Update on Coopers Foods:

Union Wins Over $4000 for 2 Coopers Members

Two Coopers members in Vernon were awarded over $4000 after the union intervened on their behalf.

This issue came about after a department manager stepped down, but Overwaitea head office placed the employee into another department improperly. Overwaitea did so without meeting with the union and obtaining an agreement as to the employee’s proper placement, a violation of the step-down and demotion language in the Coopers contract. (The employer is obligated to notify the union when key personnel either step down or are demoted, so that they can meet and determine where the member will be placed.)
The union referred the grievance to arbitration, and demonstrated to the arbitrator that it made no sense where the company had placed the member and that Overwaitea’s move was completely improper.

The arbitrator awarded over $4000 compensation to the two members. One member received the compensation as a result of being improperly affected, and the other member, who stepped down, received the compensation because she never should have been placed in the department, and would have received 40 hours/week if she had been placed properly.

“This is an important win for our members,” says UFCW 1518 President Ivan Limpright. “The company is supposed to play by the rules and follow the language written in the Coopers contract. They didn’t, and it’s good to see justice was served in this case. Union members should not be negatively impacted when there are step-downs from key personnel positions, and we are pleased to see the members affected in this case were compensated.”

Coopers Members Be Aware: Company is required to post full-time positions

The union has received reports from members in Coopers stores that full-time positions are not being posted in the stores. This is a violation of your contract. Coopers Head Office is required to post full-time positions that open up in your store.

There are a number of Coopers members, especially women, who are eligible to apply for these full-time positions but this has not occurred because the company has not posted all of these full-time positions.

It is the right of the members to post into full-time positions when they become available, and the lack of respect that Coopers Head Office is showing the members will not be tolerated. The union is in the process of pursuing several grievances on this issue.

ATTENTION COOPERS MEMBERS:

Seniority matters – Company MUST post member seniority lists

Coopers is obligated to post seniority lists in every store – no exceptions. However, there have been many reports from Coopers members saying that the seniority lists in their stores are not being posted.
This is a violation of the contract and when seniority lists are not posted in the store. If there is not an updated seniority list in your store, please contact your Union Representative immediately.