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Keeping you informed: Our next steps with B.C. Safeway Appendix B Stores

Posted on by Sudhanshu Rewari

At Safeway, regular communication with our teammates has always been incredibly important to us. You are the experts in our stores – you are dedicated, hard working, and caring. You take great pride in serving our B.C. families and giving back to our communities. Your voice is important.

In December 2018, the Special Officer’s Award was issued which resulted in many stores being classified as Appendix B stores. Now, just over two years later, we have met with UFCW 1518 to discuss bringing some of those stores into Appendix A. In March of this year, we agreed to moving three stores back into Appendix A under conditions that would help the stores effectively compete in their markets.

Now, we are prepared to announce the return of eight more stores to Appendix A as follows:

Store #126 / 4946 – Terrace

Store # 93 / 4936 – Shaughnessy

Store #44 / 4913 – Kensington

Store #42 / 4911 – Burnaby Heights

Store #38 / 4909 – Caufield

Store #58 / 4917 – McBride

Store #2271 / 4974 – Cranbrook

Store 170 / 4960 – Downtown Kelowna

 

These changes apply to the UFCW 1518 bargaining unit in the above-mentioned stores only.

We will keep you updated on Safeway Talks as more information becomes available.

One new FreshCo location in Saskatchewan and one in Alberta announced

Posted on by Sudhanshu Rewari

We are continually evaluating our store networks to ensure that we have the right stores in the right markets to meet the needs of the communities that we serve. Today, Sobeys Inc. announced two new FreshCo locations in Western Canada – one location in Saskatchewan and one in Alberta.

Opening in Summer 2021:

  • FreshCo, Albert Street, Regina

Opening in Winter 2021/2022:

  • FreshCo, Cobblestone, Grande Prairie

The Saskatchewan location is an existing Sobeys store in Regina and starting February 2021, it will temporarily close for renovations and re-open as FreshCo. The Alberta FreshCo store announced today is a new build construction site located in Grande Prairie, in the Cobblestone community.

Our full-service grocery stores are an important part of our customer offer and a valued part of our business. By expanding our store network to include full-service Safeway stores, as well as additional discount FreshCo stores, we’re better equipped to meet our customers’ diverse needs.

We will be working closely with impacted employees in Regina and their union in the coming weeks to provide support through this transition.

Stay up-to-date at SafewayTalks.ca.

 

Six Sobeys women achievers win Canadian Grocer Star Women Awards

Posted on by Sudhanshu Rewari

I am extremely pleased and very proud to announce that six Sobeys employees have been named 2020 Star Women Awards recipients by Canadian Grocer.  Since 2012, this award has been given annually to recognize exceptional women who demonstrate influence, innovation, and leadership in the Canadian grocery industry.

Our Star Women honourees are individuals that bring passion and commitment to their work and their communities each day. They are recognized by both their Sobeys peers and industry professionals as role models who deliver business excellence through collaborative team engagement. I am very pleased that they are being given the recognition they deserve, not only within Sobeys, but by the country’s grocery industry.  Their achievement serves as an inspiration for all leaders on our team.

This year, two of our Sobeys recipients were named in the Senior Level category, three in the Store Level category, and one in the Rising Star category.

Please join me in celebrating and congratulating our 2020 Star Women awardees:

Senior Level Stars

Kerry Tompson, Vice President of Talent & Inclusion

Kerry is innovative, customer-driven and willing to set bold ambitions to drive results. Since she joined Sobeys Inc. in 2018, Kerry has worked tirelessly to ensure the company’s people practices were “best in class” so that Sobeys could attract and retain the best talent. In 2020, when the company faced the COVID-19 pandemic, Kerry, together with a dedicated team, rallied to create a national Talent Acquisition SWAT Team, employment branding and labour dashboard to ensure our stores were supported to serve families during a difficult time.

Vittoria Varalli, Vice President of Sustainability and Chief of Staff to the CEO

As a future- oriented strategy driver, Vittoria is highly skilled at building consensus and mobilizing action plans as the retail industry evolves. Vittoria’s commitment to reducing avoidable plastic in grocery retail has already created a lasting impact. In July 2019, under Vittoria’s direction, Sobeys Inc. was the first national grocer to announce it would eliminate single-use plastic grocery bags at all banner locations in Canada, starting with its 255 Sobeys stores, taking 225 million plastic bags out of circulation annually.

Rising Star

Julia Mallett, Manager Retail Operations, Atlantic Division

Julia is knowledgeable, passionate and solution-orientated.  She does not hesitate to find opportunities for improvement, whether they be for the industry, our stores or our customers. Focused on serving the total team, Julia actively works towards identifying root cause issues and solutioning them, helping to improve internal processes, communications and reporting which benefits everyone. Recently, Julia worked diligently with the strategic sourcing of key supplies to assist with pandemic safety measures.

