Target: Michael Medline, Chief Executive Officer, Empire Company Limited
Goal: Stop putting profits before people and animals.
Employees of Safeway in Alberta are raising serious concerns about Sobeys, their parent company owned by Empire Company Limited. Allegations indicate that Sobeys is prioritizing profit margins by cutting delivery routes and reducing full-time positions, actions that harm both workers and consumers. This behavior reflects a troubling trend where financial gain is placed above the welfare of staff and community members, further exacerbated by a lack of transparency about their business practices.
Sobeys’ recent actions extend to their apparent failure to uphold their commitment to animal welfare as well. After retracting their promise to exclusively sell cage-free eggs by 2025, the company has offered no alternative timeline or plan for implementing necessary reforms. Disturbingly, Sobeys is now shifting towards the use of slightly larger but still inhumane ‘enriched’ cages for hens, indicating a disappointing regression in their animal welfare pledges. With approximately 80% of hens still confined in cages nearly a decade after their original commitment, Sobeys’ lack of action raises significant concerns about corporate integrity and responsibility.
The demand for change is urgent. Sobeys has the resources and opportunity to become a leader in worker rights and animal welfare, but current practices suggest a trend of prioritizing executive compensation over ethical commitments. This petition calls for Sobeys to respect its employees and animal welfare standards by drafting a concrete plan to eliminate cages and committing to more equitable labor practices. A failure to act only reinforces the belief that the company is focused on profits over people and animals.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear CEO Medline,
Troubling reports from Safeway employees in Alberta raise serious allegations regarding Sobeys’ business practices, including a disregard for worker welfare in favor of profit maximization. The United Food and Commercial Workers union’s “Truck You, Sobeys” campaign highlights a pattern of cutting delivery routes and reducing full-time jobs, which undeniably impacts both employees and customers alike. Additionally, the staggering pay increases for your top executives juxtaposed with purported reductions in essential worker resources paint a concerning picture of corporate priorities.
Furthermore, Sobeys has walked back on its 2016 commitment to sell only cage-free eggs by the end of 2025. The lack of transparency surrounding this retraction and the shift towards using ‘enriched’ cages raise significant ethical red flags. With 80% of hens in your supply chain still confined in cages, it seems evident that Sobeys’ actions contradict its earlier pledges, which successfully garnered positive public recognition.
We urge you to take immediate steps to rectify these issues by creating a transparent, time-bound plan to eliminate cages from your supply chain and uphold equitable treatment for your workforce. Failing to address these actions not only jeopardizes your company’s reputation but also further alienates both employees and consumers who expect integrity and accountability from their corporate leaders. It is time for Sobeys to put people and animals on par with profits.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Pixabay
