Petition to remove Co-op board is ‘bad faith’ tactic: CEO

The CEO of Saskatoon Co-op is criticizing the union representing its workers for “bargaining in bad faith” after a petition began circulating to call for the removal of the Co-op board of directors.

The petition, which requires 300 signatures to force consideration of a meeting and membership vote, is being put forward by Craig Thebaud — a former vice president of UFCW 1400 and Co-op staffer.

Grant Wicks, CEO of Saskatoon Co-op, sees it as an attempt to work around labour negotiations.

“It’s a clear example of bargaining in bad faith,” he told 650 CKOM Tuesday.

“They’re trying to circumvent the collective bargaining process, and it’s an attack on my board.”

Thebaud told 650 CKOM on Monday he started the petition as a concerned shopper and member of the Saskatoon Co-op.

Wicks isn’t buying it.

“This gentleman is very, very closely aligned with the UFCW local 1400,” he said.

“Anybody that understands the situation at all would see through that.”

While he acknowledged 300 signatures is seen as the threshold for issuing a notice of meeting to members, Wicks said the Saskatoon Co-op leadership would be reviewing the Co-op’s act and taking “appropriate action.”

“Should the union decide to bargain in good faith, and with a settlement in mind, we’d be quite prepared to meet with them in a moment’s notice.”

At this time, no bargaining is scheduled to take place until Nov. 29 and 30.