Friday, June 20, 2008

CONTRACT DISCUSSION SAVE ON FOODS 2008

This is intended for UFCW 1518 Members to share their comments and thoughts on the tentative agreement put forth to us on June 19, 2008.

It is meant for everyone to have their say and a spirited discussion arise.

Please share your comments as free and open as you wish. Add your comments by clicking here.

Up to the minute information can be found at http://www.ufcw1518.com/

The agreement, as put forth by the union can be found here.

103 comments:

CC said...

the new contract sounds fine to me. not perfect by any means but exceptable the union has stated they have done the best they can, so by pushing for a strike ........ will undoubtedly lead to an EXTREMLEY long and drawn out strike, with the also possibility of store closures.

ddw said...

I dont believe that the company is giving us what we deserve, still no sick days or a decent wage increase. whats this about the new 3 tier, 2 group B's. i dont think so.we work dam hard.what about those B members just under 4000 hrs?
as for the store closures, i think that is a crock, the comapny makes a killing, they are NOT going to close stores just because we VOTE NO.
every needs to get out and vote NO!
there isnt enough of an inital wage increase to match the cost of living. we need decent wages to keep employees. the turn over is unacceptable.
the company spends so much money training people who wont stick around, put that money to good use. give a FAIR, COMBATAL wage our members will stay, more workers who stay will make the the work enviroment a better, more productive, and in turn save the company money.

ThaCarter3 said...

" A fair wage" can you please tell me what a fair wage is, what's the defintion? Throw some figures or stats to verify your points.

We should definately accept the contract, I read the whole page and it sounds fine. We aren't doctors or lawyers, we cannot expect to be treated like them either.

The store closures aren't a crock, Jim Pattison would shut down Save On, change the stores to Pricemart and hire people who are willing to work for the wage he thinks is appropriate. He created the company, he is the parent and he has the right for his judgement to vito the opinions of the union.

If we do not take this offer we are putting our jobs in jeopardy, we are putting the company at risk and we would put a blemish on Save On's repore with society.

Vote no if you feel making a statement is more important than your job, if you value your job and you value society you will vote yes. If everyone who wanted more money went on strike society would crumble and any form of civilization would be lost.

Vote yes.

Anonymous said...

I agree with commpletly with the last comment from "ThaCarter3" !!! We are indeed not doctors or lawyers, and I think that the wages we get for being grocery employees is pretty darn good. Other then Safeway, no other grocery store, or Costco's, or Super Stores get paid as much as us, and never will. There are people out there that have gone to unniversity or college for years on end, costing them thousands ands thousands of dollars, and often these unniversity or college graduates, end up with jobs (in there field) pay less then what we make.

With voting "No" a strike will be happening 100%, and we will be on our own, as the union has done all they can. And in this case the strike will be endless, with guareentee of store closers or conversions to Price Smart to make up the lose of money caused by the strike. Believe me, Jimmy Pattison will not hesitate to close down stores. He didn't get he is today, by making decisions that cost him endless amounts of money.
If you still want to have a job at the end of the summer, vote "YES".

Anonymous said...

As for "ddw", how wrote that there is "no sick days". Just to let you know, it is impossible to give part time employees sick days, as they generally only work 2 to 4 days a week. Sick days are based on a 40 hour work and full time employees. As a part timer, you cant excpect sick days on top of all the days off. If you are someone how ALWAYS works 40 hours a week, then yes, it would only be fair that you get sick bank.

Anonymous said...

I agree totally with ddw, we have worked so hard & dedicated so much to this company, we haven't had a decent contract in over 12 years, the union is selling us out, we pay them good money to go to bat for us, and what do we get in return ? I don't want to strike, but it's the only way to send a message to that greedy evil a**hole Jimmy Pattison that we are sick & tired of trying to make a decent living instead of filling his already overflowing pockets !! The company is making tons of money, shouldn't they make the store a better place by paying a decent wage which would generate great employees who want to take pride in their jobs !!!

Anonymous said...

If anyone who works for Save On or Safeway and thinks they deserve $30/hour, give your head a shake. Yes we want to get paid more which we will, and you have to say this is close to a fair deal as your going to get without going out for 2-3 months and losing all that pay. "I will find another job" then why are you working at Save on than in the first place!! Don't be an ass and vote no because we didn't get Jimmy's boat as a bonus. He's rich and rich ass holes don't give there money away very easily. I think what we do and what we get paid is very fair compared to other occupations.

CC said...

here, here wildeman ......you said it right!!

Anonymous said...

also, I have been hearing people saying I am voting no so I can have the summer off, pisses me off!! If you want the summer off, go break your leg or quit!! I have a job so I can work!! Don't vote if you don't understand the proposed contract, don't vote if your too dumb to open a can of soup, don't vote if you just hate Save On, because your screwing everyone else's life up!!

Anonymous said...

I have heard that too, about people voting No to have a holiday from work. Makes me sick and pisses me off too!!! The people who think this way are obviously extremely immature and extremely selfish and extremely stupid !

Anonymous said...

Fact: Chuck Norris doesn't vote for the contract. The contract votes for him.


But Chuck Norris is still voting YES!

