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NEWS
UNITED FOOD AND COMMERCIAL WORKERS UNION LOCAL 1518
RETAIL FOOD SECTOR W H AT M E M B E R S A R E S AY I N G Union members in the retail food sector (Safeway, Overwaitea Food Group, IGA, independent stores) talked with Ivan and Frank about how since the economic crash in the autumn of 2008, employers have been slashing hours, creating scheduling problems, and are running stores in generally poor condition, among other issues. “It’s been brutal,” says Ivan Limpright, “and the employers’ behavior has led to the lowest morale and dissatisfaction with the employers the members have ever experienced. The employers’ hours cuts that have been taking place over the last three years have created real hardship and difficulties for the members.” “The members are seriously ticked off, and the employers need to wake up and be aware of what’s going on - these are issues that are going to be heavy on the members’ minds as we begin to prepare for the next set of contract negotiations in 2013, and at this stage the members are prepared to give the employers a very rude wake-up call if working conditions don’t improve.” “One of the things that is so irritating for our members is the way the employers short-staff the schedule when they know they are going to end up calling staff in,” says Frank Pozzobon. “The members see that kind of tactic for exactly what it is – it doesn’t need to be that way, and it’s fundamentally disrespectful to the members.” “There’s a real feeling that we need to ‘take back’ the stores,” says Ivan Limpright. “The members want to feel pride in their jobs and their work, to serve the customers and have a good workplace to go to each day. But the employers seem bent on doing things in such a way that
it’s like they want to make sure they continue to drive down morale.” “The members are very conscious of the fact that management does not recognize or appreciate just how good the members are when it comes to treating customers well and getting them to come back by giving good service to customers,” says Frank Pozzobon. “It’s not surprising that most members feel their stores run better and have better morale when the manager isn’t there!” Newer members talked about the importance of the 15 minute orientation they had about the role of the union with their Shop Steward when they were hired. “It makes all the difference in the world for people who don’t know what the union is about, or the role of the Shop Steward,” said a 1-year union member. “It’s a really good way to hear about what the union does, and also to learn about issues like salespeople and rackjobbers stocking product and taking away hours from us – and what we can do about it to stop it!” he said.