Benefits

Do grocery employees receive benefits at work?

Grocery employees who are members of UFCW Canada receive benefits at work. These health and welfare benefits typically include dental care, eyecare and eyewear, and prescription drug coverage, among others. Often the employer covers most of the cost of these benefits, or the entire cost, depending on the bargaining unit.  

By contrast, grocery employees at non-union grocery stores either lack benefits completely or have access to benefits that they pay for themselves. For example, some non-union grocery employees are given the option of purchasing a benefit plan through their employer. Sometimes the employer covers part of the cost of these plans, while other times they do not. Many non-union grocery stores simply do not offer benefits to their employees. 

What are the benefits of joining the grocery store union?

Benefits of joining UFCW Canada, the grocery store union, include gaining a strong voice on the job and having access to an enforceable collective agreement that outlines and protects your rights at work. Grocery store workers who join UFCW Canada also enjoy benefits that are rarely seen in non-union grocery stores, such as regular, scheduled wage increases and employer-paid health and welfare benefits.

Do grocery workers receive a grocery union pension?

Most grocery workers who are members of UFCW Canada, the union for grocery store employees, receive a grocery union pension. Usually these pensions are defined benefit pension plans that guarantee retirement income for members. Access to a pension is rare in Canada, as only 37 percent of the Canadian workforce has a pension plan at work. However, for many UFCW members in the grocery industry, a pension plan is a standard benefit of their union membership.

What are the grocery union benefits?

The benefits of joining UFCW, the grocery union in Canada, include better wages and health benefits, fair scheduling and paid leave, and retirement security provided by our union-negotiated pension plans. UFCW Canada members also have access to training and education programs and opportunities to get involved in their union. These benefits are typically not available to grocery workers at non-union grocery stores.

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Wages

Do grocery store workers get more money when they belong to a union?

Yes. Grocery store workers who are members of UFCW Canada, the union for grocery employees, get more money because they belong to a union. For example, UFCW grocery members make wages that are above industry standard and receive regular, scheduled wage increases that can’t be taken away by a manager. In addition, UFCW Canada members in the grocery industry receive wage premiums for working certain shifts – like Sundays or night shifts – and taking on specific job responsibilities, such as cash handler or key holder. As well, UFCW Canada members occasionally receive signing bonuses when they ratify a new collective agreement.

How much do grocery store employees make?

In Canada, the average hourly wage for grocery store employees is $16.64 per hour. However, with a union like UFCW in your corner, you will have opportunities to make more than this industry standard. Those opportunities will come in the form of regular, scheduled wage increases that are negotiated and protected by your union, as well as wage premiums and contract provisions that ensure wages in UFCW Canada grocery stores stay above minimum wage, even when it increases. From time to time, UFCW members in the grocery industry also receive a signing bonus when they ratify a new collective agreement. 

How often do grocery workers receive a wage increase?

When you are a grocery worker at a non-union grocery store, a wage increase might depend on whether the manager likes you or not, and you may not receive a wage increase at all. But grocery workers who are members of UFCW Canada receive regular, scheduled wage increases that are protected by their collective agreement. Usually, these wage increases come on a yearly basis.

Do grocery store union wages differ from wages at other stores?

Yes. Grocery store union wages differ from wages at other, non-union stores in that they are often higher and increase on a regular basis. For grocery store workers who are members of UFCW Canada, the grocery store union, things like wage premiums, signing bonuses, and minimum wage contract provisions also help ensure that members’ wages stay above the industry average.

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COVID-19

Are grocery store workers considered front line workers?

Yes. Grocery store employees are absolutely considered front line workers, as these heroes are on the front lines of feeding Canadians and their families every single day. UFCW Canada is proud to represent more than 140,000 front line grocery workers across the country, at companies like Loblaws, Sobeys/Safeway, Metro, Co-op, Overwaitea, and many other supermarket banners.

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Industry

What are the grocery store employee occupations?

The grocery store employee occupations include:

• Cashier / Keyholder / Front End Supervisor
• Deli / Prepared Meals Clerk
• Produce Clerk
• Seafood Clerk
• Butcher / Meat Clerk
• Grocery Store Clerk / Dairy Clerk / Receiver
• Bakery Clerk
• Floral Clerk
• Courtesy Clerk
• Department Manager (All Departments)

What are the responsibilities of a grocery store employee?

