Superstore Workers to go on strike

[Anduril]

Didn't even hear about this into I was browsing Reddit. While yes the Westhills one has been a zoo, it's been appropriately so (Holidays, mad dash for bottled water after the flood, etc.)

Will be a shame since it's been relatively good to me.

[The Goon]

So are the stores closed down or are there scabs working?

[You Need a Thneed]

I would assume that management will take I we jobs temporarily. The question is will anyone notice the difference. I think management can keep 3/20 cashier tills open at peak times, just like it was before.

[Yakbutter]

When I was in highschool from 07-09 I worked as a price checker at superstore. I made 8.70 an hour but I paid $35 a paycheck in union dues which made my income less than minimum wage.

Superstore sucks anyways too, meat is terrible quality and the produce tastes like it has been sitting in a freezer for years. And bagging your own groceries is bs.

[Table 5]

The stores look like the employees have been on strike for years now. Might as well just turn all the tills into self-service.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Table 5

The stores look like the employees have been on strike for years now. Might as well just turn all the tills into self-service.

The guys who bag your groceries clearly have been.

Also, hasn't someone figured a better way for this whole checkout process yet? I mean herding your customers through a chute as though your slaughtering cattle is just archaic. Then we take everything out of the cart, and put it back in...so dumb. I'm not smart enough to know what that better way is, but surely there is something?

[Super-Rye]

Originally Posted by Slava

The guys who bag your groceries clearly have been.

Also, hasn't someone figured a better way for this whole checkout process yet? I mean herding your customers through a chute as though your slaughtering cattle is just archaic. Then we take everything out of the cart, and put it back in...so dumb. I'm not smart enough to know what that better way is, but surely there is something?

I'm sure there is a better way to do it but they way it is set up now can prevent a lot of theft.

I would think SuperStore will try and get some scrubs in to work. Thanksgiving is coming up and there's a ton of money on the line. Without their current employee's unloading the trucks (which will be packed more than usual) and loading up the shelves SS is probably going to lose a lot of money already. There's no way a group of 9 managers will be able to keep any store running.

[TurdFerguson]

So I have to physically count my own bags now? Might be the straw that broke the camels back for me.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Slava

Also, hasn't someone figured a better way for this whole checkout process yet? I mean herding your customers through a chute as though your slaughtering cattle is just archaic. Then we take everything out of the cart, and put it back in...so dumb. I'm not smart enough to know what that better way is, but surely there is something?

Ideally there would be a reader on your cart/basket, and you would scan it right at the point of pickup. Then it would already know what you have when its time to purchase, so all you have to do is pay for it. Of course this requires a little bit of trusting the consumer...but so does the self-checkout.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by Yakbutter

When I was in highschool from 07-09 I worked as a price checker at superstore. I made 8.70 an hour but I paid $35 a paycheck in union dues which made my income less than minimum wage.

Superstore sucks anyways too, meat is terrible quality and the produce tastes like it has been sitting in a freezer for years. And bagging your own groceries is bs.

I'm not completely sure on this for SS's contract, but pretty sure, in your circumstance if you average less than a specific number of hours per week over x period, you can get a % of your dues reimbursed.

Not many people take advantage of this because the union doesn't do it automatically, you have to apply.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Ideally there would be a reader on your cart/basket, and you would scan it right at the point of pickup. Then it would already know what you have when its time to purchase, so all you have to do is pay for it. Of course this requires a little bit of trusting the consumer...but so does the self-checkout.

Europe is light years ahead of Canada with self scanning and home delivery. The do have RFID tags and a final weigh station at some stores, so you can literally walk through the checkout, have a total, and it will measure the total weight of your cart within an ounce.

No scanning, you just pay and leave.

[albertGQ]

When do they go on strike? Superstore is the closest grocery store to our house so we'd like to stock up before they strike

[justkidding]

Too late. Midnight last night.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

Europe is light years ahead of Canada with self scanning and home delivery. The do have RFID tags and a final weigh station at some stores, so you can literally walk through the checkout, have a total, and it will measure the total weight of your cart within an ounce.

No scanning, you just pay and leave.

Any idea why we don't have this here? Seems like a business could increase profit pretty easily by no longer needing all the tills and cashiers?

[PsYcNeT]

Originally Posted by Slava

Any idea why we don't have this here? Seems like a business could increase profit pretty easily by no longer needing all the tills and cashiers?

Just like everything else that is behind Europe/Asia here in glorious NA, money (cost of implementation, educating the slow-to-change public, and upkeep).

I mean, it took 10 years for people here to get used to swiping their own debit cards.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Slava

Any idea why we don't have this here? Seems like a business could increase profit pretty easily by no longer needing all the tills and cashiers?

Because Canada. We're almost always behind on everything when it comes to technology. Cell phone plans, HD coverage, Netflix etc etc...

[Yasa]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Because Canada. We're almost always behind on everything when it comes to technology. Cell phone plans, HD coverage, Netflix etc etc...

Off topic, but check out mediahint extension for Chrome or Firefox. It allows you to access US Netflix.

[Slava]

I guess I figured if there were longer term cost savings to be had a business would be all over it. I sure hope we get this soon as standing in line to pay is just irritating.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by Slava

Any idea why we don't have this here? Seems like a business could increase profit pretty easily by no longer needing all the tills and cashiers?

Imagine you're the UFCW and Superstore tells you it wants to cut the number of cashiers by 60%. In some area the UFCW has negotiated certain provisions in their contracts to limit labour reduction tactics like this. In BC, some grocery stores cannot introduce counter ready meats (I.E packed and cut at a central facility) without express consent. This would be a massive fight.

Also I don't think it it would increase profits as much as you might think. Europe is a very high volume / daily shopper trend, Canada / US are not as much. In Europe they are more apt to pay prime dollar for easy / quick shops. Also keep in mind it won't reduce labour by a ton - I mean after 6pm, I doubt it would reduce labour at all given how few cashiers stores run with.

System is expensive and overall grocery is a very stagnant industry, it is very reactive to market trends and not proactive here in NA.

[Resolute 14]

Came in to comment that nobody would notice any difference, see that I've been beaten to it.

Shopping at Superstore is like driving Deerfoot at rush hour. In a blizzard.