UFCW Local 1518

DON'T FORGET TO VOTE FOR THE TEMPORARY DUES INCREASE!!!

Fri, 09 May 2008 10:53:00 -0700

Temporary Dues Increase ballots have been mailed to all Save-On, Overwaitea, converted PriceSmart, converted Merritt Coopers, and Safeway members in Zone 1 and Zone 2.

Members should be receiving their ballots shortly, if you haven't received your ballot already.

It is very important that all members vote for the Temporary Dues Increase. With strong strike votes in Zone 1 from both Overwaitea and Safeway members, the companies started to pay attention.

A vote in favour of the Temporary Dues Increase has been key in past negotiations to putting additional pressure on the employer.

And it will have the same effect now.

A strong vote in favour of the Temporary Dues Increase will force Overwaitea senior management and Safeway to see that members are prepared to fight for meaningful improvements to the contract.

Those improvements include the high hard issues: a wage increase for all members, returning everyone to one grid of wages and benefits, and job security for all members (no more store conversions!)

When you receive your ballot package in the mail, please detach the ballot from the letter. Cast your vote, then place your ballot in the envelope titled "Secret Ballot", then place your "Secret Ballot" envelope into the outer envelope (which has the return address printed on it).

Remember, all returned ballots must be received by 12:00pm on May 22, 2008.

For more information, click here.

UNION NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE BLASTS OVERWAITEA MANAGEMENT

Thu, 08 May 2008 21:05:00 -0700

Ivan Limpright, UFCW 1518 President and chair of the Union Negotiating Committee, told Overwaitea they need to get moving in the coming days of negotiations.

"We're on a collision course," Limpright told the company, "and it's a collision course of your making. The only way you take us off that course is by dealing with the high, hard issues: everyone in the stores deserves a wage increase, we need to get rid of Grid B, and we need a written agreement that any future expansion will be with Save-On and Overwaitea stores, not PriceSmart."

"You keep telling us that the time for these conversations is another time and place," Limpright told the company. "Well, the time is now and the place is here--those conversations are going to take place right here at this table."

"Being called a 'can-stacker' and 'feather-duster' doesn't add up to the 'team member' concept you like to talk about," he said. "Let us remind you that in 1997 your then-President (of Overwaitea) said, "with this agreement we can compete with any grocer on any corner anywhere in the province."

"We know that your management team has received some very good bonuses in the last year, while the staff at entry level are being treated so poorly they just can't afford to stick around," said Limpright. "At the Christmas parties, your managers were bragging about record profits, and how much the company was prospering. So, now you want us to believe that 4 months later, your business is at high risk because of the state of the industry? Well, that's a little tough to believe," said Limpright.

"Now you come to the table with the view to not only maintain the concessions that you received in 1997, but now you want to expand them; well, that's not on!" he said.

"Jobs should lift people out of poverty, not keep them there," Limpright continued. "Right now, the wages you're paying over 65% of your employees are keeping them there. You talk about training and a living wage, but we don't see you actually doing that. Instead, you treat these principles as a punch line. They need to be real."

"We are not prepared to sit idly by while you undermine and destroy the remaining career jobs under the Collective Agreement, and destroy the idea of a living wage being attainable in this very prosperous industry," he said.

"The members are fed up. They're actually prepared to take action to back up their demands that it's time for a change. And the only thing that will take us off the collision course is you dealing with the key issues."

The Overwaitea spokesperson did apologize for the "can-stackers and feather-dusters" insult made by one of the company's "people specialists" to union members.

"You say one thing, but the actions in your stores don't match that," said Limpright. "You have to show this Committee and the members in your stores that you are willing to commit to your word in this contract. You've said you want to fix the relationship and restore the trust, but now its time you show us that you mean it."

"Actions speak louder than words," he said. "It's a phrase we've both used at this table, but our actions away from this table have been the same as the words at this table. Its time your actions start speaking the same as your words."

Following Limpright's remarks to Overwaitea on behalf of the Union Negotiating Committee, the Committee and Overwaitea exchanged ideas and had discussions on a number of topics.

Overwaitea presented a document with a number of suggestions for each side to pare down the overall number of proposals to deal with.

The company also brought forward proposals on:

* provincial postings;

* accommodation language;

* scheduling and scheduling principles.

