We wanted to provide you with an update on a newly established program for Local 1000A members working at Loblaws Great Food and Superstore.
Last year, your bargaining committee negotiated a Relationship Building Program with the company. The program now forms part of your collective agreement and is facilitated by experienced facilitators from the Ontario Ministry of Labour (Disputes Resolution Branch). The purpose of the program is for the company, the union and our members to listen to each other’s concerns and issues with a view to improve things including communication and relationships.
I am pleased to report that the first set of regional sessions, which took place in January for our Ottawa and area stores, were a success. Members from each store were appointed from member volunteers to participate in the program.
I am proud to report that members who participated in these sessions did an outstanding job of highlighting their and their co-workers' concerns regarding operational and other issues in their store with senior company representatives and store level management.
After four days of ratification meetings and polls across the province, members of UFCW Canada Local 1000A voted 57% to ratify an amended agreement with Loblaw Supermarkets Ltd. This means that the agreement was accepted by a majority of members who voted, so strike action scheduled for July 11 is cancelled.
More than 6,000 members voted, meaning voter turnout was slightly over 50 per cent.
The last polls for the Loblaws Great Food and Superstore ratification vote closed on Wednesday, July 8th at 8 p.m. Results continue to be tabulated from polls held across the province. The result will be posted as soon as it is known, and is expected no later than Thursday evening. Please continue to monitor ufcw1000a.ca for further updates.
Two days of intensive negotiations between your union and Loblaw Companies Ltd resulted today in amendments to the memorandum of agreement dated June 2, 2015.
Both parties had returned to the negotiating table at the request of an Ontario Ministry of Labour Mediation Officer on July 2.
Your union believes it’s important for our members to have the opportunity to examine and vote on the amended offer and as such, has postponed the strike deadline of Sunday, July 5 at 12:01 a.m.
Should this amended offer be rejected, the strike will commence on Saturday, July 11 at 12:01 a.m. at all 60 Local 1000A Loblaws Great Food and Superstore locations across the province.
Ratification votes and related polls are being scheduled across the province from Sunday, July 5 to Wednesday, July 8.
