Thomas Hesse

06/25/2026

It’s GO time! We are locked in and fighting for wages that make life affordable, our Safeway members deserve to make sure their hard work is respected at the grocery till and in their bank accounts. Read the update and be prepared for what’s coming

Safeway Bargaining Update! Your bargaining committee has been working hard on multiple fronts. We are now prepared to move to the most important issue for the vast majority of our Safeway members: monetary items.

The time for corporate stalling is over. We are taking these critical financial demands into formal mediation, with the next two high-stakes rounds of bargaining scheduled for July and August.

Check your email or click the link below to read the full update and learn how you can attend as an observer during our next round of bargaining in Edmonton!

👉 https://gounion.ca/news/standing-strong-as-we-head-to-mediation/

06/13/2026

After we found ourselves in a very unusual situation at Sofina Calgary, with a vote on the company offer that didn’t reveal a clear and proper result, we continue to believe that there has been interference by management.

We asked our members at the plant if they wanted a second “without prejudice” vote away from the plant and the eyes of Sofina bosses. We also asked for their comments on the situation.

A significant number of responding members said they want a new vote. Some of them say they simply want a clear majority, whichever way the vote goes.

Some felt that the company acted improperly in trying to implement the offer in a very grey, unclear situation, and without bothering to consult the union.

Quite a few also said that they do, in fact, believe that pressure from management contributed to the unreliable vote result.

As our lawyers continue to review this matter, we have scheduled a new "without prejudice" vote to help us better understand what Sofina Calgary employees truly want as we move forward: https://shorturl.at/DeXIX

06/05/2026

Wow! Last night, we held a virtual meeting with Safeway members from across the province. Hundreds of you joined on the phone or over Zoom to ask questions and to tell us your thoughts.

We heard you loud and clear.

Read the summary here: https://gounion.ca/negotiations/96-percent-of-safeway-members-do-not-trust-sobeys/

06/01/2026

Happy Pride Month, Alberta!

Throughout June, the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and allies come together to celebrate one simple truth - Love is love.

While Pride in the modern sense looks and feels more like a month-long party, it is so important to remember where this movement came from. Pride was (and still is) a form of protest against governments and institutions that discriminate against people based on their gender identity and sexuality.

Make no mistake, that discrimination is still very real today.

This month, we stand in solidarity with our 2SLGBTQIA+ community in celebrating love in all its forms. But even more importantly, we stand in solidarity against the discrimination, hate, and violence the community continues to face today.

05/30/2026

Today, Albertans from all walks of life drew a line in the sand.

05/23/2026

After months of trying to make progress, it has become necessary to seek assistance to move the bargaining process forward.

We have filed for mediation with Safeway.

Read our statement: https://gounion.ca/the-latest-safeway-bargaining-news/

05/21/2026

We're proud to stand with the Alberta Federation of Labour and the Fight Back Now campaign.

On May 29, our members will be joining thousands of Albertans for a province-wide Day of Protest.

We hope you'll join us too.

➡️ fightbacknow.civicdeeds.com
➡️ https://shorturl.at/PeAdf

05/11/2026

Happy National Nurses Week to the amazing team at Excel Society!

UFCW Local 401 is proud to represent such a dedicated group of healthcare workers. Thanks for keeping our community healthy and safe!

05/10/2026

Moms are something very special. I miss my momma every day. Call her and tell her how much you love her today and every day. Happy Mother’s Day!

Happy Mother’s Day! To all the mothers, grandmothers, caregivers, and mother figures of UFCW Local 401. We see the double shifts you work – whether on the job or at home. Thank you 🫶

05/08/2026

This is what solidarity looks like!

Your union belongs to you, and we're here to support you no matter which way you vote on a contract offer. That's the message President Thomas Hesse and Secretary-Treasurer Richelle Stewart brought to Sofina members yesterday as they made a difficult decision.

One of the most critical parts of collective bargaining comes when members have to vote on a company offer. When you have to decide whether an offer is good enough, there are many factors to consider.

Is the money good enough? Are there other positives that make the offer worth voting for? Are there concerns about things like the length of the contract, or whether it really provides a living wage, or other things the employer wants to implement that might be a problem for you?

Our members at Sofina's Calgary plant are now weighing those choices. As always in any bargaining process, we can do our best to provide all the information they need to make an informed choice.

But in the end, their vote belongs to them. This is their choice. Our elected officers led a large staff contingent down to the plant to make sure they knew that their Union would be with them no matter what choice they made.

"We are here for one simple reason," said President Hesse. "And that is to support you. Your Union belongs to you, your decision belongs to you, your vote belongs to you. But regardless of what that vote is, we will be there with you every step of the way."

This is a simple truth of our Union, no matter what workplace you belong to. Whatever your decision, whichever vote you choose when you're presented with an offer, we will be there to support you. That's what solidarity looks like!