Toronto – April 9, 2020 – With thousands of UFCW Canada members still on the front lines as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to unfold, more UFCW members have secured pay premiums and enhanced safety measures in recognition of their hard work during the crisis.

Across the country, UFCW Canada members working in the food retail and processing, warehousing, security, restaurant, and laundry sectors have negotiated premium pay, additional paid sick days, increased safety protections, or a combination of these measures at numerous workplaces.

Below is a list of just some of the UFCW members who have achieved gains on the job as they work to keep Canada going throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

UFCW 247 members at Fresh St. Markets (Fleetwood & West Vancouver) - Pay premiums

UFCW 247 members at FG Deli Group – Pay premiums, more safety measures

UFCW 247 members at Cold Logic (Sobeys warehouse) – Pay premiums

UFCW 832 members at Red River Co-op – Pay premiums, more safety measures

UFCW 1006A members at Swiss Chalet (corporate locations) – Pay premiums

UFCW 1006A members at Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) warehouse – Pay premiums

UFCW 1006A members at Canadian Linen – Additional paid sick days

UFCW 1006A members at Sofina Foods – Pay premiums

UFCW 1006A members at Weston Bakeries – Pay premiums

UFCW 333 members at Commissionaires Canada – Pay premiums, lay-off support

These gains follow the negotiation of premium pay and enhanced safety protections for UFCW members working at all Olymel, Cargill, and Maple Leaf Foods plants, Pepsi and Coca-Cola locations, and Loblaw, Metro, and Sobeys banner grocery stores in Canada.

“UFCW members are stepping up to make sure that Canadians and their families get the food, beverages, clothing products, and security services they need to stay health and safe in this time of crisis, and these pay premiums, paid sick days, and increased safety measures are a great way to acknowledge the vital work that members are performing from coast to coast,” says Paul Meinema, the national president of UFCW Canada.

UFCW Canada is the country’s leading private sector union, representing more than 250,000 union members across Canada working in food retail and processing, transportation, health care, logistics, warehousing, agriculture, hospitality, manufacturing, and the security and professional sectors. UFCW is the country's most innovative organization dedicated to building fairness in workplaces and communities. UFCW Canada members are your neighbours who work at your local grocery stores, hotels, car rental agencies, nursing homes, restaurants, food processing plants, and thousands of other locations across the country.