Anonymous said...

theres some ppl who do F all and deserve to get paid the same they do now, but theres others who want to WORK and earn a living wage, what i want to see in the contract is a way so if you work hard your paid well, unfortuneatly if we came up with a system to do that Uncle jimmy would find a way to exploit it

Anonymous said...

You don't think Pattison would be up for a competetive capitalistic way of paying us? Are you kidding me? Of course he would, he used to fire the bottom 10% of his sales staff to always make his team stronger. Jim Pattison is a brilliant man, just because he is more succesful than everyone here doesn't mean hes an a-hole.

Jealousy is one of the weakest trait among this race. Read some Nietzsche books and learn what it means to be independant and survive on your own.

How about the starving kids in Africa who work in devostating heat for a dollar a day to be malnourished and disease infested. How about they go on strike? How about the kids in the sweat shopes in the Phillipines who make a lot of the clothes North Americans wear go on strike?

Let the doctors and nurses go on strike so when you get sick you can stay sick. Let the police and judicial system go on strike so we can have serial killers walking the streets.

If everyone who wanted more money went on strike, society would fall, that's the main concept you have to understand. There are better paying jobs out there, there are universities you can go to get those jobs.

Just remember, communism has killed over 100,000,000 people.

Anonymous said...

7 (a) Point 2

The position shall be a red circling of hours worked at the time of implementing the new postion in the store based on a 52 week average hours worked for each individual Pharm Tech.

Why does the 52 week not include as per page 7, under #13. Job Security Guarantee – all paid time including absence due to sickness and any LOA, TAB, WCB, WI and LTD shall be considered as time worked. Since this language is not included Pharm Tech's average hours will be impacted for the 52 week average. If any P T took LOA, TAB, WCB, WI or LTD, these hours are not included because the language only says for average hours worked. The P T average hours are impacted by the omittance of this language.

Point 4

New language says wage and benefit package that is competitive within the retail food industry.

????? Why not wages that reflect the whole P T industry where techs are being paid higher.

(b) LOU Script Care Pharmacy - " The employer will address any additional impact of hours by permitting PT's to work hours in other areas of the store at their current classification rate of pay.

This means a loss of hours to employees in other classifications, plus the PT is punished because when they work in another classification, exp. General Clerk/Clerk Cashier, they should get the higher rate of pay and climb those pay scales. Why do they not recieive hourly credit for those classifications.




Section 5.23 Night Work

An employee may request to start between 9 and 12. Explanation is "this language would allow members on night work to request to start earlier than midnight , but no earlier than 9. Ans. - what this really means, because it says "MAY", this only works to the employers advantage, this does nothing for the employee, it has not teeth and does nothing to grant an earlier start to the employee. The language needs to reflect mutual agreement between the employee and employer.




LOU # 6 Seniority Scheduling:

Weekly seniority will apply to employees hired after Ratification 2008. - Reply – this is concessionary language. The building block of this CBA has always been daily seniority so why do you allow weekly seniority to remain in the CBA and screw the new hires? There should be not reference to weekly seniiority. All employees should be treated the same, regardless of when they are hired. And again creating a new second class citizen.




11. Clerks Work (a) "Vendor Stocking"

Reply – Present language says: B. Rack Jobbers. There shall be no Rack Jobbers in any new stores. Therefore this new language, under #11, is a major concession because it impacts the movement of employees to benefit from the company's expansion of Price Smart stores. We have lost over 100 full time jobs since the Price Smart conversions, which you told us could not happen, but we lost that, and now you allow vendor stocking in the new stores. This also makes the language of 1 new store for 1 Price Smart conversion meaningless if vendors are stocking in those new stores (which are 25/75.) Hours are lost to grid A no matter how you spin it.




Demonstrators – can move to other classifications. Members in other classification are impacted by the movement of demo'S into these classifications. Question – do they slot in ahead of grid B employees?




Movement Between Banners – an impact to SOF/OWT stores. This allows Coopers, Urban Fare, Price Smart employees who have lesser CBA's to move to SOF​/OWT which have better contracts of wages and benefits. This language only impacts SOF/OWT employees. If the contracts were all the same level playing field, this language would be fair. But since they are not, the movement will be for other banner employees moving into SOF/OWT and no one will be moving from SOF/OWT to the other banners. This language majorly impacts us. On this alone, we should vote no, as this language if of no benefit to us.




Cross Classification/ Dept work scheduling procedure.

This means stores will be moving to the P.S. Concept (this gives the company leverage to make it a P.S. down the road. The new language says in the 4th paragraph : employees participating in the program shall be scheduled within their classification grouping each week. Employees participating in the program may achieve more hours worked than employees who do not and these additional hours are not subject to claim. This language hurts the senior employee – as an example long time, full time cashier doesn't want to slug freight and does not go on the program. She could get less than 40 hours because she isn't on the program and can't claim the hours. This is a major concession.




The removal of the scheduling restrictions on junior clerks to work evenings and weekends first. This means that senior employees will now be working weekends and late shifts. A slam in the face to senior employees. Some of this could be rectified by bringin back for employees the Sunday premium and evening premium for working after 6p.m. The idea for this for the senior employee is not to have the money, but to have better time off. Premium for the lower scale employees gives them an incentive to work the later and weekend shifts. Also, why wasn't the fair rotation of evening work (sect5.10)language strengthened and clarified with the change of this language to give the senoir employee some protection.




