Saskatoon Co-op workers hit the picket lines around the city

More than 900 unionized Saskatoon Co-op workers went on strike Thursday morning, rejecting a contract offerthe company made last weekend.

United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1400 negotiator Rod Gilliessaid that under Co-op's latest offer, some new hires would be making up to $4.60 less per hour than existing counterparts doing the same work.

"What that does is lowers the wages of any new employees that Co-op hires," he said. "That is the biggest issue that is in contention between the Co-op and the members."

Saskatoon Co-op CEO Grant Wicks said most locations will remain open with reduced hours.

He said all of the pharmacies remain open, as do the Co-op locations inWarman,Martensville,WatrousandColonsay.

"Those are locations where we're effectively the only store in town," Wicks said.

"So we're going to make sure we keep those facilities open come what may, because when you are the only store in town, we feel an obligation to the members of those communities."

This is the first strikeat Saskatoon Co-op stores since 1983.

Picket lines are up at Co-op gas bars, groceries, hardware stores, agro centres and liquor stores.

Negotiations are set to continue Friday morning.

"Bargaining does not stop just because of job action,"Gilliessaid. "Both committees will be there tomorrow for bargaining and I think both parties have an appetite to continue and try to make some progress."

Gillies said more than three-quarters of job classifications would be affected by the two-tier wage grid.

On average, Co-op's offer would see new employees paid $2.64/hour less than existing employees doing the same jobs.

Wicks said the Co-op needs to match competitors' wages in order to compete in a tough marketplace.

Earlier this month, workers at Moose Jaw's Co-op stores went on strike, citing a similar wage offer that disproportionately targets female employees. Those workers are also represented by UFCW Local 1400.

The Co-op grocery and gas bar at Circle Drive and EighthStreet is not affected by the strike. Employees at the former Safeway location are represented by the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union.