FILE PHOTO
Image Credit: FLICKR/bargainmoose
September 28, 2023 - 12:00 PM
The United Food and Commercial Workers union is taking another step towards better working conditions for Sephora employees in Kamloops.
The UFCW branch 1518 has filed an Unfair Labour Practice complaint against Sephora.
The union has been negotiating for more than a year with Sephora in Kamloops, which is the first unionized store in Canada, according to a UFCW press release issued today, Sept. 28.
The filing with the BC Labour Relations Board is the union's next move in a long fight for better working conditions for Sephora employees.
The union wants higher wages and benefits for all Sephora employees in BC and has said Sephora is intimidating its workers into backing down. It said Sephora is threatening to cut wages and benefits.
"We are extremely disappointed to hear from our members that Sephora is using these tactics," UFCW 1518 president Kim Novak said in the release.
They said the union is still trying to negotiate with Sephora despite the company’s alleged conduct.
"We expect better from this company. That means Sephora coming to the bargaining table with an offer we can bring back to our members that includes significant wage increases, better flexibility and respect for the work they do. We are ready and willing to work with Sephora–but we need to see respect for our members in the process,” Novak said.
After unionizing the Sephora location in 2022, the UFCW fought to get workers paid during bag searches, which could take 30 minutes after an employee's shift was supposed to end.
The union wants higher wages, health benefits, store bonuses and more. Once this round of negotiations are complete, the union said it will continue fighting for better wages and working conditions for Sephora in Kamloops, and across BC.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Jesse Tomas or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.
We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. SUBSCRIBE to our awesome newsletter here.
News from © iNFOnews, 2023