Shoppers Drug Mart (SDM) Mediation Breaks Off: Employer’s Wage Offer Falls Short

Mediated negotiations for Shoppers Drug Mart Store 272 resumed on August 6, 2010. While some progress was made in other areas of the contract, no agreement was reached on the key issue of wages.

When talks broke off the Employer’s position on wages included no wage increase for the vast majority of members employed in the store. While both the Company and the Union positions are based on a two year contract term, the Union Negotiating Committee is insisting that there be a 2010 and 2011 wage increase for each of the 75 members employed at the store.

The Employer’s offer does include a “signing bonus” which is a lump sum between $375.00 and $125.00 dollars (before taxes) but this is offered under the condition that no members exercise their right to have uniforms laundered by the Employer.

The Unions Negotiating Committee thinks the Employer’s offer falls far short of members’ expectations. The committee members along with Union Staff will be consulting the members before announcing the next course of action.

No further meeting dates have been scheduled for negotiations because the Union has been told that we have the Employer’s best offer at this time.

Further developments will be posted as they happen.