 
04/09/02What Is Happening At Union-Company Negotiations?
There is no doubt that some new improved positions have been put forward by the Company in the time since the strike vote. Why? Because of the Union members who voted to strike. Those that did not vote to strike should thank those that did. Before the strike vote the Company would not even talk about some of the issues that are now the subject of bargaining.
But don't be confused; there has not yet been any substantial improvement to the pre-strike offer. For example, the Company brags about its new uniform shirt offer.
A NEW CLOTHING POLICY?
In its bargaining "updates" the Company has said it will provide new "uniform shirts."
What have they not told you?
- they would not even discuss their clothing policy prior to the strike vote!
- they will not commit to whether or not they will change the clothing policy at all
- they say that if they do change the clothing policy, it might include green short-sleeved golf shirts that say Superstore on them
- they say that the shirts are in the new Nanaimo store, but they were unwilling or unable to show the Union Bargaining Committee what they actually looked like
- they say that no long sleeve shirts are currently available - short sleeves sound cold!
- they say that if they do introduce green short sleeve golf shirts they will give two to available anytime employees and one to restricted employees, no matter how many hours you work or how much wear and tear they suffer
- you must buy additional shirts
- you must keep them "clean and presentable"
- if they do not introduce the "shirts", they will not say what any other new clothing policy might be
- the Union offered to pay for an additional shirt for employees if the shirts were introduced. The Company said - No.
And we could go on. But the point should be taken - what the Company says is, unfortunately, often misleading at best.
BOOTS
We could get excited about the Company's offer of a $50 steel-toed boot allowance for full time receivers. How generous!
WAGES
But as the Company was offering $50 for $200 steel toed boots for full time receivers only (by the way, these are necessary for health and safety reasons anyway) they still did not, and have not to date, offered a single penny in retro pay or a single extra penny on your wages. We wonder how the retiring president of your Company feels about the matter. Last week, the following article regarding the retiring president, Richard Currie, appeared in the Globe and Mail. See for yourself…
| Currie retiring from Weston with $10-million package
BY OLIVER BERTIN
FOOD INDUSTRY REPORTER
Richard Currie, the man who is credited with resurrecting the Loblaw supermarket chain, will receive a $10 - million retirement package when he leaves parent George Weston Ltd. at the annual meeting next month.
That is in addition to a wallet full of stock options, pensions, bonuses and salary that he has received over the past year or so.
Company documents released yesterday show that Mr. Currie will walk out the door with:
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A $10-million retirement package from George Weston, where he is currently president;
Salary of $1.45-million for 2001;
A bonus of $500,000 for 2001;
$24-million in stock options that were due at the end of 2001;
$16-million in stock options that will come due in the future;
A pension of $250,000 a year from Weston and another $250,000 from Loblaw.
These sums are in addition to the retirement package that Mr. Currie received when he quit his position as Loblaw president at the end of 2000. At that time, he received a $10-million retirement package from Loblaw, in addition to his salary, bonus and options for that year of $9.2-million.
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Unless the Company makes its promised "final offer" soon, the Union will issue strike notice. This will likely occur no later than the week of April 14th. You will have full voting rights on any substantially improved offer. If there is no substantial improvement, we will be on strike.
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