are not left in the dark.

What makes this program even more valuable is that it’s employer-funded. This means that Sobeys pays for the program, so your union dues do not increase. You get all the benefits of dedicated representation without any additional cost to you.

Every day, Walking Stewards demonstrate extraordinary courage and conviction. In fact, two of them even appeared in a TV commercial, boldly speaking truth to power about the work they do to protect workers like you.

The term “steward” means they are guardians of your rights. Unlike other union reps confined to a single store, Walking Stewards travel between stores, ensuring that workers at all locations have access to the information and support they need.

This role has been especially important as Safeway stores are being converted to FreshCo, with many workers facing buyouts, transfers, and seniority issues. Walking Stewards were created in part to help during these transitions and have been crucial in providing support during these difficult times.

They’ve also been there during tough bargaining periods, offering critical information about benefits, services, and even mental health resources during some of the most challenging times in retail.

Sobeys’ move is no coincidence

Is it a coincidence that the company sent this notice just days after they were required to notify you of the Bargaining In Bad Faith complaint your union filed with the Labour Board? We’ll let you make your mind up for yourself. 

“It’s clear your union’s strategy of pushing Sobeys is getting under the company’s skin,” says UFCW Local 401 President Thomas Hesse. 

”This is about shutting down the voice of workers,” continues Hesse. “But Safeway workers won’t be silenced. The calls for strike action get louder every day. We hear you and will continue pushing Sobeys to get to the bargaining table and do the right thing or face the consequences.”

Your walking stewards have played a vital role in making sure your rights are protected, your voice is heard, and problems are dealt with quickly and fairly. Union lawyers also noted the valuable assistance that your Walking Stewards have provided in fighting for successful grievance and arbitration outcomes that have protected your rights and put money back in your pocket.

It’s no wonder Sobeys is moving to make it harder for you to raise concerns, ask questions, and get the help you need when they mistreat you.

“Safeway workers face a more challenging work environment than ever before,” says Secretary Treasurer Richelle Stewart. “Removing the support of their Walking Stewards during this challenging time is not just callous, it is underhanded and unscrupulous.”

”Safeway workers can rest assured that their union will fight to reinstate the invaluable support of their Walking Stewards at the bargaining table, with the Board, and by going on strike, if necessary,” adds Stewart.

In response to Sobeys’ latest move, the union is bringing another complaint to the Labour Board. This is yet another attempt by Sobeys to gag workers, weaken the union at a critical time as we approach bargaining, and manipulate the situation to their advantage.

By targeting some of our key leaders, they hope to dishearten us and discourage us from fighting back. But we won’t let them succeed. We’re more united than ever, and we will continue to push back against these attacks.

Shop Stewards will have to step up

If you see one of your Walking Stewards in the coming days, don’t forget to thank them for all the hard work they’ve put in keeping you informed, supported, and well-represented in the face of Sobeys’ unrelenting attacks. They truly have been on the frontline of the fight for fairness at Safeway.

Now, it’s incumbent on all of us to step up and fill this void. Shop Stewards, this is your time to lead. Together, we can ensure the continued strength of our union as we face the challenges ahead.Let’s use this moment to build a movement that tells Sobeys: Safeway workers are not disposable.

And if you want to tell us how you feel about the company’s latest low-blow, you can still take our Say It To Sobeys! 

Click here to take our confidential Say It To Sobeys survey. 

Stay strong, and if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to your Union Labour Relations Officer. 

July 29, 2025

Labour Board requires posting in Safeway stores!

Below, you will see a posting that the Alberta Labour Relations Board has required Safeway to post in each of its stores.

Labour Board Notice posted at the St. Albert Safeway store.

The posting highlights the fact that Sobeys faces a Bargaining In Bad Faith complaint at the Alberta Labour Relations Board. Take a moment to read the Notice in its entirety.

