July 27, 2004

Safeway Edmonton Lucerne Ice Cream Plant Bargaining Update

On June 23, 24 & 25 and July 20, 21 and 22 bargaining continued.

The Union is fighting to ensure maternity, parental and adoption leave provisions are consistent with human rights law, and to ensure that employees can have as much time off as possible to utilize EI entitlements.

Ice cream issues came to the fore, especially the issue of the role of lead hands. A lead hand is supposed to be a worker who supervises co-workers while continuing to be a worker. It is not a managerial position.

The Company has tried to blur this role, confusing employees and putting lead hands into an uncomfortable spot. The Union is fighting to correct the problem.

Also the Union advised the Company that we believe ?hand scanners? to be an unlawful invasion of privacy, and asked the Company to eliminate them.