Hospitality workers at Red Lobster join the union – UFCW 401

Edmonton – December 18, 2018 – Hospitality workers at Red Lobster in Edmonton, Alberta are the newest members of UFCW Canada Local 401 after recently deciding to join the union.

The Red Lobster workers join the ranks of nearly 32,000 other UFCW 401 members across the province of Alberta.

After many objections and failed attempts by Red Lobster management to thwart workers’ desire to join UFCW 401, the Alberta Labour Relations Board ruled that enough workers had signed union cards for the Local to be automatically certified as the official bargaining agent.

Workers at the Red Lobster restaurant, located on 171 Street in Edmonton’s west end, joined the union to achieve numerous improvements to their workplace. Soon, the union’s negotiating committee, comprised of activists within the restaurant, will sit down with the employer to address workers’ concerns and negotiate the first union contract for Red Lobster workers in Alberta.  

“This is indeed a very exciting time for the new members at Red Lobster,” says UFCW Canada Local 401 President Douglas O’ Halloran. “I’d like to offer a heartfelt congratulations to this amazing group of workers, who have taken the first step in bringing much-needed improvements to their workplace,” he adds.

UFCW Canada Local 401 is Alberta’s largest private sector union, representing workers across the province in food and beverage processing, health care, education, and many other sectors of the economy. To learn more about UFCW 401, visit their website.