uncharted.ca

Latest Zehrs/RCSS contract renewal negotiations bring no settlement but more talks being scheduled
April 21, 2006
The latest three-day round of negotiations aimed at achieving a renewal of the collective agreements at Zehrs Markets, Real Canadian Superstores, Loblaws and Fortinos wound up in the afternoon of Thursday, April 20, 2006 with no settlement but with a resolve on both sides to continue talks in the near future.
“Although a settlement was not reached there was meaningful dialogue on the issues of importance to our members,” says Scott Penner, President of UFCW Local 1977.

“While it cannot be said that we are close to a settlement there was enough progress to warrant further talks.”

Tentative dates have been set to continue negotiations on June 5-9, 2006.

Senior Ontario labour/management mediators Vic Pathe and David Joffe were on hand and played an active role in bringing the union and the company together to discuss the complex issues both sides have been trying to resolve for over a year.

The meeting this week in Niagara Falls was the fourth session of bargaining since early talks commenced. Loblaw Companies Limited, the parent company of all the banners, has agreed that it will continue to negotiate collectively with all three locals, even though the collective agreements would remain separate following any settlement.

Formal notice to bargain will be sent to the employer by the local unions to ensure that there are no undue delays in negotiating the renewal of these collective agreements that all expire by July 1st, 2006, with the exception of the Fortinos collective agreement which expires on June 12th, 2007.

“We remain determined to reach a settlement that is good for our members and helps bring stability to the industry,” said Penner. “Uncertainty is stressful for everyone but the certainty of a bad deal is even more stressful. That’s not the road we’re going to take as a union. Our members deserve better.”

That’s not the road we’re going to take as a union. Our members deserve better.

There is little doubt that what Westfair has attempted to do at some of its locations in BC, it will attempt to do at all. To this end, we may be calling on you asking for your assistance at some point in the not too distant future.

Holding store meetings to influence members regarding coming negotiations is illegal in the US and i am pretty sure the same applies in Canada. If this is true, the local should be putting the boots to the employer in a big way and very quickly.

The Canadian UFCW boys have been allowing Loblaw Co.'s to do this sort of stuff. I've heard a number of reports about this.

The Canadian UFCW boys have been allowing Loblaw Co.'s to do this sort of stuff.