Metro filing labour complaint against Unifor amid ongoing strike, warehouse picket – Toronto | 24CA News
TORONTO — Metro Inc. is submitting an unfair labour apply grievance with the Ontario Labour Relations Board towards Unifor over an ongoing strike, arguing it isn’t bargaining in good religion, a spokeswoman for the grocery store mentioned in a press release.
“The union has refused to return to the bargaining table for the purpose of allowing Metro to present an offer in an effort to resolve the current labour conflict, despite repeated invitations on Metro’s part,” mentioned Marie-Claude Bacon.
The transfer Wednesday afternoon comes after putting Metro employees began picketing two of the grocers’ distribution warehouses within the morning, a transfer the corporate mentioned is stopping deliveries of contemporary merchandise to Metro and Food Basics shops throughout the province.
More than 3,700 employees at 27 Metro shops throughout the GTA have been on strike since July 29 after rejecting a tentative settlement really useful by their bargaining committee.
Unifor nationwide president Lana Payne confirmed in a press release that the union is conscious of the grievance.
“The union is disappointed that Metro has not come back to the bargaining table with a wage offer that ensures its frontline grocery workers can afford food, rent and to support their families,” she mentioned.
Payne and Unifor Local 414 president Gord Currie met employees at a secondary picket at a warehouse in Toronto’s west finish.
“If there is one group of workers who deserve respect, decent pay and decent work, it is grocery store workers in this country,” Payne informed reporters.
Workers in pink Unifor ponchos chanted and waved flags within the drizzling rain, incomes honks from some passing drivers.
Currie mentioned the rain wouldn’t dampen employees’ spirits within the fourth week of their strike.
“How did these people go from being heroes when COVID was on to zeros?” he mentioned.
Over the previous week, the employees have stepped up their efforts towards Metro past the 27 shops, mentioned Payne.
“We have had increased picketing at a number of other stores not represented by Unifor,” she mentioned, along with the 2 warehouses Wednesday.
“In case this employer was not getting the message before today, they’re getting it now.”
In an earlier assertion, Bacon referred to as the transfer “unacceptable.”
“Metro has a serious offer to present to the employees’ bargaining committee and the union; Metro will not be able to present an offer and resolve the labour conflict if the union refuses to bargain,” she mentioned.
“The union has breached its duty to bargain in good faith and to make every reasonable effort to negotiate a collective agreement.”
The distribution centres and impacted shops will not be on strike and their operations shouldn’t be interfered with, she mentioned.
“No solution has ever emerged from such pressure tactics.”
Asked whether or not the grocery store is planning to hunt an injunction towards the secondary pickets, Bacon mentioned it’s trying into it.
Last week, Metro requested a government-appointed conciliation officer to step in and assist the 2 sides resolve their dispute, however Unifor disagreed with the request, saying it’s ready for Metro to convey a stronger wage provide to the desk. Both the union and employer have to comply with have the officer step in.
Unifor has mentioned that the employees are asking for a justifiable share of the corporate’s rising income, with many employees demanding their pandemic “hero pay” of $2 an hour be reinstated.
Metro has mentioned the tentative settlement employees rejected included paid sick days for part-time employees, enhancements in advantages and pensions and important wage will increase.
Metro employees had voted 100 per cent in favour of putting earlier than bargaining even started. Unifor has mentioned it hopes to make use of this settlement to get related good points for upcoming negotiations with the key grocers over the following two years.
At the picket, Payne mentioned the putting Metro staff aren’t solely preventing for themselves.
“They are fighting for every grocery store worker from the East Coast to the West Coast,” she mentioned.
“I want to be clear. There is something happening in this country right now,” added Payne.
“These workers have set fire to the labour movement right now.”
© 2023 The Canadian Press