Store-level Stars

Alice Warner, Store Manager, Safeway McBride, New Westminster, BC

Alice is a store operation professional with a unique leadership style that inspires strong team engagement, customer loyalty and community recognition. She is a committed advocate for the advancement of leadership opportunities for talented women in store-level grocery operations at Sobeys. Alice is dedicated to mentoring her store staff to pursue career development opportunities, and has committed her time and energy in helping to establish Sobeys’ Women’s Inclusion Network in B.C.

Suzanne Horner, Store Manager, Sobeys West River Road, Pictou, NS 

Suzanne’s depth of store operations experience and an approachable and highly motivating leadership style have been essential to building strong workplace engagement and business performance. A key element to her success is a commitment in creating opportunities to welcome and advance diverse talent within her community to support operational success. Her inclusive hiring experiences have brought process improvements and identified areas to improve accessibility within her store that have resulted in more inclusive experiences for both employees and customers.

Leslie Robb, Store Manager, Safeway Fort St John, Fort St John, BC

Leslie is a strong, experienced business and community leader who goes above and beyond to support her store teams as an authentic role model and mentor of individuals in early stages of their careers. As a member of Sobeys’ Alberta Women’s Inclusion Network, she has undertaken a deep interest in supporting advancement of female professionals in her store and within her operating district and boasts a high-performing and accomplished team of department managers that consistently contribute to operational success.

Winners will be featured in the August 2020 issue of Canadian Grocer and will be celebrated at the Star Women in Grocery Awards Breakfast on October 29, 2020.

It seems that every year, more and more Sobeys women leaders are recognized through this awards program.  In 2018, we garnered two spots in the program, followed by four in 2019, and now an amazing six recipients for 2020! I look forward to congratulating more of our hardworking and passionate female leaders winning this award in the coming years.

The ratification vote is soon, make your voice heard

Posted on by Sudhanshu Rewari

As you know, the Company and UFCW 401 ended negotiations this past Wednesday, seeking recommendations from

In the coming days, UFCW 401 has asked you to participate in a ratification vote to decide on the Government Appointed Mediator’s recommendations.

We thank you for your continued patience. Though this process was challenging and at times difficult, we believe that the recommendations are the best opportunity to avoid a labour dispute. They allow us to move forward and focus on our collective future.

It is important you vote. Key decisions about your job are at stake and voting is how you can make your voice heard. By not voting, you are allowing others to make these key decisions for you.

We hope you feel you have the information you need to make an informed decision. Please take a moment to review the meeting notifications posted by the Union to know when and where to vote.

Please don’t hesitate to speak to your store manager if you have any questions on the process.

 

A Path Forward: Recommendations to be accepted

Posted on by Sudhanshu Rewari

As you know, the Company and UFCW 401 ended negotiations this past Wednesday, seeking recommendations from the government appointment mediator.

On Monday, July 20 we received these recommendations from the mediator and carefully evaluated them. While some are not perfectly aligned with the Company’s objectives, we are satisfied that, as a whole, we can work with them to achieve labour stability for the next five years.

The Union will take these to their membership for a ratification vote. Please stay up to date with any upcoming meetings as once again you will be called upon to exercise your right to vote on this matter. It is important you show up and not leave this decision in the hands of others. Your future should be your decision.

We thank you for your continued commitment to one another and our customers. Even in the face of these challenging times, you still ensured our stores were a safe and welcoming place to shop and work. We look forward for continuing to move forward with this unstoppable team.

 

An update on July collective bargaining

Posted on by Sudhanshu Rewari

As you know we returned to collective bargaining with UFCW 401 this past Monday. As of today, both the Company and the Union have ended negotiations asking our Government Appointed Mediator to provide recommendations on issues that are still outstanding. We feel this is a promising step in coming to a collective agreement that makes sense for both parties.

On Monday (July 20), the Government Appointed Mediator will provide both parties the recommendations and they will have chance to review and decide if they will be accepted. If all gets accepted, UFCW 401 will look to schedule a ratification vote. Please watch for communications on next steps. Our commitment to finding a fair agreement that allows us to build a more competitive future together has not changed and we thank you for your continued patience throughout this process.

We will share updates as they become available. Please speak to your Store Manager if you have any questions.

 

Brett Kissel: Live at the Drive-In – A one-of-a-kind concert series in celebration of our frontline heroes

Posted on by Sudhanshu Rewari

Earlier this month, Safeway and Canadian country music star Brett Kissel came together to host a one-of-a-kind concert series in support of Alberta’s food banks and in celebration of our frontline heroes.

Brett Kissel: Live at the Drive-In is the first ever socially distanced drive-in country music concert series. With Safeway’s support, 100 per cent of ticket sales from all six shows were directed to Food Banks Alberta, and we are thrilled to announce that together we have donated $70,000 to help Albertan families keep food on the table.

