Unifor prepares for Loblaw bargaining

Union says good jobs at stake in Newfoundland and Labrador

The union representing more than 1,300 members at 11 Dominion stores in this province will begin collective agreement negotiations with Loblaw Companies this month.

“Loblaw is aggressively cutting full-time jobs and suppressing workers by keeping wages as low as possible,” Unifor’s national president Jerry

Dias said. “A job working for Canada’s largest retailer should lift you out of poverty, not ensure you live in poverty.”

Unifor recently wrapped up consultation meetings with members to set bargaining priorities.

Workers emphasized the dire need for good jobs and fair wages, explaining that Loblaw has reached a new all-time low as the company initiates a plan to cut full-time jobs, replacing them with lower-paid part-time positions with fewer benefits.

Loblaw is the largest retailer in Canada, having earned more than $800 million in profits last year, the union noted.

“Unifor will be launching a province-wide campaign in coming weeks to draw attention to the need for better employment standards and good jobs in Newfoundland and

Labrador,” Unifor’s Local 597 president Carolyn Wrice said.

“An essential component of this campaign will be sharing first-hand stories from workers who are being driven into poverty by Loblaw’s greedy business practices.”

The campaign will feature billboards in several communities and an aggressive social media campaign featuring member’s stories and videos, and more.

Additional details regarding the campaign will be made available later this week to coincide with the launch of province-wide billboards.

Unifor represents more than 20,000 members who work in supermarkets, pharmacies, appliance stores and other retail shops across Canada.