Clerk Cashier and Scheduling. This language is a concession as it is a loss of hours to the General Clerk classification. As to your explantion, who are you trying to kid here? All the employer has to do is over shedule the cashiers and send them out to do the General Clerk work. (the usual snow job by the company) They weren't scheduled to do General Clerk work, but since they are here, they can go do it.




Assistant Produce and Assistant Bakery Manager scheduled by Super Seniority. This is a concession as it impacts hours to junior employees. A 2 week employee could get 40 hrs per week ahead of a 6 yr employee getting 33 hr per week and he has no claim.




Medical Reports. This language does not go far enough and address the abuse of the employer demanding medical notes.




Wages and Wage Rates.

Who gets hurt? Any jr clerk not on the grid A scale as of ratification when they move to grid A will climb the lesser pay scale for the next 5 years. As a junior clerk, I remain a second class citizen for 5 more years.

Who gets hurt? Any grid A employee not on the top pay rate will only climb the lesser pay scales, and not the new. This off scale pay rate language sucks and is not as good as it is portrayed to be. Still creates the haves and the have nots.

No retroactive pay for jr clerks. Keeps me in the 2nd class citizen category. I've eaten it for the last 5 years and gotta eat it for 5 more.

Whatever happened to where there is one pay scale for everyone and everyone climbs the same. None of this off scale crap!




Appendix1 : Agreed Items

Sect 5:20 Shift Interval - Why not the word "shall" instead of "may". This language has no teeth and favours the employer. I may want it, but the employer doesn't have to give it.




Sect 7 Janitors and Utility Clerks. Any janitor or utility clerk who are still working out there, just had their job eliminated. They are paying union dues, but they don't exist. Union negotioating member response was they didn't know there were any left.




VOTE NO !!!!!

Anonymous said...

I think what is going to happen now, is that the company will lock out ALL stores making it immpossible for higher strike pay, because if ALL stores are locked out, the union can not collect the "temporary unions due increase", therfore strike pay for evertone will be a hundred dollars or less (depending on the hours you work, and if your part time or full time).

Good job, those who voted no, especially the ones who voted no to get a holiday, as I'dd like to see how you'll get by on under a hundred dollars a week for 4 -5- 6 months, or more.

Anonymous said...

people who are scared or worried are pathetic. they must have a low sense of self-worth. I will be voting NO to the next deal unless it is damn good. I don't care how long we have been on the picket line.

Anonymous said...

I have never heard anyone say their scared or worried. As far as I am concerned, I am just being sensible. 4 months or more of lost wages will never be made up, even if they did offer more money. I am sure you wont be still saying you'll stay on the picket line forever, when Save On stores start closing. Jimmy Pattison is a wise man, and didn't get to be a millionaire by making poor decisions, that cost him to loose lots of money. If your a Sr employee, you should be thankful for the money you make and benifits you get. You didn't spend money on unniversity or college to be a Sr Save On employee, so what do you want, a Professor or doctors wage? If so, then go spend your money on furthering your education and get yourself a high rolling job. I do believe fully that the Jr staff or part timers deserve a higher cap and or higher wage, but as the union stated "they have done the best they can and there is nothing more to be gotten". At least there was many improvements to the contract (including wage increases for everyone) and nothing got taken away. I think fighting for a stated "lost cause" is not worth each person losing thousands of dollars in wages and the very much chance of store closures and to boot having stuff taken away that was offered on this proposal.

Anonymous said...

This is not about money, it is about the lack of respect ofg has for people. Think about it... they get rid of the warehouse, they get rid of the janitors, they open Pricemarts with no regard to integrity or "Team Members", they got rid of Demo people. Do you think you aren't on their hit list too? Do you think this companys goals are even remotely in line with the goals of the employees in the stores? (Like they are with any good employer). For me, this strike is not at all about money.

Anonymous said...

Hi everyone.....

Going on strike now and taking a financial hit is a small price to pay to get a fair contract for several years to come. Everyone needs to stop thinking selfishly and think of the big picture. And I agree, their goal is to erode the contract to the point that it is not worth working there any longer.

Anonymous said...

Save on will not have a dedicated workforce if they keep trying to pull this crap. I am glad it was a no vote and will be more than happy to collect strike pay for as long as it takes. I really like my co-workers and don't want any more of them to quit. Better to get a proper contract now.

Anonymous said...

I voted no because this contract offer was too long at 5 years with the inceases spread out over that time. Also this company is liable to not live up to the spirit of the agreement halfway through like with Pricemart which screwed over everyone in grid B who were about to jump up.

Anonymous said...

Longer contract (as in the 5 year one we were offered) is way better then a shorter cobtract, because if your given say a 3 year contract, you then are barely finished wrapping up negotiations before your already back at negotiations for the next contract. Far to stressful and a pain.

Anonymous said...

the fact that the regional manager was in the store today, questioning employees as to what they want for a contract, i think is a very, very good sign. i think that by friday we will see the company offer to go back to the barganing table.

Anonymous said...

It's all a big game of cat and mouse and whoever finds the biggest piece of cheese wins!!!

Anonymous said...

The people who voted yes to the last shitty deal are going to ruin it for the people who actually care. This company does not care about employees and their lives, only making as much money as possible, even if it means poverty wages. I wish the people who voted yes would grow some gonads.

