Since Nov 2018, UFCW 1400 CO-OP workers have been on strike.
Communities that have stores or gas bars on strike include:
- Saskatoon
- Warman
- Martensville
- Colonsay
One of the contentious issues is the proposal of a two tier wage system. This is something that doesn’t affect the current workers, it affects the new hires coming into the company that will never achieve the current wages.
These members are taking on a fight for future workers. Jobs that family, friends or possibly one of our kids could one day be applying for. It is extremely admirable of these members and is something that every CO-OP member or patron should respect in choosing to NOT cross their picket lines.
How have we come to this point where we are questioning modest increases to workers wages that puts food on their families table, but watch CEO salaries sky rocket with out question or concern?
It’s been more than 10 years since we had our own picket lines at Cory, Allan and Patients Lake mine sites. I was fairly new to both the potash industry and a unionized work site. It didn’t take me long to see the importance of the support from community and other mine sites. Without their help we wouldn’t have been able to achieve what we did, things that both old and new members are still entitled to.
Union is about community and it’s members and we believe in what UFCW 1400 is fighting for. We will continue to support them through donations and our own USW members walking their picket lines shoulder to shoulder.
In solidarity.
V.P Chris Lysitza USW 7458.
saskpotashcouncil.ca 