After ten days at the bargaining table we wanted to restate our objectives – and set the record straight on some information shared by UFCW 401.
From the beginning, we have been clear about our areas of focus: We are focused on the future of Safeway as well as meeting customer preferences by introducing FreshCo to the Alberta market.
Strengthening our Safeway stores and introducing FreshCo to Alberta will make our company stronger, more competitive. This will help us continue to provide stable jobs for our valued employees.
UFCW 401 recently published some misleading information that we would like to correct.
Q&A Session with Ken Woo, VP, Alberta Operations
UFCW 401 asked Ken to return to the bargaining room on March 19 to answer questions about the business. Ken accepted the invitation and came back to talk about operational issues – not company finances or bargaining proposals. The Union has unfairly misrepresented Ken’s attendance at this meeting. Ken and his team of District Operators and Store managers have been working hard alongside store teams to support employees and improve operations and performance. These attacks are not productive.
The Company has been very clear – we are willing to share confidential financial information with the Union bargaining committee, so they can better understand our position and understand the challenges we face. So far, they’ve declined to receive the information.
Our commitment to give back
Recently, The Sobey Foundation made a generous donation to St. Mary’s University. The vast majority of this donation was provided by The Sobey Foundation. Sobeys Inc. also contributed to the donation, just like we do with numerous other charitable causes across Canada every single year.
Supporting the communities we proudly serve through charitable giving has been deeply rooted in our history. Last year, Sobeys Inc. invested more than $15 million dollars in food and charitable donations nationally.
Over the last year, we’ve donated to The Christmas Bureau of Edmonton, The Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival, The Calgary Fire Fighters Burn Treatment Society, Make-a-Wish Northern Alberta, The Calgary Food bank, The Calgary Police Foundation, Hockey Canada for the 2017 World Under 17 Hockey Challenge… the list goes on. It’s unfair for the union to suggest that our charitable giving is not focused in Western Canada.
Our message: We need to work together
We need to focus on working together and strengthening our Safeway stores. Let’s not get distracted from our goal. We are seeing progress but there is still a lot more work to do. We can only get it done with our shared passion for Safeway and teamwork. Thank you for all the hard work you do in stores, day in and day out.
The Safeway bargaining committee is at the table to negotiate an agreement that will put us on a level playing field and secure a strong future for our employees and our business. We’re back the table in May and are looking forward to quickly getting into productive negotiations with the Union committee.
Visit Safeway Talks regularly where we will share exciting stories about our progress as a team.