It was important to Safeway and Brett that these concerts also celebrate the incredibly hard work frontline heroes have put in across the country since the onset of the pandemic. When the six shows sold out in just a few hours, there was no question that we needed to hold two more, very important shows.

The Frontline Heroes concerts gave 400 deserving frontline workers the opportunity to attend the show with their family or friends, and a chance to relax and celebrate all their hard work over the past few months. The audience included everyone from frontline healthcare workers, food bank staff, committed volunteers, firefighters, and 100 of our own frontline grocery heroes.

Employees working at any Sobeys Inc. banner location within 300 km of the concert venue were invited to enter a contest for tickets. Ultimately,100 lucky winning employees from 44 different Safeway, Sobeys and IGA locations received vehicle passes to the once-in-a-lifetime event. Their smiles speak for themselves!

 


Colleen Chiles from Soutbrook Sobeys shows off her limited edition Brett Kissel: Live at the Drive-In bag

 


Jorge Martinez-Gutierrez from Sobeys Bonnyville enjoys the show from the roof of his car.

Heather MacKenzie, who works at Sobeys Westlock, said the concert was just what she and her family needed right now. “We were supposed to be in the UK meeting our 12-week-old great niece and celebrating a big anniversary and a wedding this month, but the trip was cancelled because of the pandemic, so it was a great boost to go to such a fun event together.”


Heather and her family enjoying the show

See the highlight reel from the event here.

Brett Kissel Live at the Drive- In is one-way Safeway and the Sobeys Inc. family is supporting local communities through its Community Action Fund. Initiated at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Community Action Fund empowers 1,500 stores across the country to inject millions of dollars into Canadian communities. The fund has helped deliver food and critical funds to food banks and a range of other community organizations in need across Canada. To see more about the great support you and your teammates have already provided to your communities, click here.

Post-vote update: Where are we now?

Posted on by Sudhanshu Rewari

Thank you for continuing to support one another and upholding our commitment to customers through what we know has been a challenging time. Transparency is just as important as ever, and we want to provide you with an update on where we stand in the negotiation process.

On Monday, UFCW 401 confirmed a positive strike vote. Forty four percent of eligible employees participated in the vote. This means that the Union received the votes needed to begin the legally-required 72-hour notice period ahead of a strike. As a result, we have taken the similar, legally-required step necessary to ensure that should the Union enact a strike, we will be in a position to issue a lockout notice.

While both the Company and UFCW 401 have taken action to prepare for a potential labour disruption, both parties have expressed an interest in working together towards an agreed upon settlement. However, we are still concerned by the Union’s decision to end mediation and take a strike vote. These actions have made it increasingly more difficult to work towards this shared goal.  Despite these concerns, Safeway’s bargaining team is ready to meet with the Union and resume bargaining as early as mid-July.

Our commitment to you and the future of Safeway in Alberta has not changed, and in order for us to reach a competitive collective agreement, the Union and its bargaining committee must acknowledge Alberta’s troubling economic climate and the need to set Safeway up for long term growth. The next few years are critical to our shared success and we will continue to standby our unwavering commitment to building a strong future for all of us.

We will continue to examine our options and will always provide accurate updates as they become available.

A post-vote update

Posted on by Sudhanshu Rewari

After UFCW 401 ended negotiations on June 10, this past Thursday and Friday, you were asked to participate in a strike vote. Your voice is important to us and we thank you for exercising your right by participating.

The results indicate a 79% vote in favor of strike action and a participation rate of 44% of  eligible voters. We are still determining next steps and will reach out to your Union in the near future to determine a path forward. We do want to reiterate our commitment to finding a fair agreement that supports you and positions Safeway for growth in the Province.

Thank you for your continued commitment to your teams and your communities, during what we know is a stressful time. Your efforts truly showcase just how strong our teams in Alberta are. Whatever comes next, we will continue to work together, and we hope to come to a fair resolution soon.

Next steps should be reported soon, so please continue to keep yourself informed. We will post to Safeway Talks when updates are available. Please also check in with your store manager if you have any questions.

Making your voice heard

Posted on by Sudhanshu Rewari

We know anxiety levels are high as you head into a strike vote this week, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thank you for continuing to support one another and our customers during these uncertain times.

We want to remind you how important your voice is in this process. We encourage you to stay active, stay informed on the facts and continue to ask questions to ensure you have all the information you need.

On Thursday and Friday of this week, your Union has asked you to cast your vote to authorize strike action. Whatever your opinion is, please make it heard by attending the strike vote meeting and casting your vote. Not voting means you are leaving critical decisions about your job in the hands of others.

If you have questions, please ensure you attend all Union meetings and keep informed on the issues.   Also, your Store Managers are willing to answer your questions and offer their support. If you have any scheduling issues that impact your ability to attend the strike vote meeting, please speak to your Store Manager, who may be able to provide assistance.

Your vote matters, please exercise this right to make your voice heard.