Mediation Continues For Shoppers Drug Mart Store #272, Vancouver

The Union Negotiating Committee and Representatives from Shoppers Drug Mart once again met with Labour Relations Board Mediator Mark Atkinson on July 29th to continue negotiations for a renewal of the Collective Agreement covering members employed at Store #272 in Vancouver. 

The Employer tabled their first monetary proposal in the morning to which the Union Committee responded with a counter proposal late in the afternoon. While at this stage in the negotiations the two wage positions remained fairly far apart. The parties have agreed to meet again with Mediator Atkinson in an effort to continue to narrow the issues and hopefully find the basis for an agreement that both sides can live with.

The Union Committee continues to be focused on the impending regulatory changes that will produce a new classification known as “Registered Pharmacy Technician” which will carry with it increased duties and qualification standards. Pharmacy Technicians are overseen by the College of Pharmacists in British Columbia – for further information visit the College of Pharmacists’ website at: http://tinyurl.com/25fmrhw.

The Union is fighting hard to achieve contract language that will protect current Pharmacy Technicians from a loss of hours arising from these coming changes. This will ensure that Pharmacy Technicians have the first option to fill vacancies for the new position, provided they upgrade their qualifications to the level that will be required. Shoppers Drug Mart still refuses to address the Union’s concerns and continues to reject the Union’s proposal even though such language already exists within Overwaitea/Save On Foods and Safeway’s Collective Agreements.

As we have said before, this should be of great concern to current Pharmacy Technician UFCW 1518 members whose job security could be threatened if they were not to be covered by the protections contained in the Union's proposal. This is not a costly proposal for the Employer and so the Union Committee is at a loss to understand the Employer’s continued reluctance to provide the necessary assurances that our members will not be harmed when the regulatory changes take effect.

The next mediation meeting has been set for Friday, August 6th, 2010.

The Union Negotiating Committee is Adrian Robinson and Christine Watson, assisted by Director of Negotiations, James Raposo.