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“I like being the best payer in the industry, but I also want to give the best customer service, and to give the best customer service we’ve got to have the flexibility that allows us to put the right people in the right place at the right time,” said Allan Leighton, Loblaw’s president and deputy chairman. “And there is a watershed in this industry — there are more non-unionized players than unionized players, and therefore, it’s time for a change. Now my objective and the objective of the negotiating team is to negotiate that.”

Contract Talks Continue Between UFCW Canada and Loblaw

July 23, 2010

Negotiations aimed at reaching a new collective agreement for 30,000 unionized Ontario workers at stores owned by Loblaw Companies Ltd. adjourned after a four-day bargaining session in Niagara Falls. The workers are represented by UFCW Canada local unions 1977, 1000A and 175 & 633.

Talks involving the full bargaining committees of both parties are scheduled to resume on August 9, 2010.

Earlier this month, the workers voted by more than 97 per cent to give their union a strike mandate. The union has said, however, that it will stay at the bargaining table as long as progress is being made towards a settlement.

Listen to President Corporon’s latest message to the members.

Check out news, updates and what workers are saying at www.groceryworkersunited.ca

Loblaw Company Negotiations 2010

Media Release - Aug 13, 2010

UFCW Canada and Loblaw to continue Ontario grocery store contract talks; no strike date set

TORONTO, Aug. 13 /CNW/ - The latest session of contract talks between Loblaw and the union that represents 30,000 of the grocery giant's workers in several Ontario banners wound up yesterday in Niagara Falls with the two sides agreeing to resume negotiations later this month.

UFCW Canada local unions 1977, 1000A and 175 & 633 say that none of the major issues on the table have yet been settled but that, "as long as there is forward momentum towards a settlement, we will continue to negotiate."

Although the union was given a 97 per cent strike mandate by its membership in early July, no strike date has yet been set.

Talks are scheduled to reconvene on August 24, 2010.

The store banners affected by these negotiations include Loblaws, Zehrs, Real Canadian Superstores, Great Food and Fortinos, all subsidiaries of Weston-controlled Loblaw Companies Limited, Canada's largest retailer.

Loblaw contract talks nearing critical phase

August 28, 2010

Contract talks were held from Tuesday to Friday this past week in Niagara Falls. While there have been no breakthroughs, there has been enough movement by the company on the union's key issues to warrant additional talks.

Further talks are scheduled from September 8-11, with the goal of reaching a settlement that the union's negotiating committee can recommend to the members. If no settlement is reached at that time, a strike deadline will be finalized.

A media statement to this effect has been jointly released by the presidents of all locals that signed the 2005 Solidarity Pact: Scott Penner (1977), Kevin Corporon (1000A) and Shawn Haggerty (175 & 633).

"It is not unusual for bargaining to take this long but it cannot go on forever," the presidents said.

"We're going into the next round with the firm intention of reaching a settlement we can recommend to the members. If that doesn't happen, we have to move this process to the next level.

"It will be good for both parties to have a fair and amicable settlement and the union has been working in that spirit."

30,000 UFCW Canada members are represented at the bargaining table. Loblaw is Ontario's - and Canada's ¬- largest retailer.

UFCW Canada and its predecessor unions began representing workers at Loblaws in Ontario in 1944. The union also represents Loblaw Companies workers throughout Canada.

UFCW Canada says it hopes that talks scheduled from September 8-11 can produce a settlement that it can recommend to its members.

October 8 strike deadline at Loblaw Companies if no settlement reached

September 11, 2010

Four days of talks between UFCW Canada and Loblaw Companies Ltd. wound up today with some progress on key issues but no settlement in the prolonged negotiations that have been underway since April.

UFCW local unions 1977, 1000A and 175 & 633 say there are major issues that need to be resolved if a strike is to be avoided. The union's bargaining committee set a strike deadline of 12:01 a.m., Friday, October 8, if no agreement is reached and ratified by the membership at Loblaws, Zehrs, Real Canadian Superstores and Great Food stores, all subsidiaries of Weston-controlled Loblaw Companies Limited, Canada’s largest retailer.

Further meetings between the union and the company have been scheduled for the week beginning Monday, September 27 through to Saturday, October 2nd.

The Provincial Mediator assisting in the negotiations has asked that the company and the union not communicate any further with the media beyond releases today while negotiations continue. The union will honour this request.

Listen to Kevin Corporon's September 11 message to members.