Metro workers walk off the job as grocery chain closes GTA stores

Twenty-seven Metro grocery shops have closed within the GTA after hundreds of staff walked off the job after rejecting a tentative cope with the corporate.

Unifor, which represents 3,700 grocery staff on the 27 GTA Metro areas, introduced the strike on Friday night time.

“This decision to go on strike comes after years of these workers being nickelled and dimed while facing increased precarity and eroded job quality. It comes after having pandemic pay stripped away. It comes at a time of record profits and soaring CEO compensation. It comes at a time when life has become simply unaffordable for so many of these workers who risked their health and safety during the pandemic,” mentioned Lana Payne, Unifor’s nationwide president, in a press release. “We brought the tentative agreement to our members because it contained considerable gains, but our members are clear that it simply isn’t enough.”

Picket strains fashioned at 8 a.m. at shops throughout the province, together with areas in Toronto, Brantford, Orangeville, Milton, Oakville, Brampton, North York, Islington, Willowdale, Mississauga, Etobicoke, Newmarket and Scarborough.

“You know the system is broken when frontline workers can’t afford food, rent, or gas,” mentioned Gord Currie, president of Unifor Local 414. “Frontline grocery workers at Metro deserve the utmost respect, especially after working tirelessly through the pandemic.”

A Metro grocery retailer is seen in Toronto, Tuesday, July 18, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston

In a press release, Metro confirmed that every one 27 shops might be closed in the course of the strike. It famous that pharmacies will stay open.

The grocer mentioned it was “extremely disappointed” that its staff selected to strike.

“The company has been negotiating with the union for the past few weeks and reached a fair and equitable agreement that meets the needs of our employees and our customers while ensuring that Metro remains competitive. The settlement provided significant increases for employees in all four years of the agreement, as well as pension and benefits improvements for all employees, including part-time employees,” the assertion learn.

Unifor will present additional updates on strike motion on Saturday morning at 10:30.

With information from The Canadian Press and Bryann Aguilar