Co-op strike: No union vote coming, no negotiations planned

The national leader of the union representing Saskatoon Co-op workers says members aren’t facing a vote on Co-op’s latest offer because most of those on strike don’t support the proposed deal.

Saskatoon Co-op workers have been on strike for nearly eight weeks, protesting the employer’s proposal to pay new staff lower wages — creating a two-tier wage system.

However, comments in online forums have suggested some union members have grown tired of the strike, and they want an opportunity to vote on the Co-op’s latest proposal.

The offer includes retroactive pay and signing bonuses that would be paid before Christmas, and annual raises of two per cent.

In a Dec. 12 release, Saskatoon Co-op said they wanted employees to see the offer and have a chance to vote on ratifying it.

However, UFCW Canada president Paul Meinema told reporters in Saskatoon Thursday a vote wasn’t necessary.

“In every dispute, there’s never 100 per cent (agreement) anywhere on the line,” he said.

“We take it from the folks that are on the picket line, what is their position? Through conversations there … we’re not going to vote on a deal that doesn’t address the concerns around a two-tier system.”

He said he didn’t doubt there were some disgruntled members, but he’s confident they don’t represent a majority within the union.

Meinema added if the Co-op felt a union vote would ratify their offer, they could ask the labour board to force a vote.

“The fact of the matter they didn’t force that vote, you can draw some conclusions on what they believe the success of that vote would be,” he said.

Meinema was joining over 100 union members and supporters at a lunch hour rally in front of the Federated Co-op Limited headquarters.

The people at the rally wore red t-shirts saying “Keep it fair at Saskatoon Co-op,” and chanted “stop the greed,” while blowing whistles and setting off megaphone alarms.

Some demonstrators asked people coming and going from the Co-op building if they had solved the dispute in their travels, while a pizza delivery man was cheered at first — but jeered once he walked to the entrance of the office.

A large picket line rally was planned for later Thursday evening at the 33rd Street Co-op location.

There are currently no future bargaining dates set between the two sides.