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Metro union workers say they’re determined to stay on strike until needs are met

The union says wages are no longer sustainable, especially while the grocer brings in record profit

Bill Wilson, Senior editor at Supermarket News

August 1, 2023

1 Min Read
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More than 3,000 workers at 27 stores remain on the picket lines, and many of them described income situations to CBC Radio Canada that they claim are no longer sustainable.CityNews

Claiming they will stay on strike for as long as it  takes, Canada’s Metro workers spent day three of the strike  talking about their primary reason for rejecting the tentative deal with the grocer — wages.

More than 3,000 workers at 27 stores remain on the picket lines, and many of them described income situations to CBC Radio Canada that they claim are no longer sustainable.

Metro says it is committed to seeing the negotiations through and offered pay increases above the rate of inflation for employees over the next four years when it reached an agreement with Unifor Local 414, which represents the workers. The agreement, however, was rejected, thereby putting the strike in motion.

In the meantime, local news outlets have speculated about what the closed Metro stores will do with their perishables. Metro said food will be transferred to other stores, but local organizations have been trying to convince the grocery to donate to local food pantries.

Canadian network CityNews did a wrap up on what happened during day two of the strike (view above).

 

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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