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Why are some stores like whole foods allowed to stay open on labor day while others can't (lemmy.world)

submitted 2 years ago by [email protected] to c/askto

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I had a couple of sick kids all week so I didn't get a chance to grab some essential groceries all week, now that I have a chance I look online and it seems only the whole foods and rabba are the ones that are open today. Those are the two I usually avoid because of their ridiculous prices, so I was wondering why the cheaper places don't open, and if it has anything to do with Ontario law.

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[–] [email protected] 29 points 2 years ago (3 children)

There is no rules against being open. You have to pay holiday pay, time and half though.

[–] ILikeBoobies 5 points 2 years ago

Or a day off in lieu

This is more common if people work Sunday-Thursday because it lets them take the Sunday off

[+] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

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[–] Rodeo 8 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Ah yeah Loblaws the multi billion dollar nation wide corporation, too hard up to pay holiday pay.

Fuckin please

[+] Rocket 2 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

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[–] Rodeo 5 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I'm working in a Loblaws store right now and typing this on my coffee break.

Different locale, so a different agreement, but the idea that unions would negotiate to have holidays off in a retail establishment doesn't really make sense to me. Holidays are arbitrary, there's nothing more special about this Monday except the extra pay.

[+] Rocket -2 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

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[–] Rodeo 4 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I'd like to think I am still young, but I take exception to that because I actually strongly value time over money. The thing is a lot of people don't and they no longer have the option.

In BC at least the law is you get the day off, or a day off lieu, or overtime pay. So there is a choice, but if the union negotiates for only time off on holidays, workers no longer have any choice.

Being in that very same union myself I find it very unlikely that this has come from the workers themselves. The union makes no effort whatsoever to communicate with workers. They have not negotiated for raises to the payscales in over twenty years. UFCW is a corrupt and worthless union. Actually they are worse than worthless because I believe they weaken the stance of all unions.

And besides all that, Labour Day in particular isn't really a time of celebration for anyone I've ever known; it's just another long weekend. It's the last major camping weekend in my area, which doesn't exactly strike me as a celebration of labour rights.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

Reminds me of a article that I read where retails are currently lobbying to stay open year round in Ontario to compete with businesses like amazon.

Not sure if retails were pushing to remove holiday pay or time and a half.

Can't seem to find the article at the moment.

[–] Seigest 11 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

I thin the rule is places have to pay employees time and a half to work on stat days like today. So many stores don't open. Or theyll have a limited number locations, or hours availible. It's not worth staying open at full capacity. The whole point of the day is to give workers a break.

The exception is small family run businesses where they don't have employees to pay. A lot of Rabba are like this.

And then there cases where employers just exploit the workers they have and ignore the law. Lot of those around as well.