The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Extra Foods employees across Manitoba have voted in favour of a strike if their employer doesn't come up with an offer they like. The United Food and Commercial Workers Local 832 on Sunday voted 95 per cent in favour of strike action after rejecting the latest offer put forth. The union represents about 3,100 employees at all Extra Foods and Superstore locations across the province. Both chains are owned by Calgary-based Westfair Foods. "The strike vote became necessary when virtually no progress was made during the past several weeks of negotiations with the company," read a statement on the union's Web site. "It's hoped that the company will now understand that they have to come up with a good offer, an offer that is acceptable to their workers Ñ or face a strike." Issues of concern for the union include wage increases, better scheduling, guarantee of hours, benefit improvements, and job security. The union's negotiating committee was scheduled to meet with the company three times this week and five times next week in an effort to find some common ground. No strike deadline has been set. The Flin Flon Extra Foods store opened last month, creating about 50 new jobs.
