To our valued employees,

As you are aware, we have been in negotiations with UFCW 1518 regarding the reopener of our Collective Agreement. Negotiations with UFCW 247 and BCT have not yet begun.

We continue to focus our negotiations on reaching collective agreements that will ensure competitive operating costs in our Safeway stores and allow us to introduce our FreshCo. banner to customers in B.C.

Also, you may be aware the Labour Relations Board has appointed Mr. Vince Ready as Special Officer in this file. As part of Mr. Ready’s appointment, the company has agreed that the Safeway stores slated to close on May 5^th will instead be closed on July 5^th.

The store closure date changed to allow more time for discussion with the labour unions to take place. The store closure dates will not be changed beyond July 5. Through our discussions with Mr. Ready, we are hoping that this 2-month adjournment of store closures will allow him the time he needs to do his job and we believe that this is best for both the company and our employees.

Over the coming weeks, we will be working with the unions to ensure employee bumping rights and seniority are preserved and realigned in accordance with the new closure date of July 5^th as required.

We will provide you with information you can share in store to respond to customer questions.

Be sure to visit SafewayTalks.ca regularly to stay up to date. We will continue to provide updates here and with your store manager.