The Union Negotiating Committee reviewed all monetary proposals, and presented a revised list to Overwaitea of proposals it was prepared to either have further discussion about, or remove from the bargaining table completely.

The Union Negotiating Committee also:

* presented a revised draft version of the Joint Harassment Policy to the company;

* presented a number of proposals and ideas dealing with LOU#3 (Meat Dept. language);

* held discussion about how to make the vacation scheduling process work more effectively for all members;

* discussed the idea of a "single day" vacation, whereby up to 5 times a year, members could take a single vacation day in a week anytime during the year.

Negotiations will continue with Overwaitea Friday, May 9, and are then scheduled to resume for 10 straight days beginning May 14.

PRICESMART MEMBERS VOTE 96 PERCENT TO STRIKE!

Thu, 08 May 2008 13:38:00 -0700

UFCW 1518 members in converted PriceSmart stores voted 96 percent in favour of strike action in their strike vote conducted April 9. The strike vote was conducted for the five converted PriceSmart stores in Zone 1 (Hope to Squamish).

Overwaitea management attempted to stop the vote prior to it taking place, a move that was rejected by the Labour Relations Board (LRB). However, after the April 9 vote was taken, the union sealed the ballots because it suspected the company would again go to the LRB, which they did. The LRB eventually ruled that the ballots cast by employees working at converted PriceSmart stores could not be counted as part of the union's strike vote. This simply means that the union will have to explore other lawful options of having those members, and those locations, support the effort of the union at the bargaining table.

The LRB ruling was received late on May 2, and when the Overwaitea Union Negotiating Committee got together again for negotiations preparation on May 7, they decided to count the vote for the information of members.

"You'd think the 96 percent strike vote by PriceSmart members should be another wake-up call to Overwaitea that they've got serious problems in their stores, whether they are the former Save-Ons (now PriceSmarts) or existing Save-On and Overwaitea stores," said Ivan Limpright, President of UFCW 1518. "But the way Overwaitea management has been behaving at the bargaining table, it's clear that they don't want to do much more than stick their heads in the sand, rather than deal with the serious issues that are going to be dealt with one way or another."

"The members are angry, they're frustrated, and they simply aren't going to tolerate Overwaitea dragging their feet anymore," he said. "The Save-On members in Zone 1 voted 94 percent to strike, and it's getting to the point that the members' frustration with conditions in the store is ready to boil over. Overwaitea needs to start taking these negotiations seriously, and now."

UFCW 1518 members at Save-On stores voted 94 percent in favour of strike action on April 10, and Safeway members voted 99 percent in favour of strike action on April 8.

Negotiations with Overwaitea have resumed, and are scheduled to take place May 8-9, and resume on May 14-23. Tentative dates for negotiations with Safeway have been discussed, and once confirmed will be posted on the union website.

OFG MANAGERS WANT TO HAVE MORE CONTROL OVER MEMBERS

Wed, 07 May 2008 10:16:00 -0700

After four months of bargaining, Overwaitea senior management continues to put demands on the table that take away rights from union members.

Employer demands for more excluded personnel, and wide-open vendor stocking are unacceptable to union members and their Negotiating Committee.

Recently, the employer has put forward more demands on scheduling that look a lot like the scheduling practices that are happening in PriceSmart stores everyday.

"We already have talked to you about the concerns we have about your scheduling proposals, that reflect the PriceSmart model, and that's not something anyone here is willing to accept," UFCW 1518 President Ivan Limpright told the company.

"We have talked to the PriceSmart members about how chaotic things are in the stores," says Limpright. "You say you want to use scheduling as a retention tool, but as the PriceSmart members will tell you, scheduling that is based on management's choice is a tool that is used to implement favourtism, and discipline. This model does not provide members more opportunity."

"And now we've heard you say that you want to transfer more control to the managers in the Save-On and Overwaitea stores, and that's a problem."

"We have no choice but to conclude that you want to use a model that is dangerously similar to the model you've been implementing in the PriceSmart stores, and that's not on," Limpright said. "It's not something we're willing to sit by and accept in the PriceSmart stores, and it's not something we're going to let you implement in this contract."

