Read on Twitter
Some context to the @SafewayCanada strike vote. I was encouraged by @ufcw401 to strike in the 90’s. We had a good deal but the union wanted more. We went out on strike and had “professional” strikers from the union come to our picket line. #Safeway #Strike Alberta 1/
The professional strikers were belligerent, rude and told us that we were being too nice to the customers crossing our picket line. Those customers were our neighbours. It was cold, and striking sucks. After a month, we voted again. The offer from Safeway was better. 2/
Doug Ohalloran railed against Safeway. We had them where we wanted them he said. Predictably we voted to continue striking. Many of our coworkers(friends) could not survive on $10 an hour strike pay and had to cross the picket line. 3/
Losing numbers we continued to strike for another month. Safeway put a great deal on the table giving us pretty much what the workers had asked for. Doug OHalloran said let’s get some more. Safeway has already blinked twice. 4/
Our next strike meeting Doug us that Safeway has not only pulled the original two offers from the table, but the current offer was a shell of the former offer. Beaten, Doug asked striking workers to accept the offer. It was a bloodbath of an offer. 5/
Safeway not only took away things that would have made the job better, in 72 lost days on strike we were further behind than where we had started. I made $3 in raises my first 2 years at Safeway, I made a $1.50 in raises the 3 years after the strike. 6/
And do you want to know the kicker? All the workers who had crossed the line had nice,
shiny new cars the next spring after being able to work unlimited overtime during the strike. 7/
shiny new cars the next spring after being able to work unlimited overtime during the strike. 7/