The responsibilities of a grocery store employee vary widely, depending on the employee’s job position and the department they work in. Cashiers help customers bag and pay for their items at checkout, while deli clerks prepare hot and cold meals for takeaway and assist shoppers with weighing and portioning food items, such as deli meats. Grocery and produce clerks stock shelves, help customers locate products, and receive and organize product shipments. Butchers cut, prepare, and stock various types of meat, and seafood clerks assist shoppers in finding the perfect cut of fish. Bakery clerks bake and prepare a number of bread, pastry, and confectionary items, while floral clerks help customers select the best bouquet of flowers and find the right seasonal plant. Courtesy clerks retrieve shopping carts, bag groceries, and assist shoppers with requests, and department managers handle inventory, order grocery products, and write employee schedules. Each employee contributes to the optimal functioning of the grocery store and ensuring that every customer has a great shopping experience.

Are union grocery jobs good jobs?

Yes. A union grocery job can be a great job if you have a union like UFCW Canada in your corner. At grocery stores represented by UFCW, members enjoy flexible hours, fair wages, and benefits that are unheard of at non-union workplaces. UFCW Canada members in the grocery industry also have access to amazing training and education opportunities, like the union’s ground-breaking online education program, webCampus.

How many grocery store employees are there in Canada?

According to Statistics Canada, grocery stores employed more than 515,300 workers throughout the country as of 2020. This number was down slightly from 2019, when the grocery industry employed over 521,400 workers in Canada.

What are some examples of grocery store worker interview questions?

The interview questions that you are likely to be asked when applying for a job as a grocery store worker will be aimed at determining whether you can handle the responsibilities of a grocery store employee. You might be asked if you have any experience in customer service, if you are able to lift heavy objects over a certain weight, and whether you can work weekends and evening shifts on weekdays. These are all common responsibilities for a grocery store worker, and so you should expect interview questions that are focused on these tasks and expectations.

What skills do you need to work in a grocery store?

Because working in a grocery store is a challenging and multifaceted job, the skills that you need to work as a grocery store employee are wide-ranging. Generally speaking, you will be expected to stock and merchandise food products, provide customer service to shoppers, and assist customers with product inquiries. You may also be asked to handle cash and assist shoppers with bagging and paying for their groceries. If you work in the meat, seafood, deli, or produce departments, you may be expected to learn or apply knife skills. Alternatively, if you are responsible for ordering and receiving product, you may be asked to obtain or provide an electric pallet jack or forklift license.  

What do supermarket workers do?

Supermarket workers do all sorts of jobs, from stocking food products to cutting and preparing meat, fish, and produce, to helping customers pay for their groceries. Supermarket workers also bake and prepare bread, pasty, and confectionary items and assist shoppers with floral arrangements, lottery ticket purchases, and so much more.

How can I thank a grocery worker for all that they do?

You can thank a grocery worker for all that they do by simply thanking them in person when you see them in the grocery store. Grocery employees work hard on the front lines and perform demanding tasks every day, but they aren’t always thanked for their efforts. Saying “thank you” with a smile is a gesture of gratitude and goodwill that is likely to be remembered by the grocery worker you are thanking.

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Union Representation

What is the union for grocery workers?

UFCW Canada is the union for grocery workers, representing over 140,000 grocery store employees across the country, in nearly every province.

Which union is the grocery store workers union?

The grocery store workers union is UFCW Canada, which represents tens of thousands of grocery store employees at major food retail companies from coast to coast.

What grocery stores are union in Canada?

Grocery stores that are unionized in Canada include all supermarket banners that are represented by UFCW, the union for grocery workers. Examples are Loblaws, Sobeys/Safeway, Metro, Co-op, Overwaitea, and subsidiaries like Real Canadian Superstore, No Frills, IGA, Food Basics, and Save-On-Foods. UFCW Canada also represents workers at smaller grocery stores, such as Pusateri’s.

Why should I join the grocery store workers union?

