3,700+ Metro grocery store workers could begin strike action on July 18 (Courtesy: Unifor)
Over 3,700 grocery workers at Metro are poised to walk off the job early this week if a deal is not met between Unifor, the union representing the employees, and the grocery store chain.
Unifor has set a strike deadline of 11:59 p.m. on July 18 for frontline workers at 27 Metro grocery stores across the GTA.
“Our negotiating committee is prepared to bargain all day and night to achieve a fair collective agreement,” Unifor National President Lana Payne, said in a release on July 13.
“Unifor members at Metro deserve a collective agreement that not only addresses the significant affordability challenges they face but that also fairly distributes the company’s record profits with those on the frontlines generating those profits.”
According to the release, there has been progress in discussions between the two parties, which began on June 26. However, there are other outstanding issues that have yet to be resolved, including wages, benefits and other monetary issues.
Ahead of negotiations, Metro workers represented by Unifor voted 100 per cent in favour of strike action in the event that a deal could not be reached.
“Our members sent a clear message to the company that if their priorities are not met, and wages and benefits do not improve, they are prepared to take strike action,” Unifor Local 414 President Gord Currie said in a statement.
Canadians React to Looming Strike
With a potential strike looming, people in the GTA have taken to social media to share their thoughts on the situation.
Many people are in support of the pending strike action.
“Once upon a time, you could make a good salary working full time at a grocery store. Buy a home, full fridge, car in the driveway with a full tank of gas, and take the family to a restaurant. But those days are over,” one person on Twitter said.
“Stop being a Christmas Grinch. All grocery stores should pay their employees what they deserve, without staff you have nothing.”
While others have voiced the opinion that the strike won’t be an effective measure to combat the issue.
“Private industry is and has always been like this. This is why inflation is soooo damaging to people. Strike all you want, nobody cares, there will be more people willing to do your job instead of you.”
