Sobeys reinstates lockdown bonuses for workers, but labour expert says more could be done

Sobeys, one of the country's largest grocery retailers,is offering employees in Nova Scotia alockdown bonus.

One labour expert says it is a step in the right direction, but that more needs to be done for grocery employees on the front lines.

Sobeys said in an email to CBCthat it would offer the bonus until the end of the most recent lockdown or as long as the company deems necessary.

Last year, during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, grocers such as Metro, Loblaws and Empireincreased wages of employees, calling it hero pay.

Bonus up to $100 per week

Sobeyssaid inits email that the more an employee works during the lockdown the more they can earn, ranging from $10 to $100 per week.If an employee works 40 hours a week, they will receive a$100 bonus that week.

Karim Bardeesy, an advisory board member with the Centre for Labour Management Relations at Ryerson University, said the bonus is helpful, but organizations like big grocery chains could domore for employees who put themselveson the front lines,

"In general, hourly wages for some of this essential work aren't high enough to allow a livablelife for the families of these workers, and the wages don't tend to recognize how important this work is," said Bardeesy.

Bardeesy has some advice for employees who think they are not getting paid as much as they should for putting themselves at risk.

"At those grocery stores which are unionized, they [employees] can and shouldbe advocating for higher wages, and usingthe rights that they have under those collective agreements, including therightto strike, which they have under provincial labour laws," he said.

While Sobeys' operations in Quebec are mostly unionized, operations in Atlantic Canada, Ontario and Western Canada are largely without union representation.

Sobeys told CBCthat reinstating this lockdown bonus is"fundamentally, the right thing to do."

Bardeesy saidgrocery retailers have seen jumps in profits during the pandemicso it's only fair to redistribute some of this profit to employees.

"These retailers are quite fortunate that their workers have stepped up to do the work in dangerous circumstances and not always been recognized through payment," he said.

Bardeesy saidstudents at Ryerson have been writing letters to the provincial labour ministercalling for better paid sick leave plans.

The province of Ontario recently announced a paid sick leave plan but Bardeesy saidit's not as strong as it could be.

He said big grocery chains have a responsibility to the publicto do right by their employees.

"These regional chains have a lot of power and they need to use that in the best interest notonly of their shareholders but of their workers and the public."

In an emailed statement Friday, Loblaw Companies Ltd. said it was also is planning to providebonuses, though they aren't tied to lockdowns.

"Today, Loblaw (Atlantic Superstore) wanted to extend another 'thank you' with an appreciation bonus for all full- and part-time colleaguesin company stores and distribution centres. Bonuses will be paid in June.

"All of these benefits paid time off for vaccinations, pay protection, appreciation bonuses and extra discounts will be rolled out nationally to corporate stores and distribution centres, whether the region is in lockdown or not."