Safeway workers across Alberta have voted 90 per cent in favour of a new five-year contract with the grocery chain following three years of negotiations, according to the union representing the nearly 8,000 workers.--NEWS PHOTO COLLIN GALLANT
The potential for a province-wide grocery strike has been averted as the union representing Safeway workers says its members have overwhelmingly endorsed a new contract.
The United Food and Commercial Workers, Local No. 401, announced this week that ratification votes throughout Alberta last week resulted in 90 per cent support.
About half of the 8,000 union members in the Safeway unit voted at 24 locations, including in Medicine Hat and Brooks.
The vote ends nearly three years of negotiations to replace the deal that expired in March 2017.
The vote came after union members also endorsed a strike mandate this spring, and the company made a final offer proposal.
Details of the contract were not widely released, but information sent out by the union suggests progress was made following the strike vote.
It is a five-year-deal with a 1.5 per cent wage increase in the first year, which is retroactive, then lump sum amounts. Wage re-opener talks are slated for each of the final two years.
The deal also sets out new health and safety committee process, a discount card for employees, and a buyout process for employees facing layoff due to the introduction of the Sobey’s low-cost Freshco-branded stores.
