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Striking grocery workers have begun secondary picket lines at two Metro distribution warehouses in Toronto, in the fourth week of ongoing job action by 3,700 Unifor members.
“Frontline grocery workers are tired of being ignored and underpaid by Metro during an affordability crisis,” says Lana Payne, Unifor National President. “Metro can expect secondary picket lines at more of their properties until they come back to the table with a serious wage offer for these brave workers who are forgoing their paycheques to take a stand against corporate greed. Workers are rightfully demanding more from one of Canada’s richest grocers—whose historic profits aren’t being fairly shared with the workforce responsible for their success.”
The union recently rejected Metro’s offer to come back to the table with the assistance of a Ministry-appointed conciliation officer. The Unifor Local 414 Metro bargaining committee, comprised of frontline Metro workers, unanimously voted against going back to the table until Metro returns with an improved offer.
“This dispute is about giving workers a raise so they can afford food, rent, and to support their families,” says Gord Currie, Unifor Local 414 President. “Frontline grocery workers have already told us loud and clear that Metro’s offer simply wasn’t good enough.”
Unifor also represents workers at Metro’s distributions centres, who went on a week-long strike in early April 2022, where the new secondary picket lines have formed.
“Metro can try to shortchange workers, but our members are fighting back with the full force of their union, our national labour movement, and community allies by their side,” says Payne.
Unifor represents more than 3,700 frontline Metro grocery workers at 27 GTA stores who have been on strike since Saturday, July 29.
Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector and represents 315,000 workers in every major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad, and strives to create progressive change for a better future.
