Hello everyone,
Please find attached and below the transcript of a question Michael asked of the Minister of Labour with regards to the Extra Foods strike in Maple Ridge.
As always Michael strives to bring local concerns to the attention of the government.
2009 Legislative Session: First Session, 39th Parliament
COMMITTEE A BLUES
This is a DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY of debate in one sitting of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. This transcript is subject to corrections, and will be replaced by the final, official Hansard report. Use of this transcript, other than in the legislative precinct, is not protected by parliamentary privilege, and public attribution of any of the debate as transcribed here could entail legal liability.
DEBATES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
(HANSARD)
COMMITTEE A BLUES
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2009
Afternoon Sitting
PROCEEDINGS IN THE
DOUGLAS FIR ROOM
Committee of Supply
ESTIMATES: MINISTRY OF LABOUR
M. Sather: I want to bring to the minister’s attention a labour issue in my community, which he may be aware of given the length of time that it’s gone on. This has to do with the strike at Extra Foods in Maple Ridge. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
[1800]
Extra Foods is an economical grocery store that’s owned by Westfair Foods, who are in turn part of Loblaw’s conglomerate. Those workers have been out since December of last year, so getting over nine months now. This is a store that’s strategically located in Maple Ridge in terms of the seniors population. It’s a store that they were able to walk to and get a reasonable price for their groceries, which is, of course, very important to them. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
The workers, of course, are suffering from reduced circumstances. There seems to be no hurry — if I can use that word — on the part of the employer to go to the bargaining table. Arbitration has been suggested and rejected. I’m just wondering if the minister…. I understand, of course, that the minister does not get involved in labour negotiations directly, but this is such a contentious issue in my community in terms of — I speak particularly again of — the seniors community, who are suffering greatly from this lack of services. For most of them, it’s difficult to make it to a grocery store further afield. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
I’m just wondering if the minister has any suggestion, any news, any information whatsoever that I can take back to the workers and the seniors in my community about this situation that might give them any glimmer of hope. Westfair, I guess, intends to bring in a store that is actually called No Frills, so they want to switch to that store. But as I understand it, it’s kind of like a Costco store. The groceries are stacked up high and not user-friendly for seniors. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
I’m wanting to know if the minister has anything that he can tell me that I can take back to my constituents that might give them some cause for hope. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
Hon. M. Coell: I am aware of that situation. I think there are a couple of things that the union and the employer could do. They could go to the LRB and ask for mediation. I don’t believe they’ve done that. They also could ask for an arbitrator, but they would both need to agree on that. It’s not something that the ministry would get involved with in any way, shaping a dispute, other than to suggest that those are two options that they would have to go forward with. [DRAFT TRANSCRIPT ONLY]
