Saskatoon Co-op workers may hit picket lines Thursday

Jennifer Quesnel | CBC News | Posted: October 30, 2018 1:34 AM | Last Updated: October 30, 2018

Strike would affect most Co-op gas bars, groceries, hardware stores, Agro centre and liquor stores

Image | Saskatoon Co-Op gas bar Stonebridge

Caption: Motorists fuel up at the Saskatoon Co-op gas bar in Stonebridge. The retail co-operative has more than 116,000 members. The company says most stores will stay open during the upcoming strike. (Don Somers/CBC)

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More than 900 unionized Saskatoon Co-op workers could be on strike by Thursday morning.

This weekend, the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1400 said the majority of staff rejected Saskatoon Co-op's contract offer.

It could be the first strike since 1983 at Saskatoon Co-op stores.

Both sides expect to see picket lines at Co-op gas bars, groceries, hardware stores, agro centres and liquor stores in Saskatoon, Warman, Martensville, Watrous and Colonsay.

Lower pay for new workers unfair: union

UFCW negotiator Rod Gillies said under Co-op's current offer, some new hires would be making up to $4.60 less per hour than existing counterparts doing the same work.

"Shop elsewhere," he said. "We're standing up for a principle of wage parity, not for what we consider inequitable."

Image | Rod Gillies UFCW local 1400

Caption: 'What we have is all the new employees hired after ratification of the contract making substantially less than their counterparts,' said Rod Gillies, director of negotiations for UFCW Canada Local 1400. (Raw Photography/UFCW)

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More than three-quarters of job classifications would be affected by the two-tier wage grid, Gillies said.

On average, Co-op's offer would see new employees paid $2.64/hour less than existing employees doing the same jobs.

Saskatoon Co-op CEO cites need to match competitors' wages

Calling the strike vote 'disappointing', Saskatoon Co-op's chief executive officer Grant Wicks said the retail co-operative would still keep most of its stores open.

He said after a year of negotiating the union walked away from his "best and final offer".

Image | Saskatoon Co-Op grocery store Stonebridge

Caption: Saskatoon Co-op's CEO said his competitors pay new hires up to 30 per cent less, and the wage offer is based on the need for long term sustainability. Union members told CBC that should not be achieved by lowering the quality of life for new employees. (CBC\Don Somers)

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"This is about ensuring the long term viability of our co-operative," Wicks said.

"The wages that we pay in our marketplace need to be competitive with those our competitors pay for new hires."

Wicks said in many cases major competitors already pay new hires 30 per cent less than what Saskatoon Co-op pays.

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"We've had a very longstanding positive relationship with local 1400 and of course anytime there's a labour disruption or the potential for one, it's distressing," he added.

Negotiations to resume Friday

A return to the bargaining table is set for Friday, Nov 2.

"We'd be quite prepared to set aside time almost on a moment's notice if we felt we could bring a positive resolution to this," Wicks said.

Earlier this month, workers at Moose Jaw's Co-op stores went on strike, citing a similar wage offer that disproportionately targets female employees. Those workers are also represented by UFCW Local 1400.

"Hopefully we'll see a speedy and positive resolution," Wicks said.

The Co-op grocery and gas bar at Circle Drive and 8th Street will not be affected by the strike. Employees at the former Safeway location are represented by the Retail Wholesale Department Store Union.