Extra Foods Members In Maple Ridge Reach 20 Months On Picket Line

How long is 20 months? If you can recall the treacherous snow storm the Lower Mainland experienced over the Christmas holidays in 2008 - that was 20 months ago- well, that’s how long Extra Foods members have been on strike in Maple Ridge.

Despite the lengthy span of the strike, UFCW Local 1518 members in Maple Ridge remain dedicated to their picket line. The key issue remains the demands for massive wage and benefit rollbacks that grocery giant Loblaws demands as part of their plans to convert the store to a “No Frills” store.

Loblaws, headquartered in Toronto, is the largest and wealthiest grocery corporation in Canada, and the UFCW members in Maple Ridge understand that what their employer wants to do is ultimately send even more profits back to Toronto by cutting their wages and destroying their ability to earn a living wage.

“Members understand that they have been caught in the centre of a fundamentally important fight for all retail food workers who are being paid a decent wage,” says Ivan Limpright, President of Local 1518. “UFCW 1518 is very proud of these workers who with patience and commitment continue to stand strong.”

With no end to the strike in sight, members continue to put their hours in at the picket line. “Yes, we are tired and we are frustrated…but our morale is good,” says Joanne Prawdzik, member of Local 1518. “Our community supports us…they wish us good luck,” she says.

“Support offered from the residents of Maple Ridge over the past 20 months is a constant reminder, not only for Extra Foods members, but for the entire union, that standing up for our right to earn a living wage gives us a powerful voice that has the respect of the communities we live in,” says Limpright.

Maple Ridge’s Extra Foods has been closed since December 15, 2008, the date picket lines went up. The Maple Ridge strikers were recognized and honoured last year at the BC Federation of Labour convention for the principled fight they have taken on for retail workers across B.C.

In picture:

(left-right) Miranda Nisely, Lori Storey, Carrie MacDowell, Joanne Prawdzik, Pat Kvass

(bottom) Val Wilson