Backed by a vote of 90 percent overall in favour of going on strike, the union negotiating team for Safeway employees in Fort Frances, Dryden, and Kenora returned to talks with the company Thursday in Kenora.
Now with a Ministry of Labour mediator as part of the equation, representatives from both sides are slated to be in negotiations for a new collective agreement for the next two days.
But Canada Safeway is taking measures in case the contract talks fail, seeking applicants to fill positions at the three stores in an ad running in Thursday’s Daily Bulletin.
It states, “Successful applicants will be assigned to positions during a possible labour dispute,” and indicates applicants should come to La Place Rendez-Vous today and tomorrow between noon-8 p.m.
Back on April 28, workers at all three stores voted more than 90 percent against Safeway’s contract proposal and in favour of strike action.
No strike date has been set.
In related news, Canada Safeway announced Thursday that its three Thunder Bay stores are closed permanently, effective immediately.
The closure impacts 481 employees, the vast majority of which are represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union Local #175, and have been engaged in a strike since Oct. 1, 2001.
On May 7, a government-conducted vote on the company’s final offer was rejected by a very slim majority. Safeway requested a second vote, but the union refused to agree, the company said in a press release.
Employees will be receiving notification of this decision by registered mail, the company said.
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