Stay Away from Safeway

Looking for a job? Safeway might not be the right choice.

Can you imagine working at a grocery store and selling food you can’t afford to buy? That’s the reality for thousands of Albertans working at Safeway today.

Thanks to a 6.5% wage rollback by the Sobeys Corporation, many employees are earning what they did in 2022 while the cost of living continues to rise. 

But it doesn’t stop there.

10 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD THINK TWICE ABOUT WORKING AT SAFEWAY:

1. Wage Cuts: A 6.5% wage cut means thousands of employees earn less than they did just a few years ago.
2. Strike: Given the current workplace disputes and rising employee concerns, a strike is becoming a real possibility in the coming months. Do you want to confront angry strikers? Do you want to be called a scab? 
3. Security: Employee feedback and surveys indicate that increasing customer frustration has sometimes made the store environment feel less safe and unstable.
4. Low Pay: Despite increasing profits for Sobeys, workers are still stuck with low wages that don’t keep up with rising costs. Most don’t even make a living wage.
5. Anxiety-Causing Environment: High workplace stress and limited management support at times can make the job feel challenging and unpredictable.
6. Job Insecurity: Safeway won’t promise not to close or rebrand stores. Many workers could face even lower wages or job loss.
7. Economic Uncertainty: With rising inflation, tariffs, and global economic uncertainty, workers are facing a financial environment that makes it even harder to make ends meet.
8. Wage Scale: The current wage scale makes it incredibly difficult to earn decent money and move up the pay ladder over time. Many employees don’t get enough hours each week, meaning they need more than one job just to survive.
9. Health and Safety: As the winter months approach, the risk of contracting COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses can increase, especially in crowded store environments where social distancing may be difficult. Let’s remember that grocery workers are essential, and their health and safety should always be a top priority. Safeway is not currently offering vaccines as a benefit to its employees at its in-store pharmacies.
10. Lack of Respect: In a survey, some workers shared that they don’t feel appreciated for their efforts and would like more recognition. Safeway needs to treat its employees with dignity and respect. 

And here’s one more: Sobeys owns Safeway and other grocery stores. The Sobeys distribution centre workers in Rocky View County (Teamsters Local 987) are on strike, and customers are being asked to support a boycott, something that could directly affect your workplace.

HELP SPREAD THE WORD: PRINT AND SHARE

You can make a difference in the fight for better working conditions at Safeway by helping spread the word. Print out the Stay Away poster and pin it on community bulletin boards, at your local community centres, religious centres, local coffee shops or anywhere people gather. 

By sharing this message, you’ll help raise awareness of the challenges workers at Safeway are facing. Every poster displayed helps others make an informed decision and shows solidarity with those fighting for fair wages, respect, and a safer workplace.

Don’t forget to snap a picture of the poster at your local community spot and tag us on social media! Help us amplify the message by sharing it with your community.