Loblaw workers approve action to strike

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.