Anonymous said...

you really think that the company would recover from a strike?
obviously the company realizes that their competitors are about win the lottery!... they must know this ... and yet they are preparing as we speak to shut the stores... i think its interesting that they are making closure plans..but no re-open plans??.. this is a very high stake poker game...

Anonymous said...

Ya, the guy above makes some good points, but then why would that last offer be so mediocre???

If the union didn't recomend it, it would have been 90% rejection. The company has lost touch with it's partners and most valuable asset... ITS EMPLOYEES!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

i heard the last lockout was 6 weeks and included every store and they seemed to survive fine. this time its only 27 stores. besides, from what i heard, they locked out their employees last time so it seems like thats the way they operate.

Anonymous said...

i was there last time... the lock out was lifted before the stores were closed... and then the union went on strike.. remember the last time safeway was out too..i also remember the company never opened a new store for about four years..
i bet this kills save on foods in the lowermainland.... forever.. RIP!

Anonymous said...

No, I remember well. Save On Management locked us out.

Anonymous said...

I like the comment about this being a high stakes poker game...everyone should realize there is lots of competition coming in to the market, (ie walmart next to our south point store. If we close our doors, we could lose lots of customers as they take a liking to the new high end Wal-Mart look! I think we are shooting ourselves in the foot!! Good luck NO side!! Like I was saying to management today, )just in case you guys think I am a company guy, If the company would have treated us better by way of bonuses, like thrifty foods and similiar companies do, we might of not all been in such a give me more state of mind. We gave concessions back in 96' and 03', and through the glory years of the past 5 years, the company hasn't showed any thanks for that! So I do understand the NO side a bit.

Anonymous said...

not only are we shooting ourself in the foot but both feet... how can we ever win? i cant see how if the company makes the sacrifice to close... what will it take to get them back open...
remember they can legally switch em to price smart's Ivan said so on the website.. so are we not playing into the 'poker' game with our jobs..?

Anonymous said...

You are very right. You cant just take, take, take and not have to give up anything. The company has totally given in the new contract and not one take away ...... so a strike will lead to conssesions to make up the months of lost sales.

Anonymous said...

MY VOTE IS TO STRIKE FOR A FAIR CONTRACT. IN 6 MONTHS OF TALKS THEY HAVE NOT OFFERED US A CONTRACT ON THEIR OWN, ONLY THAT BAD DEAL THAT MOSTLY CAME FROM A MEDIATOR.

Anonymous said...

No, there will be no conssesions. If they want to close stores they will do it anyway. I agree with a previous post that they are trying to crush us as evidensed by there behavior over the years. This may be our last opportunity to stand up for ourselves.

Anonymous said...

I think it's too risky to think strike. Sounds like some of what the company asked for was reasonable and was making some guaranties to protect us....after hearing what the deal actually was, we better read the fine print...

Anonymous said...

Wow this is fucking bull shit if they really wanted to give us a fair deal they would have given it to us A LONG FUCKING TIME AGO. Now they fucking wait till we're ready to strike and they go "ooh wait a minute we wanna talk..." THAT IS BULL FUCKING SHIT YOU'VE GOTTA BE KIDDING ME. We all know they just don't want to lose out on fucking business during this long weekend. Besides they're not even talking till Monday so it's all just a stall tactic. The company is a fucking joke, they couldn't give a shit about us. Jimmy Pattison hates unions and hate our union if he had it our way we'd all quit so he could hire workers that would work for 8.00$ an hour.
(Sorry for all the profanity... im pissed off)

Anonymous said...

Howdy... i to remeber ten or so years ago that the company locked us out. The only reason for them to do that for 6 weeks was to harm the employees and their families so they could get a better for them. The person who said the company is all give and we are all take is a moron. Look at the last deal that was thankfully rejected and look at the last 10 years and do the math, the employees have been giving a lot, even in this inflationary time.

Anonymous said...

Seems to me that a lot of staff seems to forget that us full timers get ATO's. What company gives you days off with pay. Seems to be that the ATO's are taken for granted. I think were pretty luck to have such a bonus in place.

Anonymous said...

ATO's are not a bonus. Many years ago it came in place of a raise, and thus is part of our agreed to compensation package.

Anonymous said...

I voted yes for the last deal but have now changed my mind. I will watch carefully what the next deal says and I will vote to go on strike if it is similar. It does seem like this company does not like their workforce.

Anonymous said...

ATO is not a bonus? A paid day off every two weeks is not a bonus? Wow, I enjoy them and I consider it a definite bonus. Who else getst that, without having to work overtime to bank the time off?

Anonymous said...

A "bonus" is something that is given over and above what is required to be paid. Ato is not a bonus being paid because the company is choosing to esteem or show appreciation and respect to certain employees. It is there because it is part of the compensation package negotiated by the employees and the company. It is definately a good thing that all employees should strive for and it also shows why it is important to stick togetherin crucial times such as this. We would not have things like ato's, dental plans, standard work weeks, etc, etc, if not for people who care.

Anonymous said...

Well this is crunch time..if this mediator doesn't help the two sides put a deal together, you can kiss Save on Foods good-bye and sing "I got friends with low wages" Anyway you look at it the company like the house in Vegas always has the upper hand, not to say the workers can't play their cards. The workers in BC did well when the Unions were supported by our NDP governments, but today is completely opposite. Let's change a few things and call Monte Hall!!

