After months of bargaining and with conciliation talks scheduled for Monday October 30, the workers of Pete’s Frootique in downtown Halifax have gone public with their frustrations.
“Pete’s workers struggle to afford the bare essentials of life,” says Nicholle Savoie, one of the employees. “We have been waiting for a fair contract since we voted to unionize in May 2022; we have waited long enough.”
After handing out information flyers on Tuesday, workers will be hosting a larger information picket and solidarity rally on the weekend to build community support in their fight for fair wages and to stand up to corporate greed.
WHAT: Information picket & solidarity rally with Pete’s Frootique workers
WHEN: Saturday October 28 | 11am to 3pm AT. Speeches will begin around 12pm.
WHERE: Outside the main entrance to Pete’s Frootique, 1515 Dresden Row, Halifax
Workers voted overwhelmingly to join SEIU Local 2 in May 2022. They were forced to wait for close to a year for the results of the vote as Sobey’s, owners of Pete’s Frootique, challenged the rights of several workers to be part of the Union at the Labour Board. In March 2023 Sobey’s finally dropped their challenge recognizing the rights of those workers. A year and a half after the vote to join SEIU and more than six months after the ballots were finally counted, workers continue to wait for a fair offer with decent wages.
Sobeys (Empire Co), a retail food giant that has continued to make profits throughout the pandemic. All workers at this location make minimum wage including those who have over ten years of service.