Your union filed this complaint after the company failed to respond to our Notice to Bargain in a meaningful way. As we have advised, Sobeys is still not in compliance with the law and your union is pushing to secure more dates and a reasonable approach to negotiations from the company.

If the above Notice is not clearly posted in your store, please get in touch with your Union Labour Relations Officer or email ufcw@ufcw401.ab.ca.

We’ll continue pushing this multi-billion-dollar company to get to the bargaining table and offer you more than crumbs during the affordability crisis.

July 23, 2025

Local 401 continues to move mountains…

Pushes multi-billion-dollar company to bargain!

As the saying goes, when it rains, it pours. At least, it does when you file a Bargaining In Bad Faith complaint…

Last week, we sent you President Thomas Hesse’s correspondence to Morgyn Ahrens demanding that the company stop stalling and fulfil its obligation to bargain in good faith or face a complaint at the Labour Board.

You can read that update by clicking here.

We waited one week to give Ahrens and the company an opportunity to respond.

When nothing happened, your union made good on its promise and filed a Bargaining In Bad Faith complaint with the Board. The complaint was submitted yesterday at 3:08 PM.

You can read the complaint by clicking here.

Magically, at 3:12 PM, just four minutes after our complaint was submitted to both Sobeys and the Board, we received a response from Ms. Ahrens.

Finally, after weeks of pushing by your union, Sobeys budges and agrees to come to the bargaining table. The company’s letter is better than nothing. But we worry it still does little more than offer you crumbs. 

You can read Morgyn Ahrens’ letter by clicking here.

When Sobeys wants to bargain, like they did back in December, before your contract was even close to expiring, they are able to find whole weeks of availability and threaten you with wage clawbacks.

However, when it is time to engage in formal bargaining, as dictated by the Alberta Labour Relations Code, all Sobeys can manage is a couple of days per month. The company’s hypocrisies are starting to pile up.

If any Safeway employee used to see Sobeys through rose-coloured glasses, those glasses have now been shattered.

President Hesse has replied to Ahrens, noting the deficiencies in Sobeys’ response and their continued failure to provide the information your union has duly and lawfully requested. Hesse’s response appears below:

Thank you for your response to our correspondence. It is unfortunate that it is offered only in the shadow of and in response to a Bargaining In Bad Faith complaint.

We accept all of the dates that you have offered as possible dates for collective bargaining, and you should hold them in your calendar. However, in these circumstances, just a couple of days a month is not demonstrative of a real effort to meet your statutory obligations to bargain in good faith. We need more dates.

Further, you have not responded in a proper or comprehensive way to our request for information. Nor have you questioned our rationale for such a request.

Your response is not in compliance with the Labour Relations Code and does not satisfy our reasonable request for information. In order for bargaining to proceed in a meaningful way, we require that information to craft our proposals and to make collective bargaining decisions.

We hope for an immediate response as we continue to advance our Bargaining In Bad Faith complaint and anticipate litigation.

“You can’t get by on the crumbs Sobeys is offering at the best of times, let alone during an affordability crisis,” says Secretary Treasurer Richelle Stewart. “The company needs to do better.”

“Let me be clear, the company’s response is still unacceptable,” says President Thomas Hesse. 

“We need more dates, and we need Sobeys to make a real effort to bargain in good faith,” continues Hesse. “If they continue failing to do so and there is a strong desire from Safeway members, a pre-Christmas strike could be an option.“

We’ll keep pushing this multi-billion-dollar company to offer you more than crumbs.

Together, our combined pressure has already gotten Sobeys to budge. But we’re far from done.

If you have a message you want to deliver to us about Sobeys’ behaviour, you can still do so by taking our Say it to Sobeys survey.

Click here to say it to Sobeys today!

In solidarity,
Your Union
UFCW Local 401

July 11, 2025

Safeway workers respond to Sobeys’ stalling tactics!

Recently, your union advised you of Sobeys’ stalling tactics. Frustratingly, they still have not provided dates to get to the bargaining table.

