April 18, 2005

AN INVITATION

Dear Superstore Supervisors:

In recent months a number of you have come to us wondering if there might be a means by which Superstore Supervisors might be able to unionize or acquire some form of independent representation. 

Supervisors working for Westfair Foods make a large commitment to the company and their careers.  Put another way, each Superstore Supervisor is required to make a major investment in their jobs.  Unfortunately there is currently no vehicle available to secure that investment.  Supervisors with short term employment, and especially those with long term employment hang by the employer?s thread with no one to go to in the event their employment is severed in the pursuit of profit, restructuring, reorganization, or if a senior manager just happens to be in a bad or irrational mood.

Superstore Supervisors have brought the following concerns to us:

• no voice in the construction of, or alteration of bonus systems (which can sometimes be unfair)
• unfair demands and pressures from senior management
• the feeling of being ?caught in the middle? between unionized employees and demanding senior officials ? (the sandwich effect)
• long hours, no overtime, no premiums,
• competing demands of job and family
• trouble getting time off, vacation time, lunch breaks, coffee breaks; and little or no accommodation for scheduling needs or requests
• high turnover workforce that, at times shows little or no loyalty
• benefit concerns
• no one to call for independent, confidential work place advice
• inadequate wages and remuneration ie., salary does not reflect hours worked
• an unavailable, often irrational human resources and industrial relations department
• supervisors are sometimes asked to engage in behaviors or pursue policies that they believe to be unethical and perhaps even unlawful

It was supposed to be different when company president Serge Darkazanli retired.  Many were optimistic when Mr. Jeffs arrived from Ontario.  Yet there are many reports that he has not connected with the Albertan sense of both entrepreneurship and fair play.  Others believe that people like Bruce Kent, Vice President of Industrial Relations and his associates have shielded him from the harsh reality of the effect of their perspective on employee relations.

Supervisors are essentially like small business people who sell their hard work and expertise to Superstores.  They take their remuneration home to pay their small business bills and support their families.  In other words, each household is a small business.

Viewed in this way you are in the ?business? of you.  But Superstore Supervisors as individuals lack significant negotiation power.  Unfortunately they are often treated like light bulbs.  One burns out ? they screw another one in.

Comments and complaints of this nature have been brought to our union.  We have retained a special team of lawyers and other professionals to assist in the circumstances.  Supervisors are asking: can I join the UFCW?  Would we need a separate local?  Is it more appropriate to form an association? 

We have some concerns that Supervisors and employees might have a conflict of interest with unionized employees.  On the other hand, Supervisors are employees themselves.  The company is big on conferring management titles on people while treating them as grunts on a day to day basis.

You are invited to contact us on a strictly confidential basis.  We will happily send one of our specialist team assigned to this matter to speak to you in the privacy of your home.  Alternatively we would happily meet with you at a coffee shop, restaurant, or another suitable location to explore your concerns and thoughts on the matter. 

There will be no initial cost to you.  If an association is ultimately formed Supervisors themselves will have to decide how appropriate funding will be garnered. 

You may ask yourself why we have offered this kind of support.  Firstly, if Supervisors are treated more fairly that positive attitude can only flow through the whole department.  That is in our members? best interest.  Secondly, the social mission of our organization is to improve all employees working conditions.  There is a reason that everyone from teachers to nurses develop representational structures to protect themselves and their interests.  There is no reason why you, or the ?small business of you? cannot join with others of similar perspectives to advance the interests of the group. We look forward to hearing from you.

Yours truly,

Douglas O?Halloran

President

UFCW Local 401