Co-op/union dispute has gone on too long

Being a long time Saskatoon Co-op member, I’m disappointed that this bargaining dispute hasn’t been resolved yet. Reading and hearing about each of their stances the past few weeks, Co-op’s senior management’s insistence to have a tiered wage system for the same work because “others” have it, seems to be the main outstanding issue.

As a business owner, I fully understand the economics of ensuring a company must be profitable and sustainable, or no one will have a job. I also understand the Co-op workers’ reluctance to sign an agreement with tiered wages for the same work as in a previous employment of mine it had a tiered wage system. This system made the bottom tier workers feel discriminated against and divided the work group, which caused un-repairable damage. It was corporate culture dysfunction at the highest level, which led the company to bring back a fair and equal wage system and they implemented other cost saving measures that didn’t divide the employees.

So now this dispute has put every Co-op member or shopper in the position to decide whether to agree with Co-op Management and continue to support the company or support the employees and shop elsewhere.

With so much in the media making an informed decision is fairly easy. Employees willing to stand together and strike for fair and equal pay for their co-workers now and in the future get my vote. Brent Macdonald, Saskatoon

MATT OLSON A large crowd of Co-op workers and their supporters gathers outside the Co-op main office in Saskatoon earlier this week. UFCW Canada Local 1400 union members have been on strike since November.