Progress Report

Last week we held more bargaining discussions with Save-On-Foods. We made good progress on the non-monetary items listed and agreed to a handful of worker-friendly provisions.

Next, we plan to organize another pharmacy-focused bargaining meeting, where your committee will draw on the experience of frontline pharmacy assistants and regulated techs to improve their contract language, which is in serious need of updates. These workers do highly specialized work that not only requires specialized contract language but also wage improvements in line with their expertise and workloads, which skyrocketed during the pandemic.

Respect Retail Workers Campaign

Save-On-Foods staff deserve respect and recognition and UFCW 1518 is amplifying your voices and calling on the public to work with union members, not against them, to win the working conditions and wages you deserve through the Respect Retail Workers Campaign. Using digital ads and social media outreach, we’re spreading the word that the fight for wages is the fight for affordability, and the battle for a fairer retail industry is the battle for a fairer BC. Check out the campaign website if you haven’t already and share it on your social media!

Your UFCW 1518 representatives and bargaining committee will be visiting Save-On-Foods stores in the coming weeks — keep your eyes out, so you can ask questions and learn more about engagement opportunities and bargaining.

In solidarity,

The Save-On-Foods Bargaining Committee:

Jaime Emerson – Abbotsford – Pharmacy Assistant
Jimbo Grant  – Maple Ridge  – Cross Classified 
Dave Diamond  – Kelowna – Cross Classified 
Erica Jones  – Pitt Meadows – Cross Classified  
Josephine Bustin  – Tsawwassen – Post-2013 Dept Manager and former Restaurant 
Chris Holowka – Prince George – Cross Classified 
Anita Letendre – North Van – Cross Classified 
Marylou Fonda – Ft St James – Cross Classified 
Joel Simmons – Nanaimo – Post 2013 Dept Manager
Katie Guerin – Kamloops – Cross Classified 
David Gutierrez – Surrey – Cross Classified 
(liaison to the committee for Pharmacy discussions) Cheryl Vincenzi – Central Fill 

UFCW 1518 Staff negotiators: Stephen Portman and Ronda Melbourne