You should join UFCW Canada, the grocery store workers union, to gain the membership benefits of Canada’s best union. Those benefits include generous health and welfare benefits, better work-life balance, and a pension plan. UFCW members also have access to training and education programs that can help further their career. Fair wages that are above industry standard, and opportunities to get involved in the country’s leading union, are additional reasons why you should join UFCW Canada.

Which grocery stores have unions in Canada?

The major grocery stores that have unions in Canada are Loblaws, Sobeys/Safeway, Metro, Co-op, Overwaitea, and their related banners. Workers at these companies are represented by UFCW Canada, the grocery store union. Below is a breakdown of the unionized grocery store chains in Canada.

What is the grocery union in Canada?

UFCW is the grocery union in Canada, representing more than 140,000 grocery store employees at major supermarket chains across the country. UFCW Canada represents grocery workers in nearly every province, from coast to coast, and has a decades-long history of helping grocery members and their families build a better life.

Is there a grocery baggers union?

Yes. The grocery baggers union is UFCW Canada, the union for grocery workers. Also referred to as courtesy clerks, grocery baggers make up a significant portion UFCW’s food retail membership.

What is a grocery union contract?

A grocery union contract is a collective bargaining agreement that establishes and protects terms of employment in a grocery store, such as wages, hours of work, break periods, and so on. Over the last four decades, UFCW Canada has negotiated thousands of grocery union contracts that have helped improve the lives of grocery workers and their families, which is why we are known as Canada’s grocery union.

What supermarkets are union?

Supermarkets that are union in Canada include Loblaws, Sobeys/Safeway, Metro, Co-op, Overwaitea, and their affiliated banners, like Real Canadian Superstore, IGA, Food Basics, Save-On-Foods, and more. For a full list of grocery stores that are represented by UFCW Canada, the supermarket union, click here.

Is there a union for retail workers?

Yes. UFCW Canada is the union for retail workers, representing tens of thousands of members working at grocery, hardware, beverage alcohol, eyewear, cannabis, and other retail stores throughout the country, from British Columbia to Newfoundland and Labrador and everywhere in between.

Are grocery store employees unionized?

Yes. Grocery store employees working at Loblaws, Sobeys/Safeway, Metro, Co-op, Overwaitea, and their subsidiaries, such as Real Canadian Superstore, IGA, Food Basics, and Save-On-Foods are unionized in Canada. Employees at these companies are members of UFCW Canada, the union for grocery store employees.

What union represents food workers?

In Canada, the union that represents food workers is UFCW Canada. UFCW represents workers in all aspects of the food industry, including agriculture, food manufacturing, food retail, food service, and the restaurant sector.

What is the union for retail workers?

The union for retail workers is UFCW Canada. As the voice of workers at grocery, hardware, beverage alcohol, eyewear, cannabis, outdoor equipment, and fashion retail stores, from coast to coast, UFCW represents retail employees in every corner of the Canadian retail industry.

Do retail workers have a union?

Yes. Many retail workers have a union, and that union is UFCW Canada. Representing tens of thousands of workers at grocery, hardware, beverage alcohol, eyewear, cannabis, and other retail stores across the country, UFCW is the leading voice of retail workers in Canada.

Do grocery stores have unions?

Yes. Grocery stores have unions in Canada, and that union is UFCW Canada. UFCW represents grocery store workers at the following companies:

What is the best union to join?

In Canada, the best union to join is UFCW Canada. As a member of UFCW, you will have full access to all UFCW Canada member benefits, services, and programs. These include health and welfare benefits, as well as protections that are negotiated in the contract with your employer, such as wage rates, working conditions, promotions, grievance procedures, pensions, and vacations. UFCW Canada membership also gives you access to scholarship programs, education and training opportunities, and outreach programs that range from member assistance to charitable activities.

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Union Dues

How much are grocery store union dues?

Union dues can vary according to your job position, workplace, hourly wage or salary, Local Union by-laws, and whether you work full-time or part-time, among other factors. Normally, when UFCW Canada members want to learn more about how their union dues are calculated, they are advised to contact their Local Union Representative.

How much are grocery union dues?

Union dues can vary according to your job position, workplace, hourly wage or salary, Local Union by-laws, and whether you work full-time or part-time, among other factors. Normally, when UFCW Canada members want to learn more about how their union dues are calculated, they are advised to contact their Local Union Representative.

