*350 Safeway workers locked out*
                                                  By THE CANADIAN PRESS

Last Updated: 7th September 2009, 2:36pm


EDMONTON — Labour Day in Alberta is being marked by a lockout of 350 unionized Safeway workers whose jobs could soon be taken by replacement workers.

The workers at Safeway’s ice cream plant and the Edmonton distribution centre rejected a deal that their own union leadership had endorsed.

Safeway has been advertising for replacement workers and plans to use non-union people at a rate of $18.41 per hour.

Doug O’Halloran, president of the United Food and Commercial Workers local, says under Alberta’s labour laws, hiring replacement workers is allowed during labour disputes.

O’Halloran is already suggesting the lockout could last for months.

Several issues are in dispute, including a push by Safeway to increase the work week to 40 hours, up from the 37 hours the employees work now.