Loblaw Shutters Struck Maxi Stores

TORONTO — Loblaw here said yesterday that the 13 Maxi stores in Quebec affected by a strike by workers will be closed until further notice. The company in a statement said it had presented workers with “settlement packages with fair, appropriate and very competitive increases in accordance with the store’s performance, its competitiveness in the local market, and the regional economy.” Each store affected by the strike is covered by its own labor agreement. Loblaw said it settled with a 14th store last week. “We regret that our customers will take the brunt of this conflict,” the statement added. “We have done all that we could possibly do to avoid a work stoppage in these stores.” Maxi is a discount banner run by Loblaw’s Provigo unit in Montreal, with stores throughout Quebec. The United Food and Commercial Workers union estimated the strike could cost Loblaw more than $5.5 million (U.S.) a week.

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