Superstore workers on strike at Alberta locations

Superstore workers have walked off the job across the province, unable to reach an agreement as employees went on strike at 12:01 Sunday morning.

There are 28 Superstore locations in Alberta, employing over 8,500 employees, which have been unable to get what they want from employer Loblaw Companies Ltd. for months, arguing they are asking for unfair concessions.

One of the main sticking points has been hours and UFCW 401’s Christine McMeckan said they are willing to sit at the bargaining table as long as Loblaw joins in.

“They are still refusing to put hours in to the Superstores for their workers, in order to ensure not only can they get a paycheck and put food on their own tables, but ensure the stores are safe and clean for consumers,”  McMeckan said.

Although stores will still be open, one of the union’s partners, the Calgary & District Labour Council said they are encouraging shoppers to buy at other locations while the strike is going and president Alexander Shevalier said Loblaws demands for concessions and cut hours comes at a time when the company had a 14 per cent increase in the second quarter.

“If the company were in trouble or if they weren’t profitable, yeah absolutely, concessionary bargaining makes sense, but when you’re profitable and you’re asking employees to take rollbacks in their benefits and you’re asking future employees to work at near poverty wages, how does that make sense?” Shevalier said.

After negotiations went until 3:00 a.m. Sunday morning without a resolution, talks are set to start up again at 10:30 a.m.

Workers at the Calgary Sunridge location claimed they’ve seen cases of the company giving 20 workers and giving them four hours each as opposed to giving a handful of employees full-time hours for the same workload.

The company has said they hope to see a resolution soon.

About two dozen striking Superstore workers are at the doors to the Deerfoot Meadows location, in southeast Calgary.

Shoppers tell 660News, it’s quiet inside, but a very slow process to check out.

“If it’s too busy, I’ll just scoot somewhere else,” says Sam.

Sandra says she wasn’t deterred by the strike, but adds a few employees surrounded her as she was going in.

“You know what, if it’s really that bad, then maybe they should quit their job, and find another job,” says Sandra.

The parking lot appeared about 90% full, early Sunday afternoon, with just four check-outs open.

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