Last week, your Bargaining Committee reached a tentative agreement with Sobeys for workers at all Safeway locations and FreshCo Pharmacies. We wanted to let you know about our next steps and what to expect in the coming weeks as we move toward a contract ratification vote.

What happens next?

Tomorrow, we are meeting over Zoom with all Safeway and FreshCo Pharmacy Shop Stewards and the Sobeys Advisory Committee to review the rollout plan for your tentative agreement and ratification vote. Once we have completed this review and made any necessary changes, we will share the detailed rollout plan with you on Thursday, October 5. Keep an eye on your email inbox for that information.

When will I see the Tentative Agreement?

Your Sobeys Bargaining Committee, along with UFCW 1518 Leadership, are hard at work finalizing the details of your Tentative Agreement. We are making sure to dot every “i” and cross every “t” before sharing the 75-page document with members. The document will be released well ahead of the contract ratification vote, and you will have ample opportunity to review the full terms of the tentative agreement, as well as a summary document with highlights.

Additionally, we are setting up a schedule for a Telephone Town Hall and Zoom info sessions for members to learn about the agreement. You will hear more about these after we have reviewed the plan with Stewards. Again, we will send you the detailed rollout plan with dates and links this Thursday, October 5 to your email inbox.

In the meantime, we will continue to monitor the safewaybargaining@ufcw1518.com email inbox. You can send any questions you have to this address and we will get back to you within 48 hours.

Thank you to everyone who has participated in the bargaining process. Your solidarity and support, along with your 98% strike vote, have gotten us to the place where we have an agreement we are proud to recommend to members.

In solidarity,

Angela Crosato, Sobeys 4908, Vancouver
Peter Dombrowski, Sobeys 4920, Surrey
Teresa-Lyne Dziedzic, Sobeys 4920, Surrey
Armin Reyes, Sobeys 4996 Reline Crew
Marlene White, Sobeys 4977, Coquitlam
Shiela Scarr, Sobeys 4912, Langley
Jennifer Brown, Sobeys 4966, Vancouver
Leslie Ramsperger, Sobeys 4911, Burnaby

& UFCW 1518 Staff Negotiators:
Stephen Portman and Ronda Melbourne