Save-On-Foods is ending pandemic pay for its employees.
Save-On-Foods said in a statement that it will be ending pandemic pay for its employees and will be providing workers with options such as the ability to save 10 per cent off their groceries until the end of 2020.
Employees at Save-On-Foods were receiving an extra $2 an hour in pandemic pay.
“Our team members understand that this bonus pay was temporary and designed to be paid during the height of the pandemic,” Save-On-Foods said in a statement provided to CHEK News.
Save-On-Foods, which is owned by Overwaitea Food Group and whose parent company is the Jim Pattison Group, said that with the economy reopening, said a new program will “far exceed the value of the short-term hourly bonus” employees were receiving.
“Our team members are our most valuable assets and as we have in the recent months, we will continue to recognize them for their over and above efforts in unique ways with gift cards, free products and ongoing exclusive team member offers – to name a few,” Save-On-Foods added in its statement.
UFCW 1518, the union that represents Save-On-Foods employees called the decision “irresponsible and unfair.”
“B.C. is only beginning to relax its pandemic response this week, and the crisis is far from over, especially for front line workers,” UFCW 1518 president Kim Novak said in a press release, adding. “There remains a lot of uncertainty around what could happen in the coming months. Meanwhile, Save-On-Foods members continue to assume risks by showing up to work every day. Ongoing recognition for that commitment is the least these workers deserve.”
Nicholas Pescod
