Jan. 14, 2022 "Return of hero pay long overdue, frazzled grocery workers say": Today I found this article on CBC news:
Retail workers say the refusal by Canada's grocers to reinstate "hero pay" has left them feeling forgotten and unappreciated as the Omicron wave leaves many stores short-staffed and shoppers stocking up.
Multiple grocery store workers say they are busier than ever with more staff calling in sick in the last two weeks than during the entire pandemic.
They say customers are also once again "clearing the shelves" and stocking up on food, which increases the workload in stores.
Tammy Laporte, a full-time grocery store worker, says the last two years have been the hardest of her 23-year career.
She says it's a "never-ending struggle" to keep the store running smoothly while adhering to increased cleaning requirements and enforcing public health measures.
Laporte says the decision by grocery chains not to bring back the $2-an-hour pay bump is "insulting."
"It made us feel appreciated," she said of the pay premium Loblaws, Metro and Sobeys offered workers during the first wave of COVID-19.
"It made us feel like the employer cared, and like they understood the risks we were facing."
Despite working with a major grocer for more than two decades as a full-time employee, Laporte says the pandemic bonus brought her pay "to the edge of a living wage" for the first time.
"The $2-an-hour increase may not seem like a lot but at the end of the day, it made a big difference."
Last week, Unifor national president Jerry Dias and NDP MP Brian Masse also called for a reinstatement of extra pay for retail workers during the increased risk of of the Omicron wave.
No plan to pay more yet
Loblaws, Metro and Sobeys did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday.
While the grocers did offer a mix of
bonuses,
gift cards
or other benefits during subsequent waves of the pandemic,
none appear to be offering any additional pay as a result of the Omicron surge.
However, Sobeys has committed to reinstating its "hero pay" when regions or provinces go back into lockdowns that close all non-essential retail.
Karen Lobb, who has worked at a grocery store for 27 years, said workers would appreciate an acknowledgment of the risks they face going into work every day.
"They took the bonus away but COVID never went way," she said. "We've never closed, we haven't stopped."
Lobb added: "We're short-staffed and some of us are working longer hours to make up for it. Some recognition would be nice."
Return of hero pay long overdue, frazzled grocery workers say | CBC News
Jan. 28, 2022 "Sobeys Ont. warehouse workers negotiate big wage bumps": Today I found this article on BNN Bloomberg:
WHITBY, Ont. - The union representing Sobeys warehouse workers in Ontario says they have ratified a four-year contract with “massive wage increases.”
Unifor says the agreement covering more than 500 workers at the distribution centre in Whitby includes a full-time pay increase of 19.5 per cent over four years, including $2.74 per hour or 11.3 per cent immediately, for employees with 8,000 or more hours of service.
Part-time wages increase $7 to $14 per hour over four years with junior employees getting an immediate $7-per-hour increase to earn the same hourly rate as full-time workers.
The immediate start rate increases $3.10 per hour for full-time and $7 per hour for part-time.
Signing bonuses of $1,000 to $2,000 will be paid to those with 2,000 or more hours of service.
The grocer, owned by Empire Co. Ltd., will double its RRSP contribution to five per cent over four years and add a sixth week of vacation at 26 years of seniority.
Sobeys Ont. warehouse workers negotiate big wage bumps - BNN Bloomberg
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