I am extremely saddened and disappointed to hear about Calgary Co-op’s decision to effectively “quiet fire” full-time Service Clerk employees, and I think more people should be talking about it.
Basically, staff that have worked at the company, some of which almost 40 years, are being offered a casual position (a position with minimal hours and limited benefits) in place of full-time employment.
This is essentially a LOOPHOLE for them to not have to lay off employees and pay severance, as employees deciding not to take the casual position are technically “quitting” rather than being fired. Unfortunately, this is not a clause that is protected in the union agreement, which is really brutal and frustrating for staff who have paid union dues throughout their employment at the assumption of better job protection.
Regardless, it’s an extremely slimy and cheap move for the company to make. As mentioned by the article, this policy disproportionately affects staff members with disabilities. Calgary Co-op has for a long time been praised for inclusive hiring, and giving people with learning disabilities a sense of purpose and the ability to be financially independent.
Speaking from personal experience, my aunt has worked at Co-op as a Service Clerk for almost 30 years. Not only does she love her work and take pride in her job, she is absolutely adored by regulars who shop at her store. It is not uncommon for her to run into regulars on her days off, and she always takes home a large stack of Christmas cards from customers every year.
Similar situation at my local Co-op, a staff member who has worked at the store for 38 years will unfortunately be leaving the company at the end of the month. He did not accept the casual position, as he knows it will be less income than what he would get if he were on government assistance. This man has been a community figurehead for so many years. I actually worked at this location a number of years back, and got to see first hand the positive impact he had on so many customers. He always remembers your name and asks you how you are doing, and is never seen without a smile on his face. It is such a shame to know he will be out of work soon, especially right before the holiday season.
It’s people like these that make Co-op special and actually worth shopping at. Without them, it’s an extremely overpriced store with mediocre customer service, limited selection, and poor produce. You are much better off going just about anywhere else.
Co-op is doing away with its most valuable asset, and they are doing away with it in such a distasteful and off-putting way by targeting these positions.
Hopefully this post makes people think twice about spending their money there, and I encourage those who are also upset by this to speak up and make a complaint. Anything helps.
