DO NOT LET SAFEWAY CHANGE YOUR SCHEDULE – YOU ARE ENTITLED TO BE PAID FOR YOUR SCHEDULED WORK!

The most drastic hours cuts in memory have been bad for Safeway members -- those members still getting hours are working in stores that appear understocked and more run-down than ever.

To make things even worse, Safeway managers are resorting to changing union members' schedules -- and they aren't playing by the rules when they do it!

The union has once again received numerous reports from members across the province about how store management is changing their schedule at the last minute -- in clear violation of Section 5.08 of your contract.

Don't be cheated out of your hours and your pay just because Safeway can't get their act together. The contract requires management (or someone designated by management) to attempt to inform you verbally of a change -- a note beside the time clock or a post-it on your timecard does not constitute "notice!"

If your schedule is changed, and you do not receive 24 hours notice, you are entitled to four additional hours of pay.

Service Clerks and students must be notified the day before, or are entitled to an extra two hours pay.

It's in black-and-white in your contract.

Don't let Safeway management violate your rights and your contract. Just because they are bleeding the stores dry of hours doesn't mean they get to push you or your schedule around to try and make up for their drastic hours cuts.

The union has filed grievances on behalf of members on this issue, and will do the same for any member who is having their schedule changed in violation of the contract.

The only exception to the short notice call in language is in the event of absence of other staff due to sickness or accident, or a genuine emergency...and intentionally understaffing a store does not qualify as an emergency!

Any members who have questions about this or believe they have been unfairly treated in regards to schedule changes are asked to please contact their Union Rep or Shop Steward as soon as possible. Please be prepared to provide the details of your situation (what shift(s) you were originally scheduled for, when your schedule was changed, when and how you found out about the change, etc.)

Section 5.08 of the Safeway Collective Agreement:

5.08 Notice of Change, Work Schedule

Am employee's schedule may be changed without notice in the event of absence of other staff due to sickness or accident or in the event of emergencies, such as fire, flood, breakdown of machinery or other instances of force majeure. In all other cases, at least twenty-four (24) hours notice of any change must be given or four (4) additional hours pay given in lieu of notice. The Employer is required to make a reasonable effort to verbally advise individual employees of the changes to their work schedule once it has been posted.

In the case of students, they must be notified on the day before of any change to his or her schedule or be given an additional two (2) hours pay if the schedule is changed for a school day and four (4) hours pay if the schedule is changed for a nonschool day.

Service Clerks must be notified the day before of any change to his or her schedule or be given an additional two (2) hours pay.

It is understood that if a penalty is paid under Section 5.08, then no penalty shall be paid under Section 7.05.