Anonymous said...

rumour has it... this could be a day of reckoning... if no deal and a strike happens... stores and jobs may be lost!... lets be honest... in '96 Steven Burd flew in after 5 weeks and laid down the law... back to work or stores dont re-open... this wont last that long.. jimmy will pull the plug... why stay in business if you cant make money... if he could spend more money on us and give us more he would... he is not the kind of guy to lose all the potential sales over a close deal... but i do beleive that if he cant make money he wont keep em open...remember this is only closing 25 stores.. there will still be more than 75 stores in the company open...and he can build as many price smarts as the construction industry can build... and laugh all the way to the bank... the union would have stood proud in brotherhood... and died an honourable death....

Anonymous said...

I agree with the last comment. Once seeing on the union web site tonight, that the sides are deadlocked (making no progress) then I think that the last offer, was the last offer and now the plan will be to allow us to go on strike, in preperation to close down store and change what they can to Price Smarts or sell some buildings (stores). So many people keep saying Jim's got millions, he can pay us more. Ya well, you dont get to be a millionaire by giving in to everyone and not running your business profitely. One day may be one of you will own a buisness and see what making a profit means. You dont go into buisness to break even or to just make a bit of money. I can certainly see and understand wanting more money, espeically the JR clerks, however loosing thousands of dollars in wages (for a strike) to gain a few hundred a year (if that) is not worth it. Calculating out a SR employess wage, if a strike went on for 2 months, a SR emplyee will loose approx. $2,800 in wages (plus your pension contribution). And if the compnay gives in to give the SR empolyess another 10 cents on top of the other wage increase, then that 10 cents you fought for for 2 months adds up to $192 a year. So how the hell do you people see loosing $2,800, to gain $192 a year, a gain ??? We were ALL given a raise in the new offered contract and had nothing taken away, yet so many of you still want the world. Will be interesting to see how you people feel once you have no job and have to apply to other jobs that pay less and HAVE NO MEDICAL AND DENTAL BENIFITS. Not to mentiont he fact that you caused your fellow employees and freinds to loose there jobs. I know someone will come back with some smart misserable comment but we'll see how smart you are in a few months, when you have little money and possibly no job.

Anonymous said...

for the record i was hired in 2000
I have seen alot of good workers have to leave the company because the wages were so poor. alot of us have stuck around have done so for our children in school.
I dont think that we all need to step on workers with lesser seniority.
I look at some of the other companys, ex: starbucks, tim hortons , the tswawassen quay to name a couple,
all of these places pay a better wage and benifits than save- on does. tell me how that works?
we all just need a wage that battles the cost of living, as for asking for $30.00 / hr, i didnt see that anywhere in the posts,
at $12.15 /hr after 8 yrs, i feel entitled to having a livable wage.
yes, this offer did probably benifit myself and 999 others.
those young workers under the 4000 hr mark are left out to dry. therefore making it harder for them to move out on their own.
I just feel the company needs to be fair to everyone. retro pay for EVERY employee, not having to keep requalifing for benifits, and as for sick days isnt it better to give enployees sick days than having them come to work because they cant afford to stay home when they are sick because if they do they cant make their rent?
and just for the record, i have worked 36-40 hrs /week for many yrs, i reached my top rate before my 2 yrs was even up.

Anonymous said...

To the last comment writer, go work at Tim Hortons, Tsaw quay, Starbucks. I cant stand people that go on and on about better wages at some other work place, when mean while they know of jobs that pay more some where else. If you dont like your current wage, or cant get by on your current wage, then go work at these places that you are listing that pay more. Give your head a shake and move on.

Anonymous said...

why should i move on? , I put alot of work into the job i have now. i take pride in my work.
tell me why you are so nasty?
I have a right to my opinion as do you.

Anonymous said...

Sorry, I dont mean to be nasty, I am just stating my thoughts that if your not happy in your job, were you live, in your marriage or relationship, then you should move on as life is to short. You are most definitely entitled to your opinion, as I am, and anyone else is. This is all just a banter of us all putting forward our opinion and putting forward our agreences and disagreences of our fellow employees, our company and our union.

Anonymous said...

you lose sight of the average wage inthe company... my manager told me that our store has an average wage of about $22.. and that was a couple of years ago... on top of that some people estimate our top benefit people get $10 or$12 an hour more in benefits.. like paid days off... medical, sick bank, paid vacations, maternity leave, chiropractors, glasses, physio, dental, braces, etc... does tim hortons or dairy queen have that... you gotta get your head outa the bucket!

Anonymous said...

Just to let you know Tim Hortons has benifits, cant speak of the other companys you listed earlier. I agree 100 percent that Jr clerks should make much more then they do, as they do just as good work if not better then the Sr Employees, however the fact is for the company to continue to be profitable in this day and age and the compition out there, they can not be offering all teh employess 22, 23, 24 dollare wages. The company knows for a fact tha most kids that come and work there, will move on, as the job is just to get them through high school and as for anyone else (as in people that are not students) you took the job, when you knew at the interview as to what your pay would be and your pentential pay would be down the line, yet you took on the job. If I was you, looking to make good money, I would never have taken such a job, but you decide to take the job. So who needs to get there head out of the sand.

