Superstore Workers to go on strike

[GGG]

Originally Posted by SHOGUN

Kind of off topic here.. but does anyone know where to buy the cheapest chicken breast? I find Superstore to be pretty expensive in terms of their poultry.

If you want fresh boneless skinless chicken breasts (Not the frozen and over salted boxes) the best you can do is about 11.00 per kg when it is on sale at the various grocery stores. Each store seems to put it at this price about once a month. Every once in a while I have seen it for 9.90/kg but that is rare.

So what I do is stock up when its on sale and freeze it in small portion sizes. So just check the fliers each week and buy from whoever has it on sale.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by iggy_oi

I think this is what the workers want

Then they should attend meetings and get the Union to ask for FT/PT ratios to be placed in their contracts.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by iggy_oi

In response to CaramomLS, the other problem with this requirement is even if your availability is anytime the maximum amount of hours you will get is 28, and at even at that they scatter people's shifts to the point where it's near impossible to work another part time. So while in that situation you can get benefits, I think most people would have a hard time living off 28 hours pay regardless where they work. (Even though everyone on CP makes >$100k/year)

It isn't ideal, but most stores will offer the chance to take call in shifts. An employee who takes call in shifts can easily get themselves another 5-6 hours on their average.

[iggy_oi]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

Then they should attend meetings and get the Union to ask for FT/PT ratios to be placed in their contracts.

I actually brought that up with a few of the workers at the store near my house, apparently Loblaws wants nothing to do with that. All these issues are always part of a bigger picture in collective bargaining.

As for your next post about waiting by the phone to be called in to work, that's what the workers are also fed up with, having to be so desperate for hours that you have to plan to always be ready for work. I don't think anyone would want to live like that when you could just be scheduled full time, most of these part timers want full time, but Loblaws doesn't want to guarantee benefits.

[Dion]

The new agreement will present employees with a number of significant improvements over and above the company’s last offer. We strongly believe that these improvements will bring new hope to employment at Superstores & Liquorstores.

It is crystal clear that the threat of a strike had some impact on Loblaw’s approach to negotiations. But the difference was made when employees walked off the job. Enthusiasm and solidarity of picketers finally got Galen Weston to understand the need for a greater balance in workplace relations. Customer support was overwhelming.

Union leaders will now be very busy making arrangements for special ratification meetings and votes. We will let you know as soon as we can regarding our plans.

Sincerely,

Your bargaining committee

https://www.facebook.com/UFCW401/posts/525884510830037

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by iggy_oi

I actually brought that up with a few of the workers at the store near my house, apparently Loblaws wants nothing to do with that. All these issues are always part of a bigger picture in collective bargaining.

As for your next post about waiting by the phone to be called in to work, that's what the workers are also fed up with, having to be so desperate for hours that you have to plan to always be ready for work. I don't think anyone would want to live like that when you could just be scheduled full time, most of these part timers want full time, but Loblaws doesn't want to guarantee benefits.

I'm not sure if I agree with that.

A couple of things - the people typically most heavily represented on the union side are the most senior employees. They are typically the loudest and the Union Reps at SS have known them the longest. They are FT and have usually topped out on the scale. The contract prior to this one was 80cents/80cents/80cents IIRC per year increases to those employees, while securing little in the way of benefits. I can tell you that securing non-monetary benifits was not as much of an interest to them as you might seem to think. The #1 concern of the Union was securing money for their longest term employees.

Over the last couple collective agreements there has been a willingness to sacrafice the PT employees in barginning in exchange for FT and top end wage increases. This is largely because they aren't as active with the union as the more senior employees.

Those FT positions cost the money, roughly 20-30% more and if you're the company, you will try to keep those costs down, especially in an increasingly competitive environment. The union has done everything they can in their previous contracts to raise the average cost of a FT long term employee - so they should not be too surprised when the company wants to minimize those.

In a lot of ways they are trying to make changes to the foundation of the house that they already built.

[Diemenz]

Originally Posted by GGG

If you want fresh boneless skinless chicken breasts (Not the frozen and over salted boxes) the best you can do is about 11.00 per kg when it is on sale at the various grocery stores. Each store seems to put it at this price about once a month. Every once in a while I have seen it for 9.90/kg but that is rare.

So what I do is stock up when its on sale and freeze it in small portion sizes. So just check the fliers each week and buy from whoever has it on sale.

My Contribution to the off-topic talk:
Most frozen chicken breasts are flash frozen which is considerably better then the slow freeze process you get at home.

I buy the boxed frozen chicken breasts and rinse them off once thawed, the salt comes from the solution they put on them to prevent them from sticking to one another during the freezing process. It washes off and your good to go . Just don't buy the bargain basement ones and your good to go, M&M chicken breasts have never steered me wrong.