UFCW Local 401

As the Hijri New Year begins, may your heart be filled with peace and strength. From all of us, we wish you good health, unending happiness, and blessed new beginnings.

A major improvement is on the way for employees at the JBS facility in Brooks, and it serves as a powerful example of how union advocacy can create meaningful change for members.

For years, workers faced significant delays during shift changes, often spending more than 30 minutes waiting to exit the facility's parking lot. The congestion created frustration, safety concerns, and unnecessary stress for employees trying to get home to their families.

Recognizing the impact this issue was having on members, Union Representative Adriana and Abdalateef took action. Beginning in early 2022, they consistently raised concerns with company leadership and worked tirelessly to push for a solution. With persistence, determination, and commitment to the membership, the issue remained a priority until real progress was made.

Today, the new access road nearing completion represents more than just a construction project—it represents the power of speaking up for workers and fighting for improvements that make a difference in their daily lives. The new roadway is expected to improve traffic flow, enhance safety, and significantly reduce the time employees spend waiting to leave the facility.

As the road prepares to open, we celebrate this achievement and recognize their hard work on behalf of the membership. These efforts are a reminder that strong union representation and member advocacy can lead to real results.

Thank you, Abdalateef and Adriana, for your dedication to improving the workplace and making a difference for Local Union members.

After we found ourselves in a very unusual situation at Sofina Calgary, with a vote on the company offer that didn’t reveal a clear and proper result, we continue to believe that there has been interference by management.

We asked our members at the plant if they wanted a second “without prejudice” vote away from the plant and the eyes of Sofina bosses. We also asked for their comments on the situation.

A significant number of responding members said they want a new vote. Some of them say they simply want a clear majority, whichever way the vote goes.

Some felt that the company acted improperly in trying to implement the offer in a very grey, unclear situation, and without bothering to consult the union.

Quite a few also said that they do, in fact, believe that pressure from management contributed to the unreliable vote result.

As our lawyers continue to review this matter, we have scheduled a new "without prejudice" vote to help us better understand what Sofina Calgary employees truly want as we move forward: https://shorturl.at/DeXIX

On the sixth of June, our Brooks office at had the chance to participate in the Brooks Rodeo Parade! It was a wonderful opportunity to engage with the community and to build connections while contributing to this joyful event.

Our union's members and representatives found the experience memorable and the atmosphere welcoming, and are already enthusiastic to come out for future events! Many thanks to the Brooks community for putting on a fabulous parade!

Wow! Last night, we held a virtual meeting with Safeway members from across the province. Hundreds of you joined on the phone or over Zoom to ask questions and to tell us your thoughts.

We heard you loud and clear.

Read the summary here: https://gounion.ca/negotiations/96-percent-of-safeway-members-do-not-trust-sobeys/

📞 LIVE NOW: Safeway Telephone Town Hall

Join the conversation and hear the latest updates directly as they happen. This is your opportunity to stay informed, ask questions, and have your voice heard.

If you haven't connected yet, there's still time to join the call and participate in this important discussion.

Check your inbox and if you haven’t received a link email: [email protected]

Tonight, we are hosting an urgent virtual meeting for Safeway members from across the province!

At that meeting, President Thomas Hesse and Secretary Treasurer Richelle Stewart will provide members with critical updates on the most recent bargaining developments.

Safeway members, be sure to check your e-mail for the Zoom link, or wait for our call just before 7 PM to automatically connect you to the meeting.

If you haven't received the link, please contact us at [email protected] with your full name, store number, and location.

Filipino Heritage Month is an opportunity for us to celebrate the rich and vibrant culture of one of Canada's fastest-growing populations.

In fact, Alberta is home to the second largest population of Filipino-Canadians in the country. They also represent a significant portion of our UFCW Local 401 membership across the province!

While our membership is incredibly diverse, Filipino-Canadians work in nearly every workplace where we represent workers - including meat packing plants, retail and grocery stores, and health care.

Happy Filipino Heritage Month!

As people who live and work on these lands, it is important that we take time to honour and celebrate those who have called this place home since time immemorial.

Every square kilometre of our province sits on Treaty land (Treaties 4, 6, 7, 8, and 10). We are also home to the Otipemisiwak Métis Government and eight Métis Settlements.

Despite Indigenous peoples living in this place for hundreds of generations, we must acknowledge that there are still many systemic barriers impacting Indigenous people across the county. Alberta also has a very significant wage gap for Indigenous people (especially Indigenous women) that must be rectified.

This month, let us take time to learn more about the traditions, cultures, and lived experiences of Indigenous peoples of all backgrounds and work to right these inequities so we can be stronger partners in the reconciliation journey, together.

Happy Pride Month, Alberta!

Throughout June, the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and allies come together to celebrate one simple truth - Love is love.

While Pride in the modern sense looks and feels more like a month-long party, it is so important to remember where this movement came from. Pride was (and still is) a form of protest against governments and institutions that discriminate against people based on their gender identity and sexuality.

Make no mistake, that discrimination is still very real today.

This month, we stand in solidarity with our 2SLGBTQIA+ community in celebrating love in all its forms. But even more importantly, we stand in solidarity against the discrimination, hate, and violence the community continues to face today.