Here is how Safeway workers have responded to the Company’s foot-dragging:

It is very insulting.. it is our hard work that has made them sooooooo rich and yet that isn’t enough money for them 😡 treat us right and value all we do every day. – Bakery worker in Southern Alberta

The world is an uncertain place at the best of times. Just now, it seems that insanity prevails in many, many places. We need some sanity in our lives. A done deal allows for security and peace of mind. – Floral worker in Southern Alberta

Please get on with it. – Bakery worker in Northern Alberta

The stalling tactics are very childish. For a company who make millions off the backs of their staff .you all should be ashamed because as an employee of a Safeway I know am ashamed of the way the company treats their employees it is disgraceful. – Frontend worker in Southern Alberta

Get your butts to the table I NEED MY MONEY BACK!! – Frontend worker in Southern Alberta

Why can’t you show some respect for your hardworking employees and engage in a timely bargaining process? Are you afraid of the outcome? You have seriously pissed off the very people who provide you with your earnings. – Frontend worker in Southern Alberta

Get it done already. – Frontend worker in Central Alberta

I work very hard at all the jobs I do at Safeway, I’m a loyal employee and have been for ten years. I cannot believe you would not offer anything to your part time employees , the fact you would roll my wages back and take other pay away from me lets me know your not interested in me as a employee or a long time customer of Safeway. – Frontend worker in Northern Alberta

This is entirely unacceptable. Meet your obligations. – Frontend worker in Central Alberta

Obey the law and commence bargaining promptly. Show your diligence in this process like your workers do every day, faithfully serving customers even though our real wages are significantly less than they were five years ago. We are your most valuable asset and we deserve to be treated fairly and with respect. – Frontend worker in Southern Alberta

Why do you think your god playing with our lives the stress and uncertainty is cruel it affects our lives in many ways. – Frontend worker in Northern Alberta

For a company to have a motto “a family nurturing families” you have done nothing but take away from the safeway family with stores closures, wage cuts, and the continuous stalling of bargaining when you are obligated BY LAW, the more you stall the worse you look as a company who does not treat there workers fairly, 13 years ive been with safeway and since Sobeys has taken over it has been nothing but a downward spiral at the work place. – Produce worker in Northern Alberta

It’s pathetic. – Pharmacy worker in Southern Alberta

The tactic of stalling puts all employees wants and more importantly their needs on hold. This is unfair and disturbing that I find myself unable to plan anything going forward. My general feeling towards my employer is not a healthy one and is reflected in my conversation with those around me. I have 50 years of service in and have never seen a lower moral standard shared amongst as many of my coworkers as now. – Produce worker in Northern Alberta

Strike strike strike. – Frontend worker in Southern Alberta

Please help us to survive! I love my job, my customers and my coworkers. My coworkers are my family. Please help my family to thrive and make a living wage. I take pride in my work and I give world class customer service to our customers. – Frontend worker in Southern Alberta

Hopefully you can get to the table and put this behind us already. – Frontend worker in Northern Alberta

This is ridiculous. You are treating us like garbage. You cut back our wages and somehow we’ve been given more duties and responsibilities with lower pay because you refuse to give more hours/ or hire more staff. We are exhausted and tired of being broke while you guys cry because you’re “struggling” you have no idea what struggle is. My struggle is deciding between paying rent or eating for the month. Your struggle is which vacation will we have to cancel this year? ITS NOT THE SAME!!! Do better Sobeys! – Produce worker in Southern Alberta

Get your fucking lazy billionaire asses to the bargaining table and give the workers what they want. – Produce worker in Northern Alberta

We’re all under an enormous amount of stress. Adding to it, doesn’t help. Please do your part and get this process started so we all know what changes are coming. – Floral worker in Northern Alberta

I am hopeful for negotiations to be successful in our bargaining agreement and for more money so life isn’t so difficult please! – Frontend worker in Northern Alberta