Anonymous said...

for the record, i wasnt told when i took this job that i would not receive a fair wage over the long term. call me naive
this is the only union job that i have ever heard of that everyone is treated diferently, many friends work in union jobs , they all say that it doesnt sound like the union works for us but that they work for the company. some days i tend to believe them
my head is not in the sand.i enjoy my job. i understand that i will porobably never make the high wages of the past. thats okay with me. just out of couriosity how long have u been with sof?

Anonymous said...

To the last person commenting, a few people if not several people on the Union negotiating team are Save On employees like you and I, so undoudtedly they are not going to sell out to a contract that they dont believe in being the best it can be, because they too will pay the price of a strike or lock out. To answer you question, I have worked at Save On for 18 years.

Anonymous said...

Let Senior staff have their pick of shifts put into the deal and revote YES!! I just want a hug from Jimmy!!

Anonymous said...

Hay Wildeman, I usually agree with all your comments, however your last comment (to me) makes no sense ???? What do you mean ?

Anonymous said...

The people from the stores on the bargaining committee would still get paid wouldn't they? They would be with the union at the table. How do we know they share the same interest as we sit on the picket lines?

Anonymous said...

they dont share the same pain we do..
they sit back in their nice hotel with room service,while we walk a picket line for next to no pay and no benefits.. and they get full pay and expenses! and live like gods.... but then who to blame..you and me, thats who! they carry on their own agenda at our expense.. and we let them...

Anonymous said...

Once the negotiations fail and the strike begins, no one will be sitting in a hotel, living the good life, as negotiations sees.

Anonymous said...

If they close 27 stores that is their perogative, but they would do it anyway. Then what...they go to negotiate with the other zone, find they can't get a deal with them either for the same reasons and close the whole company down???
The reality is, it is good for business to have a vibrant workforce that is happy and committed to the same types of goals you are as a company. Money is not the big issue, it is more about controlling the lives of the employees, and ultimately, getting rid of full time people and anyone that wants to work full time.

Anonymous said...

Section 19 states that Junior clerks who presently work evenings and weekend shifts would be entitled day shifts like senior employees get now. ie 7-3:30 Monday to Friday. I don't think that is fair as we have all done those shifts and are finally getting the bankers hours like Juniors will get as they move up the "food chain."

Anonymous said...

well said wildeman. a person should be able to bid on their shifts using their seniority (no matter what grid you are on). the company has plenty of excluded people and key personel to babysit. it's no right to expect the people who have paid their dues for years and years to work the less desirable shifts again because management can't manage or motivate properly.

Anonymous said...

Hey Wildeman.....you are right on the money on this one. I will tell you right now, if the company had not gone after the senior people with the section 19, this deal would have passed (many people who voted no have told me this).
The company tried to hit a grand slam homerun and stick it to their longest serving employees. Pretty stupid.

Anonymous said...

Wildman for mayor!! Thanks for stating the obvious. Of course seniority should factor into scheduling.

Anonymous said...

So senior people have rights over us juniors? How is that putting everyone on one grid? The Union told us that we would all be equal, that doesn't sound equal.....

Anonymous said...

to the person above, everyone should be on one pay grid. everyone should also be scheduled according to their seniority. for example, someone who has worked there for 2 years should get a better schedule than someone who was hired 2 months ago. the person who has worked there for 25 years should get a better schedule than the person with 2 years (but the person with 25 years paid their dues over the years). in this way, everyone is being treated fairly and the same.

Anonymous said...

I totally agree. A good workplace respects people for there years of service, its just common sense.

Anonymous said...

Everyone should take this opportunity to look for another job just in case. I think you will find lots of work out there(I have been looking), some from companies that will treat you like gold and pay quite well too. For some reason save on is keen to constantly fight with employees, even if it means the stores and departments run really, really bad.
Maybe I havn't been there long enough.....but I just don't get their H.R. management style

Anonymous said...

You odviously thought that Save On was a good or ok place to work at when you initially took the job, so dont fool yourself to think that most or all other jobs you apply to or get hired to do, will treat you like gold and or better then Save On. Other jobs may appear that way when you initially go to the interview but I am sure after X amount of time there will be some stuff or lots of stuff you will not like or hate at a new job. By no means is any job perfect, far from it.

Anonymous said...

I will be looking for a new job. Just waiting to see if I can double score with strike pay to.

Anonymous said...

i heard yesterday that any strike will be very long and quite possibly the end of save on foods as it is today... bargaining tactics or fact?

Anonymous said...

A strike may be long in my opinion. But other than the inconvienience of it, that should be in our advantage with all the work available today. As soon as people get settled in other lines of work, all the pressure will be on the company. We may even find our new job is better than Save on.

Anonymous said...

A strike is not the end of the world, and the company did it to us last time. Like someone else said, they intended to hurt their staff by locking them out last time.If they want to cry about losing out on business and financial loss due to a strike..... remember, they were fine to lock us out at a time when the job market is not as good as it is now.

Anonymous said...

I shouldn't have read this blog thread, it is making me paranoid.

I do not work at Save on Foods but my husband does. You would think the Save on Foods here would be safe as it is an extremely busy store. However, at the same time, Overwaitea is capitalizing on the booming population growth in this area by building a Coopers down the street which is not good in itself.

