MOOSE JAW, Saskatchewan, Oct. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Union members at five Moose Jaw Co-op locations are heading to the picket line to address a number of contract issues — including the company’s insistence on a contract that would result in pay inequities for newer workers who are predominately female.
The workers are members of UFCW Canada Local 1400 (United Food and Commercial Workers union). Local 1400 served the strike notice, effective Tuesday, October 2, 2018 at 12:01 a.m. Shortly after receiving the notice, the employer announced a lockout effective for the same date and time.
More than 90% the members voted to go on strike, while rejecting offers from the company that would have resulted in smaller pay cheque raises for members in the second-tier wage grid.
More than 130 UFCW 1400 members work at Moose Jaw Co-op: at the Moose Jaw Marketplace, the Moose Jaw Agro Centre, and at Moose Jaw Co-op gas bar and refueling stations.
“The Co-op’s plans for workers covered by the second-tier wage ladder would directly result in pay inequity that falls mostly on women,” says Norm Neault, president of UFCW 1400. “Over months of negotiations, our members made it very clear to the employer that they would not accept a discriminatory contract, but the Co-op has refused to listen.”
“The folks who work at Moose Jaw Co-op are asking their neighbours to please support the strike by buying your gas and groceries somewhere else until the strike in over,” says Neault. “Please show your support for and fairness, decency, and pay equity.”
UFCW Canada Local 1400 is Saskatchewan’s largest private-sector union, with members working across the province in the food processing, food retail, service, hospitality, health care, financial and other sectors. To find out more about UFCW 1400, visit www.ufcw1400.ca.
CONTACT:
Rod Gillies, Director of Negotiations
UFCW Canada Local 1400
(306) 281-9896
rod@ufcw1400.ca