Stop being so greedy you guys are ripping everyone with your stupid prices on food. Also trying to lower wage on employees wage. How greedy stop stalling and accept our good offer. You guys are ripping everyone off and we are sick of it. Stop stalling and accept our offer. It’s not inflation anymore it’s greedflation. Lower your prices on food. – Produce worker in Southern Alberta

I wanted to work at Safeway because I thought it would be a good company to work for and it was…for a couple of years. – Frontend worker in Northern Alberta

Sobeys is truly showing that they are scared!! They are being cowards and they know they don’t stand a chance against our strong Union and the strong Union Members!! It’s time for Sobeys to pull their heads out of there ASSES and show up at the bargaining table in good faith!! Sobeys is making themselves look like IDIOTS to their employees and the public!! It’s time for Sobeys to do what we all know is RIGHT!!!! – Produce worker in Southern Alberta

Your delaying tactics will not lessen our resolve! – Frontend worker in Central Alberta

It’s sickening behavior. You guys give us an offer in Dec 2024 that was complete nonsense, you threatened your own employees and followed through with taking away our raise. The world, country, unions, workers and leaders see you guys. – Produce worker in Southern Alberta

Quit with the cowardice and Republican-like behaviour, and get with reality. – Frontend worker in Northern Alberta

Please be a family that nutures my family, I need my 6.5% back and then some. I can’t pay my bills between the mortgage, insurance payments, property taxes, let alone the groceries or utilities or the things my baby needs. My wife and I have a combined almost 30 years at safeway, we deserve better 😔 – Frontend worker in Northern Alberta

Unacceptable and disrespectful. – Produce worker in Southern Alberta

Things are more and more expensive. I paid 10$ for three peaches like what the heck it’s not winter!!! I am a single mom and I need my income to keep supporting my child and myself just the bare minimum. – Pharmacy worker in Southern Alberta

It’s deplorable. Sit down and negotiate or face the consequences of dissatisfied workers. We are facing a cost-of-living crisis, and they won’t even show up to the field, let alone play ball. – Produce worker in Southern Alberta

Stop calling us teammates. You’re only in it for yourselves. You’ve been bullying us since you bought Safeway. For all your ‘Canadian Families Helping Families’ bs, the only family you care about helping is named Sobeys. Pay us what we’re worth. We’re the reason customers keep coming back – all you have to do is look at the customer surveys to know that. – Floral worker in Southern Alberta

Let’s get to the bargaining table and give your most loyal employees a helping hand and award them the raise that is necessary to live without crippling worry. – Produce worker in Southern Alberta

It’s hard to ignore the frustration and anger in those words. Safeway workers feel betrayed by their employer, and we can’t say that we blame them.

Know that your union will continue pushing to get Sobeys to the bargaining table as quickly as possible and use every single tool at our disposal to do so.

July 4, 2025

Union continues to push for bargaining while…

is clearly stalling

The last time we emailed our Safeway members, Sobeys had not responded to our Notice to Bargain.

Your union had followed up with a demand that they do so immediately.

You can read that email by clicking here.

Our letter prompted a response from the Company on June 23, 2025. But it wasn’t much of a response.

You can read the Sobeys’ response by clicking here.

Your union knows that letter isn’t going to satisfy Safeway workers. Nor should it. We weren’t satisfied either.

As a result, we decided to escalate the situation by having our lawyers write to Sobeys’ lawyers outlining the complete failure of the Company’s letter to address our Notice meaningfully.

You can read our lawyers’ letter by clicking here.

That’s a lot of letters…

Uncharacteristically, Sobeys’ lawyer responded quite quickly (on a Saturday, no less), stating that he would discuss your union’s demands with Sobeys and obtain a response. 

We await Sobeys’ response.

But one thing has become clear — the Company is stalling when it comes to bargaining.

“Sobeys’ foot-dragging is unacceptable,” says Secretary Treasurer Richelle Stewart. “Safeway workers want to bargain, and the Company is required to engage in that process under the law.”

