CANADIAN LABOUR:

ALBERTA SAFEWAY STRIKE ENDS-WITH DEFEAT:

According to the following article from the Edmonton Sun the strike against Safeway in Edmonton has ended after only six days. After rejecting a proposed contract agreed to by their union, the UFCW, by over 70% the workers saw that their strike was going to be a futile gesture as the Alberta Labour Relations Board ruled that vehicles were not to be impeded from entering and exiting Safeway premises, essentially guaranteeing that the scabs that the company had hired would be able to continue "business as usual". No doubt the UFCW staff were busy lecturing the people involved about just how unrealistic their demands were as well.

Whatever the reasons the workers involved, after only six days of a strike marked by some militancy in trying to blockade vehicles voted to accept the contract that they had originally rejected. The strike was, of course, not supported by any attempt on the part of the union nor the general labour movement to build any solidarity amongst other unionists, let alone the general public. What does this say, besides the generally pessimistic conclusion that one should accept the "wisdom" of union staffers ? It first of all says that people who go on strike are deluding themselves if they believe that all they have to do is rely on their union. First and foremost a strike is won or lost by the people who are actually involved, not some bureaucracy that they are presumably represented by.

Second of all it says that, especially in a conservative jurisdiction like Alberta that you might as well "go for the whole hog from the start". The courts and government boards will generally be on the "other side", especially when they are staffed with political appointees from parties that represent business. Rather than picketing and depending upon "traditional" union tactics the people involved should have moved to occupy the distribution centre and the Lucerne plant. Even if the end result would have been the same it would have 1)gained a little more respect from management and 2)led to at least a few days of free ice cream for the occupiers of the one plant. So, as people go back to work they should not just ponder whether the UFCW is the right union for them, but also what they could have done differently, both at the plants and amongst the general public. This is the third, and perhaps most important point. It is not entirely the fault of an union bureaucracy who are dragged into a strike that they didn't want in the first place that no great effort was made to reach out to the general public during the, brief, duration of this strike. To a large degree strikes today, even in the private sector, are won or lost just as much by public perception and support (or lack thereof) as they are by industrial action. Most unions today find this a rather alien concept, and it is up to the ordinary union member to educate their "leaders", not the other way around.

Anyways, here's the story from the Edmonton Sun.

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Safeway workers end six-day strike:
By SUN MEDIA
Safeway workers at the company's Edmonton distribution centre returned to work after voting to end the six-day strike yesterday afternoon.

"We have received notification from the UFCW that the membership has voted in favour of the contract offer, so we do have a ratification, which means the strike is officially over," said Safeway spokesman Betty Kellsey.

"We are really pleased with the outcome of the vote."

Around 3 p.m., the workers voted in favour of the contract put forward to them Aug. 26.

Safeway got word after 5 p.m.

About 360 unionized employees from the distribution centre, frozen food warehouse and Lucerne ice-cream plant went on strike Monday.

The strike came after more than 70% of workers rejected the company's offer to increase their pay by about 14% over three years. (Welllllll, not exactly-Molly )

The company had hired about 200 replacement workers to continue operations. They will now be let go, Kellsey said.

At least seven Safeway tractor-trailers and some non-union management staff were blocked from entering the distribution centre and Lucerne ice-cream plant on Monday.

The Alberta Labour Relations Board later ruled picketers must allow vehicles in and out of Safeway's buildings near 143 Street and Yellowhead Trail.

CANADIAN LABOUR-EDMONTON:

LABOUR DAY STRIKE/LOCKOUT BEGINS TODAY AT SAFEWAY WAREHOUSE AND ICECREAM PLANT:

Labour Day wasn't , and not because it is a statutory holiday, for 350 workers employed by Safeway in their Edmonton distribution centre and their ice cream plant. The workers are represented by Local 401 of the UFCW. The interesting thing about the story that follows is that the union brass had come to an agreement on a contract with management, but this proposal was rejected by over 70% of the members. The union brass were then obliged to call a strike they didn't want, Management, in turn, declared a lockout and has begun to hire scabs. Stay tuned to this situation.

Here's the story from the pages of the Edmonton Journal.

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Labour Day showdown at Safeway
Warehouse workers reject deal agreed to by their union

By Andrea Sands, Edmonton Journal

September 7, 2009

A union leader is expecting chaos to mark Labour Day today as Canada Safeway workers hit the picket lines in west Edmonton in a combined strike and lockout.

The fact that members rejected a deal that was recommended by the union's leaders is indicative of the high level of frustration, said Doug O'Halloran, local president of the United Food and Commercial Workers.

"I think it just shows that the members are upset with their treatment and it's a hard place to work," O'Halloran said Sunday.

A labour expert said the members' decision to strike is rare.

"This is relatively unusual because, most often, the members accept the leaders' recommendations," said labour expert Yonatan Reshef, a business professor at the University of Alberta.

"The economic situation in Alberta right now is not great at all. It's always intriguing as to why union members would go against the leaders, but right now, given the economic situation, it's even more so."

About 350 members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 401 who work at Safeway's Edmonton distribution warehouse, Lucerne ice-cream plant and frozen food warehouse have been without a contract since December 2008.

On Aug. 26, Canada Safeway and union negotiators reached a deal, which the union then recommended to members.

However, in a surprise move, more than 70 per cent of the 350 workers went against their union's advice and voted to reject the deal.

"I've never had it happen before," said O'Halloran. "We have a lot of strikes and we don't go to the membership unless we think we've got every last nickel. When we go there, we go for the right reasons."

Union leaders will support the members' decision to reject the contract, he said.

"The company has served lockout notice and we have served strike notice. Our position will be that we're locked out and there's nothing that goes in and out of the warehouses. We'll see how it plays out," O'Halloran said.