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Strikes

Do grocery workers strike?

Not very often. Grocery workers who are members of UFCW Canada, the union for grocery workers, rarely ever strike. While grocery worker strikes were more common in the past, today close to 99 percent of UFCW collective agreements are settled without a strike or lockout, including contracts negotiated in the grocery industry.

Do grocery unions strike?

Not very often. Grocery workers who are members of UFCW Canada, the union for grocery workers, rarely ever strike. While grocery worker strikes were more common in the past, today close to 99 percent of UFCW collective agreements are settled without a strike or lockout, including contracts negotiated in the grocery industry.

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UFCW Canada

How do I join the UFCW union?

You can join the UFCW union by contacting UFCW Canada today. After completing the form on our Join the Union website, or calling the toll-free number on the site, you will be contacted by a UFCW Canada organizer to discuss next steps for joining the union. All contact with UFCW is treated as strictly confidential, and your employer will never know that you have contacted the union.

What are the UFCW grocery stores?

In Canada, the UFCW grocery stores are operated by Loblaws, Sobeys/Safeway, Metro, Co-op, Overwaitea, and their associated banners, like Real Canadian Superstore, IGA, Food Basics, and Save-On-Foods, among others. To see a full list of grocery stores represented by UFCW Canada, union for grocery workers, click here.

Who does the UFCW represent?

In Canada, the UFCW represents over 250,000 members working in the retail, food, hospitality, health care, security, industrial, and office and professional sectors. While most of the UFCW Canada membership is comprised of workers in the food retail and food manufacturing industries, UFCW represents workers in virtually every aspect of the private sector, right across the country.

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Costco

Are Costco workers unionized?

Most Costco workers in Canada are not unionized. If you work at Costco and are interested in joining the union, contact UFCW Canada today. After completing the form on our Join the Union website, or calling the toll-free number on the site, you will be contacted by a UFCW Canada organizer to discuss next steps for joining the union. All contact with UFCW is strictly confidential, and your employer will never know that you have contacted the union.

Are Costco employees union?

Most Costco employees in Canada are not unionized. If you work at Costco and are interested in joining the union, contact UFCW Canada today. After completing the form on our Join the Union website, or calling the toll-free number on the site, you will be contacted by a UFCW Canada organizer to discuss next steps for joining the union. All contact with UFCW is strictly confidential, and your employer will never know that you have contacted the union.

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Walmart

Is Walmart unionized?

No. Walmart employees in Canada are not unionized. If you work at Walmart and are interested in joining the union, contact UFCW Canada today. After completing the form on our Join the Union website, or calling the toll-free number on the site, you will be contacted by a UFCW Canada organizer to discuss next steps for joining the union. All contact with UFCW is treated as strictly confidential, and your employer will never know that you have contacted the union.

Is Walmart a union company?

No. In Canada, Walmart is not a union company. If you work at Walmart and are interested in joining the union, contact UFCW Canada today. After completing the form on our Join the Union website, or calling the toll-free number on the site, you will be contacted by a UFCW Canada organizer to discuss next steps for joining the union. All contact with UFCW is strictly confidential, and your employer will never know that you have contacted the union.

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Loblaws

Is Loblaws unionized?

Yes. Loblaws employees are unionized, and the union that represents Loblaws workers is UFCW Canada, the union for grocery workers. UFCW represents members at Loblaws stores and affiliated banners, including Real Canadian Superstore, No Frills, Valu-Mart, Zehrs, Fortinos, Your Independent Grocer, and other company banners.

Does Loblaws have a union?     

Yes. Loblaws has a union, and that union is UFCW Canada. UFCW represents employees at Loblaws stores and affiliated banners, including Real Canadian Superstore, No Frills, Valu-Mart, Zehrs, Fortinos, Your Independent Grocer, and other company banners.

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No Frills

Are No Frills employees unionized?

Yes. No Frills employees are unionized, and the union that represents No Frills workers is UFCW Canada, the union for grocery workers. UFCW also represents employees at other Loblaws-owned grocery stores, such as Real Canadian Superstore and Valu-Mart.

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