Media statement

Strike at 27 Metro stores in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA): METRO is determined to go back to the table

August 15, 2023 - Metro remains committed to the bargaining process and finding a resolution as quickly as possible. That’s why the Metro bargaining committee reached out to the union, Unifor, over the weekend to request a meeting with the employees’ bargaining committee, offering to meet as quickly as Sunday or Monday. The union has unfortunately refused.

It’s the joint responsibility of Metro and the union to keep trying to negotiate an outcome at the bargaining table, particularly in a context where the parties had reached a very good agreement which both parties recognized as such and that was unanimously recommended by union representatives to the employees.

The agreement offered, amongst other things, substantial wage increases as well as improved pension and benefits, including sick days, and improved scheduling for different groups of employees.

This was in addition to their current wages and working conditions that are among the highest in the industry and which were negotiated by this union.

Highlights of the agreement:

• The agreement with the union provided significant increases for employees in all 4 years of the agreement.
  • Significant wage increases:
    • $3.75 more than today by July 2026 for full-time and senior part-time employees;
    • $2.65 more by the same date for other part-time employees (except employees who are in progression);
  • Significant benefits improvements and pension increase;
  • Introduction of a paid sick day program for part-time employees;
  • Weekend off every 3 weeks (instead of every 4 weeks) for full-time employees;
  • 40-hour work week for full-time employees, up from 37 hours, which provided employees with more flexibility and a wage increase of 8%;
  • No concession was asked of employees.

In addition, every part-time employee who wants a full-time position has opportunities. For example, in the last two years alone, we've opened up a number of full-time positions and we haven't been able to fill them all from our part-time ranks. Even today, we have full-time positions posted that part-time employees can apply for.

With this agreement, we recognized the value our employees deliver everyday as well as the current inflationary environment while we ensured that Metro remains competitive in an industry where competition is fierce, including against global non unionized companies. We hope to welcome our employees back in our stores soon.