"We've got proposals to bring all members back under the Save-On/Overwaitea contract, and we're not going to let you bring the PriceSmart contract to the Save-On and Overwaitea stores."

The Union Negotiating Committee continues to address union members key issues, including wage increases for all members, returning all members to one grid of wages and benefits, and getting rid of the threat of the PriceSmart conversions.

Negotiations with Overwaitea are set to resume on May 8 and May 9.

UNION MEMBERS ARE THE KEY TO OVERWAITEA'S SUCCESS IN THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

Wed, 07 May 2008 10:12:00 -0700

Since bargaining began between Overwaitea and the Union Negotiating Committee in January, the employer continues to fear-monger about the state of the industry.

"We understand the marketplace is changing and there are competitive pressures, but our members are the reason you're going to be able to survive those pressures," UFCW 1518 President Ivan Limpright said the company.

"It's the customer service and hard work of our members that provide your customers a positive interaction, and that keeps them coming back to your stores," Limpright continued. "It's our members that have allowed you to remain competitive and successful."

"It was the work of our members, your employees, that helped you compete very well when RCSS hit the market in 1989," Limpright told the company. "And it's the members that have been the reason you continue to be successful in competing against Safeway as you have for decades."

"And it's the work of our members that will allow you to compete and survive the current marketplace changes as new competitors come in."

"The members deserve to have a contract that meets their needs, and that means providing them with a living wage, more opportunity, equality and job security. And while you say you want to provide this, there are some significant proposals you have on the table today that are counter to the needs of our members."

"Adding more vendor stocking does not provide our members with more opportunity. Getting rid of ATOs does not provide our members more flexibility. Allowing more exclusions and more step down language does not provide our members with more flexibility or a higher wage," Limpright told Overwaitea senior management.

"In fact, if we were to accept your demands, it would take away from our members and that's completely counter to what we want, and counter to what you say you want for your employees."

"By adding more excluded personnel our members will be impacted. Their hours will be impacted, and their ability to have a secure position will be impacted, especially by implementing the language you've proposed, and that's something we know without a doubt," said Limpright.

"When you combine Overwaitea's demands for more excluded personnel with their demands for more vendor stocking, and then add in the massive threat that they'll convert stores to PriceSmart, there's not much for union members in there anymore, is there. The Union Negotiating Committee is simply not going to accept this, the members are getting fed up with the company, and Overwaitea had better make a serious change in direction sooner rather than later."

Negotiations with Overwaitea will resume on May 8 and 9.

PLEASE SUPPORT THE TEMPORARY DUES INCREASE!

Tue, 06 May 2008 14:36:00 -0700

Ballots for the Temporary Dues Increase vote have now been mailed out to all Overwaitea, Save-On, converted PriceSmart, converted Merritt Coopers, and Safeway members.

All members are encouraged to support the Temporary Dues Increase. The employers will be monitoring the outcome of this vote as an indicator of how prepared the members are to support their proposals at the bargaining table.

Your Union Negotiating Committees remain committed to

- good wage increases for everyone

- returning all members to one grid of wages and benefits

- stopping Overwaitea's ability to convert stores to cheaper contracts

The Time is Now! Please mark your ballot, seal it in the "Secret Ballot" envelope, and return in the postage paid envelope as soon as possible. The deadline is 12:00pm on May 22.

Once the Temporary Dues Increase has been approved by the members, an additional 1 percent of wages will be deducted for union dues. When a strike or employer's lockout begins, and subject to the approval of your Union Negotiating Committee(s), the temporary dues increase will move from 1% to an additional 5% of wages, to support those members on the picket line.

To use a simple example, if you earn $100 a week, you would pay an extra $1.00 a week while the Temporary Dues Increase is in effect, and if we are forced into a dispute, that would go to and extra $5 a week, or 5 percent of $100. All dues paid by members into the Temporary Dues Increase are tax deductible.

TEMPORARY DUES INCREASE INFORMATION FOR OVERWAITEA AND SAFEWAY MEMBERS

Tue, 06 May 2008 14:04:00 -0700

What is a Temporary Dues Increase?

A temporary dues increase is a deduction in dues meant to address the operating needs of the union, and the needs of the union's members, typically while negotiating the collective agreement, including assisting those who may be on a picket line due to an employers' lockout or strike. The temporary dues increase occurs when approved by a vote of the members!

