News Labour Relations
Strike at Metro grocery stores in Toronto area averted with last-minute deal: Unifor

Unifor has reached a tentative agreement with Metro grocery stores. The agreement covers 3,700 frontline grocery workers at 27 Metro stores across the Greater Toronto Area.

“I’m incredibly proud of our frontline grocery workers for their resolve in achieving a fair collective agreement,” said Lana Payne, Unifor National president. “This agreement will lay the foundation for grocery workers across the country as workers, both unionized and non-unionized, make clear their urgent need for improved working conditions amidst a chronic affordability crisis.”

Details of the tentative agreement will not be released prior to being presented to members for a ratification vote in the coming week, the union said.

“The solidarity and resolve demonstrated by our Metro workers throughout the bargaining process have been truly remarkable. Members were 100% united in their demand for fair pay, better health and sick leave benefits, and stable work hours—and their unity has resulted in an agreement that our committee is incredibly proud of,” said Gord Currie, Unifor Local 414 president.

“Frontline grocery workers, at Metro and beyond, face immense challenges — from not being able to afford food or rent, to having unpredictable schedules that prevent them from being with family — which is exactly why members were willing to fight in order to improve their working conditions.”

Unifor is Canada’s largest union in the private sector and represents 315,000 workers in every major area of the economy.