It looks like Vince Ready is not going to just book out this time and he has some recommendations. Personally I am hoping there is not a strike.

Anonymous said...

get "ready" (get it) for a strike... a long one.. i predict the better part of a year.. jimmy will not cave to an agreement that puts him at a disadvantage in business... i love the comment someone makes about finding a better job than what they have at save on foods,,, if they are a grid a employee ... why didnt they already go>>> typical fantasy land!!! cant wait to say "i told you so!
(flame away!)

Anonymous said...

Darrin "Wildeman" get back into your dairy cooler, shifts should be given to those who can do them and finish the job. Yea someone might have been working at save on for two or how many every years but if they just can't just it in a department during the day then it makes no sense to give them that shift that they cant efficiently complete. I'd be a better management choice to stick someone who can complete all the tasks within that 8 hours, even if they've only been there for less than a year. Yes we all are apart of a socialist union, but in reality we are not all EQUAL, we might have equal status but we do not have equal capabilities. Give the best to the best and leave the worse to the worse. If the Bad want to move up then they should do something about it them selves no one is here to hold their hands in this world and if you step outside of our little union you will quickly realize that this world is a very mean one, especially the work world. Only the strongest survive and the weak wither away onto dead end jobs like McDonalds and other greasy fast food jobs. Thats just my two cents.

Anonymous said...

Wow the "recommendations" Of Mr. Ready are a joke, has he had his head up his ass the whole time?

Anonymous said...

The new offered contract, worked out with Mr Ready's help, is perfectly acceptable. I say vote "YES" to accept it.

Anonymous said...

Hey Knowledge, what is a joke? What did you expect? Is it worth losing a house over? You can't just throw a comment like that out, without explaining it? If you have a good argument to make, make it!

Anonymous said...

You'd be losing a house over this new contract. It offered no more wage increases as did the old one that was rejected. Its a joke that he can say it would be catastrophic to the company to give it's deserving workers more than a dollar an hour. With the rate of housing costs and gas prices its going to take a lot more than just 40 dollars a week, if your even lucky to get 40 hours a week part time, to pay for gas money and rent/mortgages. People can't even afford to move out on their own and make a decent living without having to sacrifice some standard of living. If you can accept this bull shit then thats your rightfully choice im not going to judge you. I understand everyone's situation is different from mine and i can afford to stand up to this company for what i feel is right and deserving for all the workers that have stayed loyal to this company for so long. Your never going to win any battles in life if you cave so easily and let others walk all over you. I say Stand up together and fight for what is right.

Anonymous said...

"Knowledge", you odviously dont understand the new offered contract. Get your parents to explain it to you, as it is a step up from the last offered contract. Fighting for the impossible, will gain nothing but loses. One day when you dont live at your parents home and have your own home and have a family, you will realize that everything will not be handed to you if you have a temper tantrum (which in this case would be a strike). If you want a better paying job, go get one, there are hundreds of them out there. Every window you walk by has "help wanted" signs. Perhaps too, ask your parents to explain to you what a "mediator" is. As he has no gain or lose to the company or union and he is not an employee of either ..... he is a third unattached party and if he says that it would be an economic strain on the company, then he is telling the truth. As a third party, he has no reason to lie or twist and turn things. I would suggest get your partents to help you put together a resume, and find the IDEAL job that you are wanting (that doesn't excist), as I guarentee that you are the type of person that no matter what Save On and the Union comes up with, you will not be happy and just want more and more and more.

Anonymous said...

Boy the person called "knowledge", sure has no knowledge, and is also incredibly greedy. Because if "Knowledge" doesn't think that being able to move up to a wage of $25.31 (for a JR clerk) is not good enough, then, he or she, better go back to school to get a higher education to go and get the jobs that pay over 25 bucks an hour, such as a doctor or lawyer.

Anonymous said...

I say this contract is a step in the right direction and therefore I will vote to accept it. It is not perfect, but I think we need to accept the gains we have made and live to fight another day.

Anonymous said...

Yes, I agree its not perfect, but life is not perfect. I think the new contract is acceptable, and many new gains have been made and I too will be voting to accept it

Anonymous said...

I too agree! Its a huge gain for JR clerks to finally have the opportunity to make good livable money ! Vote YES.

Anonymous said...

I really don't see any improvements in the new recomendations for newer employees, they have really just created a Grid C for anyone who has worked there for less then 4000hours (approx 3 years). The old terms of settlement had this 4000 hour clause too. They also have kept that horrible cross-classification thing in. I still agree with voting yes, as I did with the previous ToS, but I don't think this is much better.

Anonymous said...

Well "Knowledge", I was the one that was originally wanting your argument, so you are saying that there are other employers out there handing out more than $1.00/hour? Please let me know where I can go hand in my resume, because I don't see that happening. And if we end up on strike and it lasts as long as it sounds it would, then yes I could lose my house.

And to the person who said that there are no improvements for new people, they still can make up to over $15.00/hour, today it's only $12. Looks like an improvement to me........I'm saying yes.

Anonymous said...

I meant that there are no improvements from the Brian Foley agreement to this Vince Ready agreement for newer employees not that it is not better then the 2003 agreement. In fact by taking out the evenings and weekends clause it is worse for newer employees.

