February 6, 2004

Edmonton Safeway Distribution Centre Bargaining Update

Last week your negotiating committee had face to face meetings with Safeway for three days.

While 70, 000 retail food employees continue to fight Safeway?s greed on picket lines in California, your bargaining committee continues to say NO to ridiculous Company concessionary proposals.

Much of the discussion last week focused on health and safety issues. Union surveys reveal that almost 40% of employees do not feel that their workplace is a safe one. Your representatives at the bargaining table spoke on virtually every health and safety issue ? from faulty dock plates to racking, jack speeds to spillage, new employee training to health and safety committees, CALM to pallet heights.

Trucking issues were dealt with in detail, involving, everything from road and weather conditions to the right to refuse unsafe work.

Contract changes sought by the Union would significantly improve health and safety in the workplace.

Bargaining will recommence on Feb 25.

(Please note ? this and all other bargaining updates are without prejudice.)