“Sobeys’ stalling tactics are frustrating, and your union will continue pushing them to the bargaining table as quickly as possible,” adds Stewart.

“As frustrating as this situation is, it’s obvious why the Company is stalling,” says President Thomas Hesse. “The bargaining table is where we hold the greatest amount of power. Sobeys will finally have to face their employees and answer for their despicable behaviour over the past six months.”

“Safeway workers are angry. They have every right to be. Should bargaining take us in the direction of job action, know that your union is ready for that fight and will have your back,” conclude Hesse and Stewart.

Want to send the Company a message about their stalling tactics? Ready to sound off and speak your mind?

Click here to Say It To Sobeys!

May 20, 2025

Ready to bargain with…

Local 401 has now served a notice to commence bargaining on the Sobeys Corporation.

The notice to commence bargaining triggers a legal requirement for Sobeys to come to the bargaining table and seek to negotiate a new contract impacting Safeway employees.

Click here to see the Notice to Bargain.

Under the law, Sobeys is required to bargain in good faith and make every reasonable effort to conclude a collective agreement. Unlike the circumstances before Christmas, when we were still locked into a contract, this new round of bargaining will include the legal right to take a strike vote. It also includes the right to actually strike, if that becomes necessary.

“Sobeys’ bosses need to deal with the elephant in the room,” says President Thomas Hesse. “They have betrayed the trust of Safeway employees. Their customers have lost trust in them, as well. They need to fix those issues.”

It is important to note that no strike can occur unless Safeway employees vote in favour of that strike via an Alberta Labour Relations Board-supervised strike vote.

Local 401 is going to work very hard to find a balanced approach to bargaining. The challenge is to make a good deal that meets the basic needs and wants of Safeway employees while also avoiding a strike or a lockout.

A strike is always a last resort. Your union is committed to being strong, but also to being smart. We will bargain in good faith, in a measured and tempered way.

As we have said in the past, we will not go to bargaining on our knees. We must bargain from a position of strength and leverage. We must “walk softly and carry a big stick”.

We have developed and launched a television ad campaign to remind Sobeys that our members and their customers are entitled to know the truth.   

Click here or on the image above to watch our new television ad.

Your relationship with Sobeys is an employment relationship. But Sobeys is also a corporate citizen, with a responsibility to its customers and the public.

Safeway stores and Safeway workers are part of the community. They are more than a business. The pandemic reminded us that grocery stores are public places.

“The Sobeys Family talks about nurturing other families,” says Secretary Treasurer Richelle Stewart. “But they’ve been doing the exact opposite by hurting their own employees.”

“They need to stop and make things right for Safeway workers and their families,” adds Stewart.

We have been reminded that grocery store workers are essential. We also know that Sobeys is the purveyor of food, one of life’s basic necessities.

As our ad notes, Sobeys has a history of making questionable business decisions.

Click here to read what the Financial Post had to say about Sobeys’ purchase of Safeway.

Academics and labour relations professionals have also criticized Sobeys for the manner in which they conducted themselves in the early negotiations that occurred before Christmas.

“With Michael Medline’s retirement, we will be looking to meet with the new CEO of Sobeys,” notes Hesse. “We are hopeful that the new CEO will show a new sensitivity to the Company’s thousands of Alberta employees and stop the Donald Trump style of negotiation they have pursued to date.”

“Take it or leave it does not work for the morale and mental health of hardworking Safeway employees,” concludes Hesse.

Your union is committed to approaching bargaining with a sensible and balanced approach. We firmly believe that the approach Sobeys has used thus far has been out of balance.

We urge Sobeys to come to the bargaining table with a new and fresh perspective. Surely, they can find a way to be fair in responding to the real needs of their employees during the affordability crisis and these uncertain times.

Your union will continue pushing them to do so.

June 21, 2025

Safeway EXPOSED. Union forces Sobeys to reveal who they really are.

