United Steelworkers union (USW) Local 2009 members who have been locked out of their jobs at UFCW 1518 for over a month are set to hold a rally this weekend.
On Saturday, May 14, the 38 locked-out staff will hold a rally supporting all the UFCW 1518 members who are part of the ongoing dispute.
The rally will run from noon to 12:45 p.m. at Westminster Pier Park in New Westminster. Speakers include USW 2009 bargaining team members, UFCW 1518 activists, and other special guests.
A petition has been started accusing UFCW 1518 of a “bulldozing mandate.”
“We got hundreds and hundreds of messages from grocery store employees, retail staff, health-care and industrial workers represented by UFCW 1518 who are angry about their union’s use of anti-union tactics,” said Al Bieksa, USW Local 2009 president, in a statement. “They want answers, democracy, and their union to show the same respect they ask of their own employers.”
Over 600 people signed the USW 2009 petition, which Bieksa delivered to UFCW 1518 on Monday, May 8, in an email to the UFCW 1518 leadership. UFCW 1518 has yet to end the lockout, invite union support staff back to the bargaining table.
“Dues-paying members are the real union,” said Bieksa. “The UFCW 1518 membership deserves to see their staff representatives and support staff achieve a fair and respectful agreement. UFCW 1518 needs to fix this situation and do their members right by ending the lockout.”
