Fighting for a Fair Contract

This week we were back to bargaining with Save-On-Foods. And while we anticipated the employer would table a low-wage offer as their first pass, our committee was extremely disappointed by how low the Save-On-Foods starting offer is. 

Their offer, quite frankly, is hard to take seriously. It provides as low as 3% total increase over the term proposed and lump sums in lieu of increases, along with other proposed concessions to the existing language. All of these are unacceptable. Our Bargaining Committee has made this clear to the employer. 
 
After the expansion Save-On-Foods has done over the last several years and with how hard our members are working for the company’s success, to see a wage offer earlier this week that was so minimal was insulting. 

By the end of the week, Save-On-Foods did start to make moves in the right direction. But we have more work to do. We need your support to put the pressure on Save-On-Foods that you want a fair deal—with fair increases—NOW. One way is to keep wearing your Respect Retail Worker buttons. Another is to tell your store manager that workers need more now. 

While we are concerned about how far apart we are from the employer, we do have more bargaining dates scheduled. Monday, June 5, will be focused on Pharmacy issues, and then we are back to the full table from June 21–25. We are preparing for those dates expecting to see significant moves from Save-On-Foods with respect to wage increases and structural improvements that provide a pathway to meaningful wage increases for all members.

Here is a recap of our members’ priorities in this round of bargaining:  

• Wage increases for ALL members including those at top rate and higher 
• Significant, equitable wage increases for unionized management 
• Significant improvements for Pharmacy Assistants and Regulated Techs
• Removing barriers and wage caps for Service Clerks, Restaurant, Wine Department and Starbucks
• Improved scheduling language and more ability to move between stores

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 
Cheryl Vincenzi – Central Fill – liaison to the committee for Pharmacy discussions

UFCW 1518 Staff Negotiators – Stephen Portman and Ronda Melbourne