Members of Unifor Local 1917 at the Sobeys store in Sydney, N.S., have ratified a new collective agreement.
The five-year agreement includes wage hikes and bonuses for both full-time and part-time workers. Full-time clerks will see an hourly wage increase of $3.63 to $3.79 over the contract’s duration, in addition to receiving a $2,000 signing bonus and another $1,000 bonus in October 2024.
Part-time workers, who make up the majority of the store’s workforce, will receive a $4.89 per hour increase over the contract’s lifetime. They will also benefit from a $500 signing bonus and another $500 bonus in October 2024, according to a press release issued by Unifor. Additionally, part-time workers will be credited with 2,000 hours worked on the pay scale upon ratification, accelerating their progression to the top pay rate.
Unifor National President Lana Payne praised the bargaining committee’s efforts, stating, “Unifor has made significant gains at bargaining tables with the three grocery giants because of the strength and solidarity of thousands of workers fighting together to bring good supermarket jobs back. I send my congratulations to the bargaining committee at Sobeys Sydney and to every Unifor grocery worker who took a stand to demand better pay from these highly profitable corporations.”
Atlantic Regional Director Jennifer Murray highlighted the importance of the agreement for part-time workers, noting, “The members at the Sydney Sobeys store saw how important it was to bring part-timers more hourly income, and achieving that is a testament to their sense of community and solidarity. We’re proud to see Unifor’s grocery bargaining strategy deliver results for members.”
Other key elements of the agreement include an annual employer contribution to the Unifor Paid Education Leave Program, which supports member education and training, and a commitment from Sobeys to maintain an increased number of full-time positions at the store.
Unifor represents 119 members at the Sobeys on Main Street in Sydney, Cape Breton. As Canada’s largest union in the private sector, Unifor represents 315,000 workers across various industries, advocating for workers’ rights, equality, and social justice.