Sobeys distribution workers locked out; union on the picket line

Sobeys distribution centre workers are now on the picket line, after officially going on strike as of Thursday afternoon.

At the Sobeys Retail Support Centre in Rocky View County on Thursday afternoon, 251 members of Teamsters Local 987 walked out the front doors, looking for better wages and respect.

This follows the workers being served a 72-hour lockout notice on Monday.

“Today is D-Day,” Teamsters spokesperson Brock Penner said.

“Refuse to continue meaningful bargaining. We had never left the table.”

Workers are demanding fair wages, in line with industry standards.

Penner said workers were deemed essential during the pandemic, and they should be paid in line with that.

“But then when it comes time to bargain, they’re not compensated as essential, and workers are fed up as a whole,” he said.

Teamsters Local 987 said negotiations through a mediator over 21 days did not solve any issues.

The strike will impact grocers and convenience stores in the province, but mainly southern and central Alberta.

“Listening to the two parties talk, I’m not confident that this one will be a quick one,” said labour relations professor Jason Foster at Athabasca University.

“I do think within days we will start to see things not getting distributed, store shelves starting to get empty a little bit.”

Sobeys told CTV News in a statement that issuing a lockout notice was not a step it took lightly.

“This facility is an automated warehouse, and we do not anticipate significant operational disruptions and plan to continue serving our stores and customers through this disruption,” the statement read.

“Unfortunately, teammates voted against the agreement, which was fully recommended by the union. We respect the bargaining process and have made every effort to reach a mutually beneficial competitive agreement.”

Foster said workers helped the company during a pandemic, and now they are seeking compensation.

“Workers in general are grumpy. They’re feeling disrespected,” he said.

“They’ve gone through a rough few years.”

The union remains defiant and doesn’t plan on packing up.

“We will be here as long as it takes,” Penner said.

“At the end of the day, these members, these workers, are not just standing up for Sobeys warehouse employees. They’re standing up for all workers.”