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Loblaw workers approve action to strike

If the strike happens, it will be the second Canadian grocery worker stoppage in two months

Bill Wilson, Senior editor at Supermarket News

September 12, 2023

1 Min Read
Loblaws storefront_1_0.png
After seeing record profits from Loblaw over the past year, workers say they want more compensation.Loblaw Cos.

More Canadian grocery workers may go on strike at the end of the month, according to reporting from CBC Radio-Canada.

Employees at Real Canadian Superstore, No Frills, and Extra Foods in Manitoba have voted to walk the picket lines once their contract expires on Sept. 28 if negotiations for a new deal fail. All three stores are owned by Loblaw.

UFCW Local 832 represents the nearly 4,000 workers and said 97% voted to authorize a strike.

According to the union, Loblaw workers were treated like heroes during the COVID-19 pandemic when stores were staffed enough to stay open, but since then, wages have stagnated.  

After seeing record profits from Loblaw over the past year, workers say they want more compensation. The union also said working conditions at stores have deteriorated.

The demands and concerns of the disgruntled employees mirrors that of Metro grocery workers outside of Toronto who were recently on strike for a month. Those workers also highlighted their role in keeping stores open during the pandemic and also said they wanted a larger portion of Metro’s financial success over the last year.

About the Author

Bill Wilson

Senior editor at Supermarket News

Bill Wilson is the senior editor at Supermarket News, covering all things grocery and retail. He has been a journalist in the B2B industry for 25 years. He has received two Robert F. Boger awards for his work as a journalist in the infrastructure industry and has over 25 editorial awards total in his career. He graduated cum laude from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale with a major in broadcast communications.

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