27 Metro Stores in Greater Toronto Area Close as Workers Go on Strike

Grocery store workers at 27 Metro Stores in Greater Toronto have gone on strike after rejecting a tentative deal reached last week. Unifor, the union representing them, said that front-line grocery workers at these 27 Metro stores began strike action on Saturday at 12:01 a.m.

The strike action has affected stores in Toronto, Brantford, Orangeville, Milton, Oakville, Brampton, North York, Islington, Willowdale, Mississauga, Etobicoke, Newmarket, and Scarborough.

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What caused the strike?

The grocery store workers at Metro are demanding better pay and access to benefits, improved working conditions, and stability. The union leader, Unifor national president Lana Payne, said in a statement that the tentative agreement was brought to the members because it contained “considerable gains.”

However, the workers have made it clear that it isn’t enough. The union has said its priorities for Metro workers are improving pay and access to benefits, as well as working conditions and stability. This decision to go on strike comes after years of these workers being nickel 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.

Which stores are affected?

Unifor says stores affected by the strike will include those in Toronto, Brantford, Orangeville, Milton, Oakville, Brampton, North York, Islington, Willowdale, Mississauga, Etobicoke, Newmarket, and Scarborough.

The strike has resulted in the closure of these 27 stores, and pharmacies will remain open. The company hopes that an agreement can be reached soon so that the stores can reopen and the workers can return to their jobs.

What is the company’s response?

Metro Ontario Inc., a subsidiary of Metro Inc., expressed its disappointment in a statement that the employees at the 27 locations had rejected the agreement even though the union bargaining committee unanimously recommended it to its members.

“The company has been negotiating with the union for the past few weeks and has reached a fair and equitable agreement that meets the needs of our employees and our customers while ensuring that Metro remains competitive,” Metro Ontario said.

“The settlement provided significant increases for employees in all four years of the agreement, as well as pension and benefit improvements for all employees, including part-time employees.”

What You Need To Know

The strike by the grocery store workers at 27 Metro locations in Greater Toronto has led to the closure of these stores, causing inconvenience to customers. However, the workers’ demands for better pay, improved working conditions, and stability are reasonable and necessary. The company has been negotiating with the union and has reached a fair and equitable agreement.

The union’s rejection of the tentative deal and the subsequent strike action demonstrate the need for further progress on these issues. With pharmacies remaining open, the company hopes that an agreement can be reached soon so that the stores can reopen, and the workers can return to their jobs. Gord Currie, president of Unifor Local 414, said in the same statement that front-line grocery workers deserve respect.

“You know the system is broken when front-line workers can’t afford food, rent, or gas,” he said.