My husband will not handle pork for religious reasons. If this cross classification thing comes to this store and he says no because he will not work with raw meat and then all of the cashiers start doing his job how many hours a week will he get? 5 maybe 10 at the most?

If the cross classification comes here he will probably need to find another job. If he had to do that he might as well be working at the pig slaughterhouse down the street. We have a mortgage too. This happening would be horrible for us.

Note: I did not say to not vote yes and I will just hope that this cross classification thing does not come here or we're screwed.

Anonymous said...

To the last person who commented, about "cross classification". Before getting you and your family stressed out, I would clarrify with the union, as to what you are thinking could go on, as it sounds to me that you are not clear on what has been offered. Cashier or any other employee (other then meat and seafood employees) can not go and work (take hours) in the meat and seafood dept. Before voting, I would talk to a union person, so that you know what you are voting on.

Anonymous said...

The person who wrote that there is no impvovements for new employess, doesn't know how to read. ALL empolyess (which includes NEW employess) get a $1.00 a hour wage increase. As for any other benifits or add ons, you seriously cant expect a NEW employee to be given benifits and add ons, that employees who have worked there for 5 - 15 - 25 years get. ALL employees go through a passage of time where they have no benifits or big bucks ect. You have to work your way up, like WE ALL did.

Anonymous said...

This contract looks good for jr clerks with 4000 hours, and the ability to jump to grid A. I think it is enough to warrant a yes vote for sure.

Anonymous said...

I wish that vince ready was able to convince the company that the junior, junior B's had more of a chance to increase their wages, but the retroactive pay for all is a step that is fair .
the proposel isnt the best, but who wants to go out on strike for monthes n monthes and risk losing their jobs due to store closures, not me, i have children that need a stable income to provide for them, so i will vote yes on monday.

Anonymous said...

You JR employess do have a chance of moving up the wage scale. YOu just need to work your 4000 hours and then your move up and beyond, as you'll be on the wage scale that goes as high is 25 somthing. You just have to be patient, work hard to show you want the hours and work up like we all did.

Anonymous said...

To the last comment writer, anyone who doesn't have 4000 hours at time of ratification (Monday) will be capped at $15.00/hr (once they get there).

They will not be able to jump up to Grid A like those who have 4000 hrs at time of ratification.

This, though, is an improvement as eventually they will work their way up to $15.00/hr, just like everyone else had to. The senior staff on Grid B has been capped at $12.15 for a long time, and deserve to move up to Grid A.

I say the new contract is great for a few people, and decent for the rest.

The Grid A employees already have high wages (upwards of $17-$23) plus ATO, sick bank, extended health, dental, paid holidays, etc.

Grid B employees are capped at $12.15 and get extended health and dental, and unpaid holidays. Many make much less.

Back in 1997, the agreement signed greatly benefited those who are now on Grid A, collectively, and left everyone else in the dust. I personally do not feel sorry for Grid A employees who aren't getting a huge raise.

The way I see it, they have been making much higher wages, and have had much more benefits than Grid B employees for a very long time, and a lot (not all) do half the amount of work.

When you vote on Sunday or Monday, be sure to vote for YOU, not everyone else. Read the contract fully and understand how it affects you.

Remember Rome was not built in a day - you have to work your way up to the top.

Anonymous said...

Senior employees are 95% more experienced and responsible than Juniors. I hope we hire some better help now. I know the company will complain for years about how they can't be competitive with this deal..so Vote yes and spend your money wisely!! Also to respond to FF who told me to go back in my cooler... Comparing my 13 years to your 2 years, I hope I am doing a better job than you or I should be giving you some of my paycheck. Come in the cooler and ask!!

Anonymous said...

How does this affect PriceSmart employees?

Anonymous said...

Are you people ignorant by the time you max out again on this wage scale the costs of living will have skyrocketed. Do you not remember we live in one of the most expensive cities in North America? I just want to be able to make decent wage that will allow me to live with a decent living standard and be able to save for the future. Cost of gas will rise faster than our wages will be able to keep up with it. Have fun walking to work!

Anonymous said...

Hey Knowledge, not everyone lives at home. If you want to live with champagne wishes and caviar dreams, start playing the lottery. Meanwhile I will keep working at the grocery store.....it's a wage improvement, if you thought 649 was cashing you in, keep dreaming.

Anonymous said...

How is a person really a "part time employee" when they have been working an average of 39 hours a week for the last 2 years?

Anonymous said...

Because you haven't won a posting...

Anonymous said...

To the person a few posts up who said to make sure you vote based on what's best for "YOU"... I would like to say I understand that sentiment but it is also the type of attitude that has caused us to slip.

I know that one of the reason I have a safe job and live in a great country that is free and safe is because the people that have gone before me made sacrifices and, figureatively and literally, fought for me. The mess we find ourselves in with this contract is because in 1997 the people voted based on what was right for "THEM". Obviously, they were scared and it was a different labour market.

I will be voting to accept this contract because it is a step in the right direction. However, at some point people will have to make a sacrifice for the future just as the people who went before us did it (and our pension counts on it in the long term).

Anonymous said...

This company is making huge profits, yet is giving us massive cuts in hours.

Anonymous said...

Is it true that if we wear a turban, we need to wear a hairnet over it?