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Here in British Columbia we are having a major dispute with Shoppers Drug Mart... For 3 years employees at the union locations (18 union stores are in the province of B.C.) have attempted to negotiate a new collective agreement, however that is not what the employer has in mind. They have shut down 1 union store already, and opened a new non-union store across the street, and 3 more within the area, and refused to hire any employees from the closed union store because they were union members. Shoppers have already started the process of doing this to another location in Delta, which the store should close in sept (approx), and possibly another one too.

These members have given their all for this company and just like that they were unemployed. One employee was planning on becoming an associate (owner/operator), she started the process, and " poof" the dream was gone.

Many of these people who have lost their jobs and the ones at the other 18 locations have been with the company for over 20 years and haven't received a raise for over 10 years. This multi billion-dollar corporation is doing this despite the fact that they are now the largest drug store chain in Canada; 258 MILLION dollars in profit is what they made in 2003. It’s not like these employees are demanding the world... actually they are only asking for very little. This company is no longer that good old drug store down the way that treats their employees fairly, they are now trying to be a big bully.

They are asking the employees still employed at the union locations to take roll backs on benefits (medical and dental). So what we are asking is that people shop at a unionized shoppers drug mart in your town, or at a drug store that treats their employees with respect. These people at the union stores in British Columbia ARE ONLY ASKING FOR A REASONABLE STANDARD OF LIVING, and are asking for your support...

If you would like more information on this, please feel free to visit www.ufcw1518.com
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