A Union Voice for 65 Price Chopper Workers (9/2/08)

The RWDSU Northern Joint Council has 65 new members, employees at Price Chopper supermarket in North Bay, Ontario. The store was certified union on August 25 after workers there voted to join.

The organizing campaign started about a year ago, with Northern Joint Council organizers speaking to workers and distributing materials touting the benefits of joining a union.Workers were at the store were eager for the things that only a union contract can bring.

“People had been working there for years without wages, and seniority was a big issue,” said NJC Organizer Jeff Black. “Mostly they just wanted respect in their workplace, which was something they weren’t getting.”

The RWDSU’s reputation in the area helped in the organizing drive.

“We have three major supermarkets in North Bay, supermarket workers are telling each other the benefits of joining,” Black pointed out.

The union is in the process of forming a negotiating committee to start work on the first RWDSU contract at Price Chopper.