"I think it's going to be a bunch of confusion and chaos. That's usually what happens the first day of a strikelockout when you have 300 people involved."

Safeway is expected to have security workers at the warehouse and ice-cream plant.

The company has been advertising for employees to fill temporary warehouse jobs at $18.41 per hour.

"That disappoints me," O'Halloran said. "I would have thought that we go on strike, and if people don't want to cross the picket line, then the plant doesn't operate. Not only are they advertising right away, but it looks like they're going to try to operate the plant, which will make the members more upset."

The $18.41-an-hour wage being offered to temporary workers will also anger union members, because it is too high, he added.

Part-time employees normally earn between $14 and $18 an hour, and full-time staff earn up to $20 an hour, O'Halloran said.

"If you work part-time and then full-time, it would take you about three or four years to get to the top rate."

Despite the members' anger, O'Halloran said he expects the strike will be a peaceful one "as long as the company doesn't hire a bunch of goon security guards."

Workers were planning to begin picketing at 6 a.m. today outside the distribution centre and ice-cream plant along Yellowhead Trail, between St. Albert Trail and 149th Street.

"I hope cool heads prevail on all sides and we can get a settlement and everybody can get back to work," O'Halloran said.

AMERICAN LABOUR:

SUPPORT NORTHWEST GROCERY WORKERS:

The following appeal is from the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) union.

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WHY CAN'T THE BIG GROCERY CORPORATIONS TREAT WORKERS WITH RESPECT?:
Grocery workers in Spokane, Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho deserve wages that pay the bills. Yet, workers at Albertsons, Fred Meyer, and Safeway have had less than one half of one percent in wage increases over the last five years.

Regional grocery company Rosauers agreed to a contract that met the needs of their grocery workers. They understand that in difficult economic times like these, good jobs are more important than ever in sustaining our middle class and keeping our communities strong.

Rosauers CEO says that, “we say that we’re a family, and we got to prove we are what we say we are.”

We all know times are hard, but we can't let big business use the recession as an excuse to dip into their workers' pockets.

If Rosauers could offer their workers fair contracts, why can't three of the wealthiest grocery corporations in the country?

Contact corporate personnel by phone and by email, and ask them to agree to fair contracts for their Washington and Idaho grocery employees. It's the right thing to do for workers and families.

Albertsons: Mike Clawson 1-208-395-6200
Fred Meyer: Mike Ellis 1-888-247-4439

Safeway: Greg Sparks 1-425-455-6444

Tell me more

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THE LETTER

Please go to THIS LINK to send the following letter to grocery store management in the American northwest.

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Subject:
Dear [ Decision Maker ],
I support Albertson's, Fred Meyer, and Safeway grocery workers in Spokane, Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho as they negotiate for a fair contract. I ask that you treat them with the dignity and respect they deserve, and offer them a contract that shows your commitment to people instead of just profit.

Your workers are essential to your company's long-term success. So why not treat those employees with the respect they deserve? In these difficult economic times, it's more important than ever that workers have affordable quality health care and wages that pay the bills--not only for themselves, but for the benefit of their families and communities.

Please demonstrate that you understand and appreciate the value of your grocery workers and their communities in Washington and Idaho by agreeing to a fair contract. It's the right thing to do.

AMERICAN LABOUR:

GIANT AND SAFEWAY WORKERS DESERVE A FAIR CONTRACT:

Down in Baltimore and Washington D.C. more than 28,000 members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union are in contract negotiations with Giant and Safeway grocery stores. The employers won't agree to a fair contract, and Locals 27 and 400 are calling on supporters to contact management to demand that they bargain fairly. You can learn more about this campaign or join HERE. The union's appeal follows.

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Giant and Safeway Workers Deserve a Fair Contract
UFCW Local 400 and 27 members work in Safeway and Giant (Ahold) grocery stores across Baltimore and Washington, D.C. They are are essential to their companies’ success. Grocery workers are there every day in the stores--slicing meat for sandwiches, preparing fresh arrangements of flowers, stocking shelves, ringing up purchases. They always have a friendly smile and a cheerful greeting that keeps customers loyal to their stores.

But Giant parent company Ahold and Safeway, who are in negotiations with these grocery workers, refuse to recognize the value of their employees. Even though they extended a fair contract to other grocery workers in the last year, they won't do the same for their Baltimore/D.C. workers. All those employees want is quality, affordable health care and wages that pay the bills. But Safeway and Ahold don't seem to care.

Please let Ahold and Safeway know that you believe their workers deserve a fair contract, with wages that keep up with the rising cost of living. Send a letter to Ahold/Giant and Safeway CEOs and key decision makers, and tell them you support Baltimore/D.C. grocery workers.
And make a phone call today to tell these companies that their Baltimore/D.C. workers deserve a fair contract. You can call any of these numbers:

Safeway - 1-877-723-3929
Stop & Shop - 1-800-767-7772
Giant Food Landover - 1-888-4-MY GIANT

Be aware that Safeway and Ahold may not want to hear what you have to say. They may block your email, causing it to be sent back to you. Don't worry if that happens--a copy of your email still exists, and we'll let grocery workers know that you support them. Instead, pick up the phone and call Ahold and Safeway, and tell them that they need to listen to their customers AND their workers. And tell them workers deserve a fair contract.
Thank you for your support!
Tell me more
Talking Points
*Local 27 and Local 400 members work hard to make Safeway and Ahold/Giant successful.

*These workers deserve a share of that success. They shouldn't have to choose between paying the electric bill, taking a sick child to the doctor, and putting food on the table for their family.
*A fair contract for Baltimore/D.C. members would include affordable, quality health care, a secure retirement, and wages that pay the bills.