A positive outcome: We’ve reached a deal with UFCW 401

 

Thank you to everyone who exercised their right to vote on the Company’s Final Offer.

 

We’re pleased that the offer has been ratified and will form our new collective agreement.

 

Though the road to get here wasn’t easy, we believe that the new agreement supports you, our teammates, and positions Safeway for long-term success in Alberta.

 

We look forward to moving ahead, together!

Below is a video message from Julie Sue Wood, Vice President Operations – Prairies. Please click the play button to view the video.

 Safeway Talks, September 19, 2026

Safeway Makes Final Offer

We’re encouraged to share that we have reached the end of the negotiations with UFCW 401 and the Company has made its Final Offer. We are pleased to hear that the Union will be bringing this offer to you for a vote. This final and best offer reflects the productive and collaborative talks between UFCW 401, your Bargaining Committee and the Company. It includes meaningful improvements for teammates, including job security, wage increases and benefit enhancements.

As UFCW 401 has now shared the agreement with you, it is important that you take time to review the details, ask questions and vote.

If accepted, here’s what the Company’s Final Offer delivers:

Five years of job security for Safeway teammates

• Teammates can feel secure with a five-year agreement that expires in August 2030
• Teammates can also be assured by the Company’s commitment to no FreshCo conversions of Safeway stores during this time.
• If a store closes, we have agreed to an enhanced notice period, enhanced severance and a commitment to meet with the Union.

Wage increases will be maintained

• All appeals, including the challenge to the Supreme Court of Canada related to the wage reopener, would be withdrawn by the Company and no further action will be taken on that matter. This means that top-rated teammates will continue to be the highest paid employees in the unionized Alberta grocery industry.

Signing bonus and wage increases

Top-rated teammates:

• $2,000 signing bonus to be paid within 30 days of ratification
• Wage increases for top-rated teammates in 2027 (2%), 2028 (3%) and 2029 (3%).
• For a teammate making $23.38 now, this works out to $1.92 of increases between now and August 2029 and a rate by the end of the contract of $25.30.
• When factoring in the 5% increases from 2023 and 2024, it amounts to an increase of 18% for that period

In-Scale teammates:

• $500 signing bonus for in-scale teammates to be paid within 30 days of ratification.
• An immediate 3% off-scale increase for in-scale teammates. For a teammate making $15 per hour this would equal to a 45-cent increase.
• Additional lump sum payments of $500 in 2027, 2028 and 2029.
• This is a 3% increase and $2,000 in signing and lump sum payments between now and 2029.

Access to more hours and skills

• Teammates have been asking for more variety in their work and we’re offering new opportunities to support that interest. Teammates can now choose to be cross trained in other departments, giving them the opportunity to work different areas in the store and have access to more hours. Participation is entirely voluntary and opportunities will be based on seniority.

Improved investment in benefit plan and workplace support

• Increased funding for Dental trust benefits ensuring the long-term viability of the benefits provided by this fund.
• Additional funding as required for the Part-Time Health and Welfare trust to ensure the benefits provided by this trust remain funded.

• Free menstrual products will be made available in all employee washrooms over the next six months.

• 60 employees per year (as selected by the Union) to receive paid time off to attend to National Day for Truth and Reconciliation Union activities.

• Ongoing funding of the Walking Steward program.

Retirement allowances

• We’ve heard from many teammates who are considering retirement that some additional support might make their transition easier. We are offering retirement allowances for eligible teammates based on years of service and awarded by seniority. Eligible teammates would receive an allowance of $1,000 per year of service to a maximum of $25,000 upon retirement. This option will be available to at least 200 retiring teammates over the life of the new agreement.

We firmly believe that this Final Offer represents a fair balance that delivers tremendous value for teammates and supports the future of Safeway in Alberta. It provides more job security, improved compensation and enhanced benefits. This is the Company’s best and final offer. There are no more bargaining dates and there will not be another offer. We strongly encourage you to vote to accept it.

It is important that you take the time to carefully review the offer and cast your vote. Direct any questions about where or how to vote to your Union representative. For scheduling matters that may affect your ability to vote, speak with your Store Manager or your Human Resources Business Partner.

We’ll provide you with an update once the results have been confirmed. We look forward to you ratifying the offer so we can move forward with improvements that have been offered and focus on continuing to build a strong future for Safeway!

 

Safeway Talks, September 14, 2026

Post-strike vote: Where are we now?

On September 14, UFCW 401 confirmed that 86% of teammates in the Retail bargaining unit, 93% in the South Meats bargaining unit and 90% in the North Meats bargaining unit voted in favour of a strike mandate. This result means that the union can implement strike action with as little as 72 hours notice.

We remain committed to bargaining in good faith to reach an agreement that balances your needs and the longevity of Safeway in Alberta. The strike vote doesn’t change that. We’re ready to return to the bargaining table from September 15 to 17 to work towards reaching a deal.

We also understand that the possibility of a labour disruption can create uncertainty. We have contingency plans in place, and our stores will remain open and ready to serve customers.

We’ll continue to provide timely, accurate updates as they become available. In the meantime, please refer to this FAQ document for more information.

 

 

After nearly a year of collective bargaining with UFCW 401, this week’s negotiations marked an important milestone with the participation of a mediator for the first time.

The mediator’s role is to help the company and the union work through outstanding issues. Having a mediator in place is also one of the required steps before either party can be in a legal strike or lockout position if an agreement is not reached. We have heard from so many teammates that you don’t want a strike or a lockout.

We remain focused on reaching an agreement that balances your needs, the competitive realities of our industry, and supports a strong future for Safeway in Alberta.

While no deal was reached this week, there were discussions on benefits, cross department training for those who choose to opt-in, scheduling, and other collective agreement language.

Bargaining will continue from August 19 – 21, with the meditator in attendance, and we’ll share further updates following those talks.

We have been told that UFCW 401 will ask you to take a strike vote in September. It’s important that you stay informed, attend all meetings, and participate in all votes to ensure your voice is heard. Please speak with your union representative to urge them to work with us to reach a new collective agreement.

As always, speak to your Store Manager if you have any questions or concerns.