Since the results of the vote have been released, we continue to hear from so many of our teammates that they wanted this deal. The mood is incredibly somber and the disappointment is palpable.

It’s clear to all of us that UFCW 401 never wanted to reach a deal. They told us in December that they wanted to bargain, but they only showed up to fight. Keep in mind…

• The union provided inaccurate and irrelevant information as evidence in the 2023 wage reopener.
• The union lied repeatedly and spread so much misinformation prior to determining a vote date. And then,
• The union ran a completely biased vote – even the ballots were inappropriate.

UFCW 401 didn’t want a deal from day one. They wasted our time, and more importantly, they wasted your time. We’re astonished that they did this to you, to us all. Unfortunately, the union controlled the bargaining process and it’s outcome.

What happens next…

We always do what we say we’re going to do, and we’ve been transparent through every step of this process. Given that our offer wasn’t ratified, the Company will now implement the outcome of the Judicial Review.

• Wage rates for top-rated and overscale teammates will be rolled back 6.5%, aligned with our offer in the 2023 wage reopener that included a 1.5% wage increase in 2023 and 2% in 2024. This change will be reflected on your February 13, 2025, pay.
• The Company will seek to collect overpayments from August 2023 to October 18, 2024 (the date of the Judicial Review). In the coming weeks, impacted teammates will receive a letter outlining the overpayment, including options for the repayment.

Like we’ve shared with you before, we do not take these decisions lightly. This is necessary to protect the long-term viability of Safeway so we can ensure a strong future for all of our teammates in this province.