We already have a strong strike vote, why do we need a Temporary Dues Increase?

Overwaitea and Safeway members in Zone 1 have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action, which has given both Union Negotiating Committees a strong mandate in bargaining. These strong strike votes have made the companies start to pay attention to your concerns, however, it is critical we also implement a Temporary Dues Increase, which will help support union members in the event there is a lockout or strike.

Why is a Temporary Dues Increase important?

A vote in favour of the Temporary Dues Increase will send Overwaitea senior management and Safeway another strong message: we're prepared for a lock-out or a strike if the employer continues to put us on a collision course. A vote for a Temporary Dues Increase is necessary to show the employer we are serious about establishing the basic improvements to wages, benefits, and job security that you deserve.

The stronger the vote in support of the Temporary Dues Increase, the stronger the message to both Overwaitea senior management and Safeway that union members are not going to tolerate a contract that does not work for them.

How much will the Temporary Dues Increase be?

Who will be participating in the vote for a Temporary Dues Increase?

All Save-On, Overwaitea, converted PriceSmart, converted Merritt Coopers, and Safeway members across the province are being asked to support the Temporary Dues Increase.

Is this a secret ballot vote?

Yes.

How do I vote?

The vote for the Temporary Dues Increase will be done by mail-in ballot. The ballots have been mailed out to all members across the province, and are attached to a letter that provides information and details about the temporary dues increase.

Once you receive the ballot in the mail, please detach the ballot from the letter, mark your vote, and insert the ballot into the envelope that reads "Secret Ballot", then insert the sealed "Secret Ballot" envelope into the postage-paid envelope and mail to the address written on the outer envelope.

All completed ballots must be returned no later than 12:00pm on May 22, 2008.

When do I have to vote by?

Please vote promptly when you receive your ballot, as all completed ballots must be returned to the union by Canada Post no later than 12:00pm on May 22, 2008.

I live in Zone 2, is it possible that I could be locked out or go on strike?

Union members in Zone 2 will not be locked out or on strike in this round of negotiations.

Who could be on strike or locked out?

There are three possibilities for a strike/lockout scenario:

Save-On members in Zone 1 are locked out/on strike.
Save-On AND Safeway members in Zone 1 are locked out/on strike.
Safeway members in Zone 1 are locked out/on strike.
If only Save-On members are on the picket line, then converted PriceSmart and Safeway members in Zone 1 would join all Overwaitea and Safeway members from the rest of the province to support Save-On through the Temporary Dues Increase.
If only Safeway members are on the picket line, then Save-On & converted PriceSmart members in Zone 1 would also join Overwaitea/Save-On and Safeway members from the rest of the province to support Safeway members through the Temporary Dues Increase
If both Safeway and Save-On members in Zone 1 are on the picket line, converted PriceSmart members in Zone 1 and members from both employers in Zone 2 would support the members on the picket line.

How much picket pay will I get if I'm on strike, or locked out?

The Temporary Dues Increase will strengthen the existing Strike/Lockout funds of UFCW 1518, as well as the financial support received from UFCW Canada and UFCW International. Members that are locked out or forced on strike will receive picket pay up to $300 per week only with the assistance of a Temporary Dues Increase. With the Temporary Dues Increase in place, those members on the picket line fighting on behalf of every member will receive the highest strike/lockout pay our union's members have ever seen in a labour dispute with both companies.

SAFEWAY WANTS MEMBERS TO 'BEG AT THE TILL'

Tue, 06 May 2008 11:05:00 -0700

Safeway members have been embarrassed and frustrated at the fact that the company is forcing union members to ask customers to donate to charities that Safeway supports.

Union members at Safeway find it difficult that management is creating a competitive environment around their fundraising. The managers have been using intimidation to pressure members to 'beg' for money at the till, as it has been referred to by a number of Safeway members.

Worse, managers are talking to individual members and demanding to know why they aren't raising as much as their co-workers.

"Of course, we appreciate that Safeway wants to support their charities of choice, but the tactics they are using are questionable to put it mildly," says UFCW 1518 Secretary-Treasurer Frank Pozzobon. "Management is putting undue pressure on employees to ask Safeway customers to donate more of their hard earned dollars while they're paying for their groceries."

