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Saskatoon Co-op employees are skeptical about how the new chair of the co-operative’s board plans to rebuild trust given that tensions remain almost half a year after an acrimonious strike was settled, according to their union.

Graham Addley, who was elected to lead the board after the sudden departure of its former chair in July, told the Saskatoon StarPhoenix earlier this month he wants to improve communication and build a healthy work environment.

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Addley, who is a former Saskatchewan NDP cabinet minister, and two other board members said in separate interviews that while earning employees’ trust is imperative, it will likely take months or years to accomplish.

United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1400 spokesman Rod Gillies said that is a “good message,” but noted a large number of grievances filed since the strike ended in April suggest working conditions remain poor.

He said more than 75 have been filed, the majority of which allege punitive scheduling, discrimination, and harassment of senior employees who walked the picket line. Citing privacy issues, Gillies declined to provide copies of the grievances.