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PeopleSoft mess: Time for Safeway to do a priority check

The ongoing mess known as Safeway’s PeopleSoft payroll program has been a serious problem since last August. Since then, Union Members have reasonably expected that a Company that spends so much time and energy evaluating service levels in their stores would put some of that energy towards fixing the PeopleSoft mess.

Apparently not.

Safeway is especially focused these days on hacking hours out of the schedule and introducing new policies such as attaching a Cashier’s name to customer receipts, all while prodding members to improve their service scores.

But Safeway still can not fix PeopleSoft. Unfortunately, Safeway are the only ones who control the Software, and are the only ones who can fix the problem. The Union continues to take all actions necessary to ensure members are protected and do not suffer any permanent consequences from Safeway’s incompetence.

The Union has been consistently filing grievances to protect members’ interests and their rights since this fiasco began almost 6 months ago. The issue will now go to mediation-arbitration on February 17.

Safeway Members: You should 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 is definitely not an emergency!

More on Safeway hours cuts, RMS-vendor stocking

With all the chaos in Safeway stores, it is now more important than ever for members to stay on top of rackjobbers and Retail Marketing Solutions (RMS) order writers doing members’ work at a time when Safeway is so severely cutting hours. RMS order writers are allowed to do one thing – write orders. They are NOT allowed to handle stock – that work belongs to Union Members, and anytime they do something beyond writing orders, they are taking hours and money out of Union Members’ pockets.

Similarly, it is just as important to make sure Salespeople are not stocking product and taking away your hours. Some Salespeople are getting aggressive about putting up their Olympic displays – this is work that belongs to Union Members, not outside vendors, and is protected by your contract.

Any member seeing contract violations is asked to please note the specifics (time of violation, what products being handled) and contact their Shop Steward or Union Representative immediately.

Olympics chaos will have biggest impact on Union’s Members in downtown Vancouver.

UFCW 1518 Union Representatives have been attending VANOC (Vancouver Organizing Committee for the Olympics) meetings with other Trade Unions for nearly a year now to discuss the impact the upcoming Winter Olympics will have on workers.

The biggest impact, of course, will be on Local 1518 members and other workers whose jobs are in downtown Vancouver. Next on the list will be anyone driving or taking transit during the Olympics – which basically includes the rest of the population in the Lower Mainland!

At a meeting with VANOC officials, it was recommended by VANOC that people who work downtown take public transit, and know the times and locations of events in proximity to their workplaces, in order to avoid delays in getting to and from work.

Ban on Rackjobbers Upheld at Save-On/Overwaitea

The Union won a mediation-arbitration award regarding Overwaitea/Save-On’s use of rackjobbers. The ruling protects members’ hours by upholding the ban on rackjobbers, and prohibits Save-On and Overwaitea from using rackjobbers in stores that fall below the 50/50 hours threshold. In stores that had achieved the 50/50 ratio, but then later slipped beneath 50/50, Overwaitea had been taking away members’ hours by bringing in rackjobbers. The award by the Arbitrator agreed with the Union’s position that Overwaitea/Save-On should not be allowed to re-introduce rackjobbers under those circumstances.

Union Steps In After Safeway Fails to Pay Promised Wage

A Safeway member who was promised a wage increase after being promoted to acting Floral Manager was not paid the wage promised – until her Union got involved on her behalf.

The member was hired by Safeway in July 2009 to work as a Cashier, as well as a Clerk II in the Floral department. In September, the member was approached by Safeway to become acting Floral Manager. However, two weeks later management told her the rate they said they would pay was too high, and they would only pay her at a rate $1.30 per hour less than what she was originally promised. The member’s Union Representative got involved, and Safeway has now re-paid the member back pay to reflect the original promised wage.

Safeway Member Wins $1000s in Back Pay

A UFCW 1518 member employed as a Management Trainee at Safeway recently received thousands of dollars in back pay after the Union was informed the member had never been paid ATO, his proper leaves, or his entitled wage for months.

Extra Foods Members mark one year on picket line – and counting!

December 15, 2009, was not the sort of anniversary Extra Foods members in Maple Ridge wanted to celebrate. One year on a picket line makes for a very long year - but that did not stop a gathering of strikers, Union Members, and supporters from turning up at the picket line on a cold, wet December 15 to honour the Extra Foods members for the principled fight they are putting up against a brutal employer.

PriceSmart & Urban Fare Members: submit your contract proposals online!

The Union is now gathering member’s proposals on improvements PriceSmart and Urban Fare members would like to see to their respective contracts. Proposal forms have already been mailed to all members, and you can also now submit your proposals online!