"Union members are being placed in the awkward position of having to ask customers for more money, at a time when consumers are having to be even more cost-conscious as the price of food continues to rise," says Pozzobon. "We all understand the importance of supporting charities of our choice, but no one appreciates feeling pressured to donate, customers certainly don't and neither do the employees who are being forced to ask them for donations."

SAFEWAY NON-RESPONSIVE ON SCHEDULING ISSUES

Mon, 05 May 2008 17:35:00 -0700

The Union Negotiating Committee and Safeway resumed negotiations today, and a number of scheduling issues were discussed once again, as the employer responded to a number of ideas and proposals put forward by the Union Negotiating Committee.

However, Safeway's responses to most of the issues raised by the Union Negotiating Committee were very general, and the employer did not show much interest in making progressive movement on scheduling issues. Topics such as Daily Maximization of hours, scheduling consecutive days off, off-till duties, definitions of shifts (e.g. what is an 'evening shift'?), and other scheduling-related concerns were not dealt with by the employer, or only dealt with superficially.

Of real concern for the Union Negotiating Committee was Safeway's reference to 'Grid B' during their presentation on scheduling. The Union Negotiating Committee remains as committed as ever to eliminating Grid B and having all members on one grid of wages and benefits.

Negotiations with Safeway will take place again on Tuesday, May 6.

LRB REJECTS PRICESMART STRIKE VOTE

Mon, 05 May 2008 17:35:00 -0700

The Labour Relations Board (LRB) has ruled that the April 9 strike vote taken by union members from converted PriceSmart stores can not be counted for purposes of the overall strike vote taken by Save-On members in Zone 1.

The union members from converted PriceSmart stores (former Save-On stores) took part in the strike vote because many of the former Save-On members working in the converted PriceSmart stores remain covered by the terms and conditions of the Save-On contract.

Overwaitea management had originally tried to prevent the vote from taking place, a move that the LRB had rejected, allowing the vote to take place. Because Overwaitea had indicated they would challenge the PriceSmart vote, the union sealed the PriceSmart ballot boxes in anticipation of the employer once again making the vote an issue at the LRB.

AND THE FEATHERS FLY AT OVERWAITEA!

Sun, 04 May 2008 12:34:00 -0700

After referring to employees as "feather-dusters" and "can-stackers" by a senior Overwaitea manager, the 'feathers' have begun to fly in several stores around the province.

The protest by members over the comments has spread to a second Lower Mainland store where the members working the floor have feather-dusters stuck in their back pockets while they work.

At the checkstands, the Cashiers took apart a feather-duster and attached single feathers to their Union buttons and name tags as their way of protesting the management insult.

In typical Overwaitea management style, the store management ordered the Cashiers to take the feathers off, as if that would solve the problem and make the employees happy!!

At the original store in the Lower Mainland where the 'feather-duster protest' began, management in their wisdom decided to start throwing their weight around. One of the store managers threatened seven members who were lined up outside the store, on their own time, having a group 'feather-duster' photo taken, telling the members, "You can get fired for that!" as he walked by them.

(Click here for story and photo).

Perhaps it might be a better idea for Overwaitea to apologize to its employees for the insulting "feather-duster, can-stacker" statements made by its senior manager.

After all, isn't that what we teach our children to do when they say rude things to other people?

IMMIGRATION & REFUGEE FORUM MAY 9-BURNABY

Sat, 03 May 2008 10:36:00 -0700

Click here for more information.

SCHEDULING ISSUES REVIEWED & DISCUSSED IN SAFEWAY NEGOTIATIONS

Fri, 02 May 2008 14:33:00 -0700

The Union Negotiating Committee and Safeway met again today, with discussions on a wide variety of scheduling issues and scheduling proposals taking place. There was also some discussion of the location of time clocks within the stores, shift times, and night shifts.

A brief explanation of the negotiations process will be useful for those members wondering 'what's happening' in negotiations? At this point, both the Union Negotiating Committee and employer are spending time working through proposals on various parts of the contract (such as scheduling). This stage of negotiations typically involves an exchange of ideas across the bargaining table, with no firm agreement yet established on these issues.

