United Food & Commercial Workers Union
Local 1400

Co-operative Sector

Would you like to see how an arbitration hearing works first hand?
If you would like to attend an arbitration hearing in your spare time, please call Amy at the Union office at 384.5787 or 1.800.274.4036 from outside of Saskatoon, or by email to Amy for dates, times and locations of upcoming hearings.

Co-operative Sector Shop Stewards and OH&S Committee Members

Co-operative Sector Updates

Grievance Reports

Fall/Winter 2007

Saskatoon Co-operative Association - Two members had unjust reprimands removed from their files as results of grievance settlements. Another member received a grievance settlement of just over $300 after a junior worker was scheduled more hours over a number of schedules; and three members who were not offered hours of work on a Statutory Holiday will receive $100 to compensate them for their missed opportunities. A further member received the balance of hours of pay owed when they had been unjustly denied compassionate leave entitlement.

Summer 2007

FirstSask Credit Union – A grievance was resolved on behalf of a member who was unjustly terminated one day past her probation period. Although she chose not to return to the workplace, she received a settlement equivalent to four weeks of pay, just over $2,100.

Saskatoon Co-operative Association – After reaching a number of mediated settlements regarding sick leave and bereavement leave entitlement, the union continues to file grievances on these same issues. The debate over how much information the employer is entitled to in order for the member to qualify for sick leave benefits is ongoing. However, there are more and more arbitration awards stating an employer is entitled to a certain amount of information as “proof” of an employee’s illness, so we can be sure that this issue will continue for some time.

Recently the union filed a grievance over the lack of eating areas at the Broadway, 51st Street, and Preston Crossing Gas Bar locations. A settlement was reached where the employer agreed to have tables installed at the Broadway and Preston Crossing locations and the employees at the 51st Street location are now able to use the manager’s office and desk for rest periods and meal breaks.

Spring 2007

Carnduff Co-operative Association - A grievance was filed when a vacant position wasn’t filled. The issue has been resolved with a member from within the unit receiving the posting and placed at the higher rate of pay, an increase of over one dollar per hour.

Saskatoon Co-operative Association - Over the past few months the union has been successful in reaching resolves on a number of outstanding issues. Thanks to the assistance of the mediation procedure, eight grievances were resolved over the last two weeks in March alone. The resolves to these grievances put over $700 back into the pockets of our members!

Previous to these meetings, two members who had filed grievances after being denied sick leave benefits saw their grievances resolved with over $12,000 in pay returned to them.

The union is working very hard to reach resolves for grievances that remain outstanding. There are currently two grievances that have been referred to arbitration. The union and employer have agreed upon an arbitrator and we are currently setting dates to hear both of these matters.

FirstSask Credit Union, Langham and area - Congratulations to the Shop Stewards that have recently completed their Level I training! There are a number of outstanding issues that require discussion between the union and employer and we are hopeful to sort through these items at our upcoming Joint Labour/Management Committee meeting on April 26, 2007.

Winter 2006/2007

Tisdale Credit Union – There were two successful grievance meetings this past fall, however, a grievance has now been filed as the result of a senior applicant recently being denied a position by the company in favour of a junior co-worker.

Fall 2006

Moose Jaw Co-operative Association – Two scheduling grievances were recently resolved, one where a junior member received a call-in when a senior member was available and the other where a member’s hours were not maximized.

Summer 2006

Hudson Bay Credit Union - Two reprimands have recently been dealt with at this unit, one was reduced to a verbal and one was removed from the member’s file.

April 2006

Moose Jaw Co-operative Association - A grievance was resolved for a probationary employee who was improperly terminated; the member received one week of pay in lieu of notice.

Saskatoon Co-operative Association - A member who had had their sick leave benefits unjustly withheld by the company received a compensating settlement to resolve the grievance totalling $3,600.

Tisdale Credit Union - Thanks to the stewards who have been able to address many of the issues right at the floor level and who don’t hesitate to call and ask for clarification when they need the advice, this is a workplace that is not experiencing any major issues.

January 2006

Saskatoon Co-op – A few grievance settlements have taken place since the last grievance report. Highlights include: an unjust suspension reduced to a reprimand, overtime that was performed by a junior resulting in an $85 settlement to the rightful member and bereavement leave pay of over $200 paid to a member that had been denied.

Ongoing or Other Issues

April 2006

Hudson Bay Credit Union - There have been some good questions and discussions regarding the implementation of the new Contract. Our three stewards are doing a fantastic job interpreting and policing the contract in an environment where everyone is going through an adjustment and learning period with the new Agreement in place.