99% Strike Vote By Safeway Members

Safeway members voted by 99% in favour of strike action and in support of their Negotiating Committee. The vote took place in Zone 1, covering Safeway stores from West Vancouver to Chilliwack.

Ivan Limpright, President of UFCW 1518, pointed out that this year’s vote reflected the huge interest union members have taken in this year’s negotiations.

“Nobody wants to go on strike, and our objective is to negotiate a contract without a dispute,” said Limpright. “For the Safeway members, this strike vote was just one more way of telling the company they’ve had it with conditions in the stores as they are. This contract isn’t working, and Safeway demanding rollbacks to the contract is not the way to tackle the problems.

“Working for Safeway is like being in an abusive relationship. One day management loves you and the work you do, and the next day, when they’re short people and have quotas to meet, they slap you in the face.”

“A strong strike vote gives the Negotiating Committee a strong mandate at the bargaining table,” said Limpright. “There are a number of serious issues out there that the company has not addressed, including wage increases, and getting rid of Grid B and returning to one pay grid. The members have spoken, and they’re willing to fight to get it.”

SAFEWAY DEMANDS FOR ROLLBACKS

Management’s right to transfer you to any store at any time they want;
General Clerks to do Cashiers work whenever management says so;
Request employees work more than 6 consecutive days;
Longer shifts on Express checkstands;
Expand Service Clerk duties;
The right to give raises to whomever they choose--at management’s discretion;
More control over scheduling union members for Sunday work;
Reduction in time off between shifts (currently 10 hour minimum break between shifts);
Longer probationary period (by hours worked, instead of 4-month period);
Higher age + years-of-service exemption (currently 70) for night crew stocking, and increase rotation period;
Get rid of 12:00-5:00 AM blackout period for start times.