Because the situation in negotiations is still quite fluid, we do not do a "play-by-play" report on the details simply because positions inevitably shift and evolve until final agreement is reached. The Union Negotiating Committee and employer are nowhere near a final agreement at this point. Members are reminded that as soon as there is something definitive to report, it will be reported to the members!

The best sources for accurate information about negotiations are the union website, telephone hotline, and bulletins, and the Union Negotiating Committees thank members for their patience and continued support as we move through this process.

Negotiations with Safeway will resume next week on May 5-6. Negotiations with Overwaitea will also resume next week on May 8-9.

REPORT ON DECLINING WAGES GETS ATTENTION

Fri, 02 May 2008 11:37:00 -0700

A major study just released by Statistics Canada has confirmed what working people have been experiencing for the last 25 years--declining wage rates and less spending power, while the rich get richer. The Statistics Canada report, released May 1, has been getting major media attention across Canada.

"What has happened over the last 25 years? Bad trade deals, minimum wage rates frozen below poverty lines, repeated legislative assaults on unionization, tax breaks for the rich, all these measures have made Canadians who work for wages poorer," explains Ken Georgetti, president of the Canadian Labour Congress.

"These numbers are especially shocking because they are from the Census, not independent analyses from smaller samples," Georgetti says.

According to the Statistics Canada's new 2006 Census report, "Earnings and Incomes of Canadians over the Past Quarter Century":

� between 1980 and 2005 the 20% top income earners increased their gains by 16.4% while the wages of the bottom 20% lost 20.6% of their purchasing power;

� between 1980 and 2005 the median earning of a Canadian worker only moved by a miserly $53.00;

� in 2005 the average women worker under 29 years old earned 85% of what her male counterparts were getting. Women over 45 years old were only getting 72% of what men were earning.

Earnings of new immigrants in Canada (fewer than six years) that previously amounted to 77% of Canadian-born workers' earnings, have crashed to 48% of what Canadian earners received by 2005.

"These numbers explain why over the last two decades Canadians have lost faith in government and business. As prices for gas, food and other essentials are rising, these numbers remind us that more than ever Canadians need the leadership that strong unions provide," said Georgetti.

FEATHERDUSTERS: JUST DOING WHAT THE OVERWAITEA BOSSES WANT! (UPDATE WITH PHOTO)

Thu, 01 May 2008 20:10:00 -0700

Click on the photo for a larger image.

Not many, if any, Save-On or Overwaitea members have ever considered themselves to be "can-stackers" or "feather-dusters".

But union members at a Lower Mainland Save-On got inspired upon learning that a senior manager had told members at a Vancouver Island store that really all the employees are "can-stackers" and "feather-dusters". The senior manager went on to say members don't deserve ATOs, or Grid A wage rates, and in fact should never get anymore than $16.00 an hour at the top of the scale, despite having years of seniority.

Surprised by this revelation from senior management, the members working at a Lower Mainland Save-On showed up for work with their brand new feather-dusters sticking out of their back pockets! According to the members, they cleaned out the feather-duster stocks in two 'dollar stores' in the process!

"Now we understand why Overwaitea won't negotiate a fair contract with our negotiating committee; obviously management as a whole thinks of us with so little respect for what we do," said one union member.

"It might be interesting to see how well the managers would do if we weren't here with our 'feather-dusters' being good little 'can-stackers'" the member continued. "Never mind that pretty much every Overwaitea manager didn't go to some 'McManagement' school--they were all 'can-stackers' too. These guys now want to stick their heads in the sand about the real work we do, and then they insult us for good measure? There's just so much wrong with that."

Customers, curious about why the members are walking around the store with feather-dusters, are asking what is happening, and, the members are not being shy about telling the customers the story.

"From the response of the members, the story about calling members 'feather-dusting can-stackers' really hit a nerve," says Frank Pozzobon, UFCW 1518 Secretary-Treasurer. "It wouldn't be a surprise at all to a see a repeat of the feather-dusters in other stores, or maybe even buttons showing up."

NOTE: Many Overwaitea members have expressed their outrage to the union about the comments made by the Overwaitea senior manager, and have been demanding to know his name. Members are asked to keep in mind that this is not personal, and the comments made are a reflection of the company and its attitude towards the union members who have made Overwaitea the success it is.