UFCW Local 832

Attention: Agriculture Editor, City Editor, Food/Beverage Editor, News Editor, Government/Political Affairs Editor

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, MEDIA ADVISORY--(Marketwire - Sept. 27, 2008) - A province wide strike was averted at 4:00a.m. this morning after the UFCW Local 832 negotiating committee reached a tentative agreement with Westfair Foods. Strike preparations ramped up this week, strike trailers were delivered to many of the stores as negotiations looked like they were headed towards a labour dispute.

UFCW Local 832 President Robert Ziegler was pleased that a tentative agreement was reached but stated until the members ratify the tentative agreement the strike trailers will stay put.
The choice to move the ratification vote one week was because the union negotiated had prepared a signed memorandum 13 hours past the deadline. "We feel it's best to wait a week so we can properly prepare the recommended settlement for the members to review" stated President Ziegler.

Local 832 had been in negotiations since July with their contract set to expire this week. A strike vote was held on August 24 where members voted 98% in favour of strike action. Local 832 is the first of three UFCW locals to reach a settlement, UFCW Local 1400 in Saskatchewan is negotiating with the company next week as they have a 96% strike vote mandate along with UFCW Local 401 in Alberta voted 94% in favour of strike action as they have been without a collective agreement for two years.

This agreement will affect over 3600 Westfair employees working at The Real Canadian Superstores and Extra Foods throughout the province of Manitoba.

A final offer vote or strike was scheduled for tomorrow; SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 28, 2008 has now been rescheduled to SUNDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2008.

The union asks the various media outlets to announce the change in time and if they could direct members to the unions website www.ufcw832.com on times and locations.

/For further information: The union asks the various media outlets to announce the change in time and if they could direct members to the unions website www.ufcw832.com on times and locations for the ratification vote./


IN: AGRICULTURE, FOOD, JUSTICE, LABOUR, POLITICS