September 19, 2025
RED FM News Desk
More than 200 workers at the Sobeys Rocky View Distribution Centre, located north of Calgary, went on strike Thursday. Represented by Teamsters Local Union 987, the employees are pushing for wages in line with Alberta’s industry standard — between $28 and $30 per hour for full-time warehouse workers.
“These employees are paid well below that, and we’re just saying ‘Hey, we want them to be at standard,’” said Brock Penner of the Teamsters.
The strike follows a lockout by Sobeys, prompting the union to issue a strike notice. According to labour expert Jason Foster from Athabasca University, failure to do so could leave workers ineligible for strike pay and vulnerable to new working conditions imposed with just 24 hours’ notice.
The walkout comes amid a broader wave of labour unrest across Canada, with employees in both public and private sectors — including education workers, Air Canada flight attendants, and Canada Post staff — either considering or preparing for job action.
“We haven’t seen a strike wave like this since the mid-1980s during high inflation,” said Foster.
Penner echoed the sentiment: “Working-class citizens — whether in Alberta or across Canada — are fed up.”
Sobeys says it hopes to reach a resolution soon. The company adds that it does not expect major disruptions to store shelves, as the Rocky View facility is fully automated. Experts note that supply shortages, if any, are unlikely to appear for at least 10 to 14 days, due to stockpiling and other distribution strategies.
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