As your union prepares and finalizes its notice to commence bargaining with Sobeys for Alberta Safeway stores, Sobeys is boxing themselves in and revealing their real intentions.

When bargaining commences under the Labour Relations Code, employers are required to disclose their plans for the business. Feeling the squeeze, Sobeys has not only announced the conversion of two stores next March, but they are also talking about converting eight more stores into discount FreshCo’s.

Disturbingly, just yesterday Sobeys wrote to employees talking about their commitment to the Safeway brand in Alberta. This announcement just one day later does not instill confidence in that commitment.

Consequently, it is of little surprise that union polling reveals job security as a key issue for Safeway workers. What good is a raise if your store is converted to a FreshCo?

It is also no surprise that over 90% of senior employees are looking for a buyout that is unqualified and without restrictions. Why do they want to get out? They don’t trust Sobeys anymore and have no confidence in the Company’s ability to operate the premium banner for which they have long worked.

It is now little wonder why a majority of Safeway employees rejected the Company’s offer to maintain an arbitration-won wage increase. They rejected the Company offer because it promised no job security.

Again, a wage increase is of no value if your store is closed or converted to a discount FreshCo with much lower terms of employment.

In the coming days, we will provide you with a copy of our notice to commence bargaining with Sobeys. The stakes are going to be high as employees confront the affordability crisis, their economic well-being, and apparently the future of their jobs.

Your union will offer every support throughout this process.

If stores close or are converted, there are special provisions in your contract to offer options for your future. At places like Zellers and The Bay, employees are simply walked out the door. They have no options and no opportunity to fight back.

Some employees who voted no to the Company offer may feel vindicated by this recent announcement. But this is not a time to say I told you so. It is a time to build solidarity for the fight ahead.

That is a fight we can win together.

If there is one thing you will know from the last number of months, it is that Local 401 is a fighting union. We will stand our ground and will not back down.

We are confident that loyal Safeway customers will not go to discount FreshCo stores if they believe that Safeway workers have been treated unfairly or sold out by the Sobeys Family.   

Click here to read Sobeys’ communication.

It is unfortunately true that the discount market has grown as most customers struggle with the affordability crisis. But we firmly believe that Sobeys can find a balanced approach to their business where higher-end stores like Safeway stores can prosper.

Sobeys’ history of business decisions has been questionable, and their current approach is deeply out of balance. There is a more sensible path forward available.

Your union looks forward to advancing our arguments and attempting to steer toward that path at the bargaining table.

June 9, 2025

Local 401 launches new television advertising campaign for Safeway workers…

Union keeps up public relations pressure on Sobeys ahead of bargaining.

Local 401 will be serving Sobeys with a notice to bargain very soon. In anticipation of that bargaining, your union has launched a new television advertising campaign to keep the public relations pressure up on Sobeys.

“These ads are running to send a message to Sobeys about the elephant in the room,” says UFCW Local 401 President Thomas Hesse. “When it comes to their Safeway stores, the Company’s business model is out of balance and headed in the wrong direction.”

“Sobeys needs to restore the trust of their employees and customers alike,” adds Hesse.

The campaign is a multi-week, high-budget advertising initiative designed to keep talking to customers about the challenges that Safeway workers face as we prepare for formal negotiations with Sobeys. Unlike last year, those negotiations will be subject to the requirements and obligations of the Alberta Labour Relations Code.

As the ad notes, Sobeys has a history of questionable business decisions. In 2016, the Financial Post wrote a scathing review of Sobeys’ purchase of Safeway:

Secretary Treasurer Richelle Stewart clarifies that the new ad is for more than just the union’s Safeway members.

“The ad sends a strong message to all the employers with whom we negotiate that we will advance the case of workers in the court of public opinion,” concludes Stewart. “Whether you work at Superstore, Cargill, Olymel, JBS, or elsewhere, your union will leverage our bargaining strength through public relations wherever necessary and appropriate.”